Japan's Self-Defense Forces will introduce on Sunday stricter standards on punishments for power harassment and bullying.

Behind the moves are concerns that increases in power harassment and bullying cases could tarnish the image of the SDF, affecting activities to recruit new SDF members as a result.

The number of cases in which punishments were imposed due to power harassment or assaults in the SDF and the Defense Ministry rose to 159 in fiscal 2018 from 121 in fiscal 2013.

Power harassment and bullying cases are increasingly coming to light following the launch of a relevant consultation office and the changing mindset of SDF members, an official at the ministry's personnel education bureau said.

Recruitments of new SDF members have stood below planned levels for the fifth straight year from fiscal 2014. In fiscal 2018, the number of people hired as SDF member candidates was about 30 pct below the target.

There is a possibility that young people are shunning the SDF due to the image that it is an organization where corporal punishment is tolerated, analysts said.

Under the new rules, SDF members causing injuries through power harassment that require a month or more to heal will be dismissed in principle or at least suspended from duty for six months or more, harsher than the current penalty of a suspension of 16 days or more.

The suspension period for those who cause injuries taking between a week and less than a month to heal will be extended to three months or more but less than six months, from the current six to 14 days.

Meanwhile, an offender will get lighter penalties other than suspension from work in such cases where he or she became emotional and slapped or beat the victim only once or where the victim had a rebellious attitude.

"There has been a view that the current punishment criteria are lenient," Defense Minister Taro Kono told a news conference on Friday.

"It's important to set (strict) rules in order to encourage young people to join the SDF without worry," he added.

JIJIJ Press