OSAKA -- A woman in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, filed a damages lawsuit Thursday against an Osaka Prefectural Assembly member, alleging she was sexually harassed by the man last year.
Reiko Tokito, 39, demanded 3.7 million yen from Hoei Kato, 65, in the suit filed with the Osaka District Court.
Tokito claims that Kato offered her a job at his supporters' office in July. He invited her to an Osaka hotel to write her resume there after interviewing her at the prefectural office on July 24, the suit says.
At the hotel, Kato told Tokito she would be at a disadvantage in finding a job because she was rearing a child as a single parent, the suit says. As she was leaving the room, Kato grabbed her, she claims.
In September, she received a notification of rejection with a postal money order for 1.95 million yen from Kato, the suit says.
Tokito claims she was left without work for 41/2 months because she had quit her previous job as a life insurance saleswoman at the end of July on getting the offer from Kato.
Kato claimed he did not harass or insult Tokito, adding he will make an official comment after reading her court claim.