A woman in Japan has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging that she was paid for two decades without ever being assigned a single task — and now wants damages for what she describes as “psychological distress” and “career sabotage.” The plaintiff, identified in court documents only as Ms. Tanaka, told reporters outside the Tokyo District Court that while she faithfully showed up to the office every day, her company repeatedly failed to give her any responsibilities, projects, or training. “They took away my purpose,” she said, her voice shaking. “I had a desk, a chair, and nothing else.” The case, first reported by Asahi Shimbun, has stunned the public. While Japanese work culture is notorious for long hours and rigid expectations, the idea of being paid for 20 years to essentially do nothing has sparked heated debate online about dignity, purpose, and workplace exploitation.
This woman’s story is wild — paid for 20 years but no work? Imagine the mental toll. #JapanWork— Tokyo Insider (@TokyoInsider) August 8, 2025
Tanaka said the arrangement began after a department reshuffle in the early 2000s. She claims she was moved to a small side office, where her supervisors simply stopped giving her assignments. “At first, I thought it was temporary,” she told NHK. “But years passed, and I realized they had effectively erased me from the workplace.” The lawsuit alleges that the company’s actions amounted to “power harassment,” a term in Japan referring to abuse of authority in the workplace. Her lawyers argue that while she continued to receive her monthly salary, the lack of meaningful work caused severe depression and destroyed her chances for professional growth.
Being paid to do nothing might sound like a dream — but in reality, it’s isolation, humiliation, and stagnation. #WorkplaceBullying— Legal Lens (@LegalLensJP) August 8, 2025
The company, which has not been named publicly, issued a brief statement to Yomiuri Shimbun denying any wrongdoing. “We have acted within the bounds of the law and our internal policies,” the statement read, without addressing why Tanaka was never given assignments. Labor experts say cases like this, while rare, expose a darker side of Japanese corporate culture — where sidelining employees into “window seats” with no real duties can be a subtle form of punishment. A 2023 study by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare found that over 5% of Japanese workers had experienced long-term “assignment denial” during their careers.
In Japan, being ignored at work can be worse than being overworked. This case could set a precedent. #LaborRights— Work Culture Watch (@WorkCultureJP) August 8, 2025
Supporters online have rallied behind Tanaka, with many sharing their own experiences of workplace isolation. One user wrote, “People think it’s easy money, but it’s soul-crushing to be treated as if you don’t exist.” Her legal team is seeking compensation not only for emotional damages but also for lost earning potential, arguing that had she been given meaningful work, she could have advanced to a senior managerial position by now. The first hearing in the case is expected to take place later this year. If Tanaka wins, experts believe it could encourage other Japanese workers in similar situations to come forward — potentially reshaping how companies handle internal reassignments. For Tanaka, the lawsuit is about reclaiming her dignity. “I want people to know,” she told Vice Japan, “that being left to rot in a chair is not kindness. It’s cruelty in slow motion.”
