On September 14 (September 2022), the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office arrested Tsuguhiko Kadokawa (79), chairman of the major publishing company Kadokawa, on suspicion of bribery in connection with the corruption scandal surrounding the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. “Before his arrest, Kadokawa had strongly denied any knowledge of bribery,” said MC Shinichi Hatori at the start of the “Morning Show” program on the 15th.
He was arrested on suspicion of asking Haruyuki Takahashi, the former director of the organizing committee, to be chosen as the sponsor of the tournament, and paid a bribe of around 69 million yen. Two former managing directors of KADOKAWA have already been arrested on the same charges.
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Corruption at the Tokyo Olympics is spreading (image is image)
In response to media coverage…
Kadokawa responded to interviews with media companies on the 5th of this month. When asked if he was aware of the bribes, he repeatedly replied, “No, not at all.” I was pissed off. Regarding the doubt, he said, “It is all unexpected and confusing,” “I do not know at all, and I trust the workers.”
He admitted that he had met with Takahashi, and said, “I said hello to ‘I’d like to ask for publishing rights.'” In response to the question, he explained with gestures, “You’re stuck in the preview. He’s a director, so it’s not natural to ask a director.”
How did the Special Investigations Department of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office view this press conference? Lawyer Masataka Kamei, former Osaka District Public Prosecutor, said, “It is inconceivable that a subordinate would bribe without informing the chairman. I think he thought that the chairman’s press conference ‘I was not know’ is a lie,” shows that.
Hatori: “Even though you denied it with such a strong tone at the press conference, you were also arrested.”
Toru Tamagawa (Asahi TV employee) “When I saw the video of the press conference, I thought it was unnatural to deny the bribery by saying ‘I don’t understand’ at the beginning. I’ve never done it before,’ and I felt it was too much.”
Seo Dong-hui (Lawyer): “The important thing moving forward is to prevent similar events like the Sapporo Olympics and World Expo from happening again.
(candy)
