An online article by business newspaper NIKKEI.com reported that telling junior employees to reserve hanami spots could fall under the two of six categories of power harassment specified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare – excessive demands, such as assigning work that is impossible to perform or obviously unnecessary; and intrusion upon the individual, such as intrusion into an employee's personal life.
Un article en línia del diari de negocis NIKKEI.com ressenyava que enviar els treballadors subalterns a reservar llocs per al hanami podria incórrer en dues de les sis categories que constitueixen l'abús de poder , especificades pel Ministeri d'Afers Socials i Salut – demandes excessives, com ara assignar un treball que és impossible de realitzar o que és òbviament innecessari; i intromissió en la vida privada de l'individu.