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Kadokawa ex-senior official stands trial on Tokyo Games bribery charges

A trial has begun for a senior official of major Japanese publisher Kadokawa on charges of bribery, stemming from his company's effort to win a sponsorship deal for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Maniwa Kyoji, the publisher's point man on matters concerning the Games, admitted to the charges at the start of his trial at the Tokyo District Court on Thursday.

He is accused of handing about 69 million yen, or roughly 520,000 dollars, to a former executive member of the Games organizing committee, Takahashi Haruyuki, in exchange for having the publisher chosen as a Games sponsor.

In their opening statement, prosecutors stated how Maniwa made the payment under the approval of the publisher's former chairman, Kadokawa Tsuguhiko.

The prosecutors stated that Maniwa was asked by Takahashi's acquaintance to pay 100 million yen, or about 750,000 dollars, in return for the sponsorship. They said the acquaintance was instructed by Takahashi.

The prosecutors said that when Maniwa reported this to Kadokawa, he approved the payment, saying he wants to see the deal sealed quickly so that he can announce it as soon as possible.

The prosecutors went on to say that Maniwa asked Kadokawa again for further confirmation some time later, after the company's legal department had pointed out that a payment to Takahashi could constitute a bribe.

The prosecutors said that the former chairman responded by telling Maniwa to do his best.

The prosecutors also read out a report taken from the publisher's sources who said that employees at the company saw the former chairman as acting beyond the scope of the law.

The former chairman himself is awaiting trial on charges of bribery. When he was indicted in October last year, he released a statement saying that he has never been involved in any bribery.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230330_32/