An attempt by the government to encourage men to take responsibility for preventing sexual harassment in the workplace has drawn an uproar online, with Twitter users saying it makes excuses for willful ignorance of the issue.

The Cabinet Office poster features Japanese actor Mikihisa Azuma, who asks, when translated from Japanese: "Is this sexual harassment too?" The background contrasts his comments: "You're prettier now that you've lost weight," and "Cute outfit today — that's my type of look," with illustrations of disapproving women. "You're not the one to decide what's sexual harassment!" it extols.

Users replying to a tweet this week unveiling the poster campaign said it serves to let sexual harassers off the hook by taking too sympathetic a view of their conduct.