News

2 Former Kadokawa Senior Officials Arrested Due to Olympic Bribery Scandal

NHK reported that two former Kadokawa senior officials were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of bribing a former member of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics organizing committee.

Former executive Toshiyuki Yoshihara and former senior official Kyо̄ji Maniwa are suspected of paying 70 million yen (about US$500,000) to a consultancy linked to Haruyuki Takahashi, who was arrested last month on suspicion of accepting bribes from companies to secure their sponsorship for the Games.

The firm belonged to Kazumasa Fukami, who formerly worked together with Takahashi at Dentsu Inc. before Takahashi became a member of the Olympic organizing committee. Takahashi allegedly used his network of contacts at Dentsu, which the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee commissioned to select and handle the sponsors, to secure Kadokawa's position.

Kadokawa became an "official supporter" of the Games in April 2019, and published the official programs and results books. According to sources linked to the investigation, Kadokawa signed a deal with the consultancy to pay 70 million yen in 10 installments starting from May 2019. A portion of the money is believed to have been transferred to Takahashi.

Prosecutors raided Kadokawa's head office, the home of chairman Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, and the consulting firm on Tuesday. Tokyo's Special Investigation Team has not revealed whether the four individuals confirmed or denied the charges.

Takahashi was arrested last month on suspicion of accepting 51 million yen (about US$363,000) in bribes from clothing company Aoki Holdings Inc. The Osaka-based advertising firm Daiko has also come under scrutiny for paying at least 14 million yen (about US$99,600) to the firm. Prosecutors raided the office on Monday.

Japan Times reported that Kadokawa Chairman Tsuguhiko Kadokawa claimed to reporters on Monday that the money was just a consultancy fee and that there was "absolutely no recognition on his part that the money constituted a bribe."

NHK reported that, according to sources linked to the investigation, Takahashi denied charges of bribery, while Aoki Holdings founder Hironori Aoki admitted to it.

Kadokawa announced in a press release on Tuesday that it is taking the matter very seriously and intends to fully cooperate with the authorities. The company will refrain from commenting on details surrounding the case while the investigation is ongoing.

Sources: NHK (link 2), Kadokawa press release, Asahi Shimbun, Japan Times (Eric Johnston)