Research Paper on Sexual Harassment of Japanese Women Entrepreneurs Published in International Journal Crowd Funding for Free Public Dissemination Available through March 1

The paper, "Sexual Harassment by Multiple Stakeholders in Entrepreneurship: The Case of Japan," by Takanori Kashino, a founder of Eirene Management School (Representative: Saki Ueno), was published in the Journal of Business Venturing Insights (June 2025 issue).

The results of the study revealed that as many as 52.4% of female entrepreneurs have been sexually harassed by multiple stakeholders in the past year, a serious fact. The paper will be disseminated worldwide in open access (free of charge), and crowdfunding is available until March 1, 2025 to promote early practical and policy measures. Funds will mainly be used to cover the cost of open access to academic journals and to support the cost of making research results freely available to researchers, practitioners, and policy makers around the world.

Experiences of sexual harassment in the past year (female entrepreneurs n=105)

Outline of Crowdfunding

URL ： https://igg.me/at/zeroharassment/x/38374043#/

Target Amount ： 550,000 yen

Application deadline ： March 1, 2025 16:59

Use of funds

Open access fees to journal publishers, crowdfunding fees, article proofreading fees, and any surplus funds will be used for future follow-up research and victim support and awareness activities.

Background of the study: Why should we pay attention now?

<Serious Sexual Harassment of Female Entrepreneurs

While the government has set a five-year plan for startup development starting in 2022, it has become clear that women entrepreneurs in particular have difficulty denying sexual harassment due to power differentials with investors and supporters who provide funding and mentoring.

This study conducted an anonymous online survey (197 respondents, including 105 female entrepreneurs) and found that more than half of the female entrepreneurs had been victimized in the past year.

<In some cases, the victimized entrepreneurs were forced to withdraw from their businesses.

The study found that more than half of female entrepreneurs have been victimized in the past year, and that some entrepreneurs have been forced to withdraw from their businesses.

Key Points of the Paper: Visualization of Serious Structural Problems

<Quantitative survey

52.4% of female entrepreneurs reported being sexually harassed from multiple perspectives, including investors, customers, mentors, and accelerator representatives. The survey visualized the reality that the greater the dependence on business funding and support, the greater the difference in power relationships and the more likely they are to be victimized.

<Qualitative research

The structural background of victimization was also analyzed. Four factors, "Embedded Discrimination," "Systemic Exploitation," "Safeguard Voids," and "Adaptive Burden Choices," are intertwined. The study suggests that four factors, "Exploitation," "Safeguard Voids," and "Adaptive Burden Choices," intertwine to form a negative cycle that makes it difficult for victims to raise their voices.

＜Social and Policy Impact

The report recommends the need for institutional reform, including the establishment of a code of conduct for investors and accelerators, the development of independent reporting channels, and the inclusion of entrepreneurs as legally protected entities. Alarmed that the creation of a fair start-up environment is directly linked to long-term economic growth and innovation creation.

In the past year, 52.4% (n=105) of female entrepreneurs were victimized

Perpetration ranging from inappropriate language and behavior to unwanted relationship demands

Perpetrators include investors/VCs, clients, mentors, etc.

Victims suffer emotional distress, loss of self-confidence, deterioration of impression of the industry, and financial loss

Victimization is rarely discussed/reported, so it is difficult for the reality to come to the surface

Reasons for not reporting are varied

Diverse backgrounds of sexual harassment

Significance of "open access" supported by crowdfunding

Expected effects of making this paper open access:

1. domestic and international investors and entrepreneurship support organizations quickly share awareness of the issues

- 1. the opportunity to introduce and strengthen measures to prevent sexual harassment, since the paper is available to anyone free of charge

2. accelerated formulation of countermeasures by practitioners, governments, and local authorities

- Facilitates concrete actions such as new legislation and the establishment of independent institutions.

(3) Expansion to victim support and education

- Universities and business schools will introduce the concept into their curricula to raise awareness among the next generation of entrepreneurs. 4.

4. further research and development

- This will lead to comparisons with other countries and long-term follow-up research, and promote more comprehensive international cooperation and countermeasures.

Future Prospects

＜Strengthening of media coverage and dissemination to international networks

Since August 2024, the results of this study have attracted attention from major domestic media outlets, including NHK, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, and Tokyo Shimbun. We expect that this trend will be extended to overseas media and others through open access.

＜Creating an Ecosystem Where Damage Prevention and Business Growth Go Hand in Hand

Aiming for a "zero sexual harassment environment," we will use the results of our research as a foundation to encourage concrete actions in the fields of practice, policy making, and education.

<Sustainable research and awareness-raising activities

We plan to conduct follow-up and comparative research using the surplus from crowdfunding and future donations. We will continue to visualize the problem and aim to formulate more effective countermeasures.

Researcher: Takanori Kashino Profile

Founder, Eirene Management School

Expertise: Startup Ecosystem, Entrepreneurship Support and Education

Comments by Takanori Kashino

The results of this study are an important step in visualizing the difficult situation entrepreneurs are in. In recent years, the awareness of society as a whole has gradually increased through media reports, but the problem still remains unresolved. We believe that only by overcoming these challenges can the domestic business environment become truly sustainable and innovative. By making this paper open access, we hope to share our findings with as many people as possible and spread concrete measures to all corners of society. With your help, let us move forward together toward an environment of zero sexual harassment.

Eirene Management School

The Eirene Management School is an educational and research institution that applies the philosophy of "Eirene," the ancient Greek goddess of peace, to modern management. The school fosters motivated leaders through academic research and practitioner education that "pursues not only economic profit but also the enrichment and growth of society as a whole. This research was conducted as part of activities aimed at building a fairer and healthier startup ecosystem.

[Company Profile

Eirene Management School

(Operated by: General Incorporated Association / Eirene University Co.)

Representative : Saki Ueno, Dean

Contact : Takanori Kashino

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(Email kashino@eireneuniversity.org )

Location : Minato-ku, Tokyo

Official Website ： https://ems.eireneuniversity.org/

Crowdfunding URL : https://igg.me/at/zeroharassment/x/38374043#/