The question of sexual harassment -- "seku hara" -- has, after years of neglect, become one of the hottest media topics. Not that suddenly men are beginning to harass women. It is that women are making accusations while before many tended to view it as inevitable, something that went along with employment or riding on public transportation. Until recently, no governor would be forced to resign over his carelessness in where he put his hand -- no woman would report it -- nor would we read about the doctor who, wearing women's clothes, entered a ladies' dressing room. His explanation won him no leniency. He said he had only gone in to put on makeup. Credit for the change is with the women who have defied tradition to speak out and many men must be facing sleepless nights as they wonder when they might face charges for past indiscretions.

It is not surprising that this topic comes up in English conversation classes. A teacher was not aware of the law until her students asked about it and she wonders where she can get a copy in English.

The translation may become a best seller. The law, entitled Law on Securing, Etc. of Equal Opportunity and Treatment Between Men and Women in Employment, covers such things as prohibition of discrimination against women workers, provision for an equal opportunity mediation commission and general measures for consideration when women are employed. The basic principle is that "women workers be enabled to engage in a full working life, with due respect for their maternity but without discrimination based on sex." Chapter three stipulates that employers should see that women do not suffer disadvantages because of their responses to sexual speech and behavior in the workplace.

This section is supplemented by a three-page guide that specifically covers harassment dividing it into two types, quid pro quo and environmental. Under the first are such examples as, "an employer makes sexual advances in the office to a woman worker but is refused, and by reason of this rejection he dismisses the woman worker," and "A superior touches a woman's hips, breasts or other body areas in a vehicle during a business trip but she resists, and by reason of this resistance he has said woman reassigned disadvantageously." Environment-type harassment covers situations in which a "woman worker is distressed and her will to work has diminished" because of various offenses including the display of a nude poster in an office after a woman worker has protested.

There are many other provisions including working during pregnancy and the return to her former position after a woman has had her baby. One point is made very clear: "It is necessary that employers take particular care that women workers who bring consultations or make complaints, etc., relating to sexual harassment in the workplace are not treated disadvantageously by reason of having done so, and that employers make it known to all women workers that care will be taken in this regard."

There is much more; only a few can be mentioned here. For example, if a case comes to trial, the penalty will be decided by the court with consideration of the woman's demand, which may be for money, an apology or even a discharge for the man concerned. The guidelines covers all women, not only those in the workforce, and provide for consideration for such situations as women walking along the streets or traveling by public transportation. Only the basic law and a section of the guidelines have been translated into English but they can keep her English conversation class busy for some time. Call the 21 Century Labor Office, (03) 3258-2021 for a copy. The cost is 100 yen. For general information, call (03) 3814-5372. In Japanese. Women, however, are already well ahead of the law. It may be that their recent willingness to report cases to authorities has made the need for a law covering them to be promulgated.

Some of the most dramatic Japanese clothing comes from Hawaii where exquisite fabrics "metamorph" into striking but eminently wearable designs by Anne Namba. There will be an open-to-all sale of her creations at the Tokyo American Club tomorrow, March 13th, from 3 - 6 p.m. For directions, phone (03) 3583-8381.