RANT:
I work in a predominantly male industry, and I am fed up with the sexual harassment I have to put up with.
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Having worked as a manager of both Westerners and Japanese, and taking manager training for sexual harassment in different companies, perhaps I can add some helpful insight. And some of the advice given here already is good too.
1) You have to object and make it clear to those talking to you or about you that you are not comfortable with what they are saying.
If you don't, you are giving them a FREE PASS, particularly if it was only a VERBAL comment. Anything physical or sexual assault would be handled differently, but do clearly understand that a sexual assault charge once unleashed, there is usually no coming back or settling amicably.
Usually the verbal sexual harassment perpetrators, when confronted by HR, will claim they didn't realize you were offended or that they were "joking". Consequently, usually nothing will come out of your complaint or you will look bad. HR will just give them a warning, and you might now be considered an office "troublemaker". Often a silent job killer for women, as they look to get you out of there.
2) When you clearly and verbally object, with witnesses around, the perpetrators can't say they didn't know. However, they must do it AGAIN, for it to be sexual harassment.
Just because a co-worker or client asked you on a date or said a lewd joke, it ISN'T necessarily sexual harassment. It's harassment when they do it REPEATEDLY.
Basically, they get a free pass the 1st time. Then when you ask them to stop, but they continue, it IS sexual harassment. It will usually meet the practical definition that HR has, and they will reprimand or take some predetermined action against the offender. Often sexual harassment classes, a warning, an apology, and/or noted on their records.
3) Choose Your Battles Wisely
There is a lot you can do, to control many situations. You can tactically object to comments being made, in a polite way, but also gets the message across.
"Really? My boyfriend would get so angry and jealous to hear you say that." "Oh come on, do you want to say that in front of my boyfriend?"
What such responses does is make it clear to simple-minded guys that you are NOT sexually accessible, it can make them afraid of confronting an unknown male, and you are not pleased with the comments. Often these guys will spread around the company that you have a boyfriend, so no hope getting you. Even better.
4) In a Japanese company, be careful they are not baiting or daring you to react.
In Japanese companies, people (to include other WOMEN) can say negative comments for the explicit purpose of causing you to get upset and overreact. In other words, they KNOW the HR process and/or are VERY confident of their job position. They can be attempting to ostracize you OR test you.
It's a type of bullying. They don't see you as a member of their group or think you are inferior, so feel they can say anything to you. If you react, it proves you are not a member of their group or circles, and it can damage your reputation. They baited you into coming out as a troublemaker that everyone should turn their back on.
The trick is you need ALLIES in the company. A possile plan of action is toughen up and temporarily take the verbal abuse (politely object as I mentioned), but make friends with other sympathetic female AND male co-workers. The more important and high-ranking, the better.
You then mention to the higher level ranking ones about the comments certain co-workers are making or have made. To make it better, you could possibly add that you have a boyfriend who is or would be very upset if you told him. You can make it seem that you are a good-girl seeking to avoid trouble, so instead of telling your boyfriend, you are telling them (a high ranking manager). What I often see happen, the manager (non HR), pulls the guys aside and tells to knock it off. In a Japanese company, when a manager or senior manager says this, nearly always the BS stops dead cold in the tracks.
5) Customers & Clients Doing Sexual Harassment.
The trick here is they are often testing if you will provide sexual favors. How far will you go to keep their business? You have to be careful about overreacting and damaging the company's businesses and relationship.
The boyfriend trick, is usually enough. It often sends a clear signal that you are taken and not sexually available. If the customer or client is persistent with the sexual harassment, it's best if you tell a supervisor or manager the situation, and work with them on a solution to handle it. Be aware, that if they feel you can't handle yourself, they will pull you from possibly very good customers and clients, and maybe throw you into a cubicle in the back of the office.
The women that handle such situations best are often straight up tough, but very polite at the same time. Use people around you to help control the obnoxious customer or client.
"Are you going to let him just talk to me like that? You know I have a boyfriend. " "Wow, did you hear what he said? What if my mother heard that? She would cry." "Do you say that to all the girls at business dinners? I'm so shocked." "What would your wife say? Wouldn't she be jealous. " "Don't you have a lot of girlfriends to say and do that to?"
The correct verbal response, tends to kill the enthusiasm to sexually harass women in business settings, and gets the message across that the lewd comments are uncalled for and not appropriate.
