Earlier this year, Takahashi Haruyuki was arrested under suspicion of receiving bribes from companies hoping to become sponsors of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Takahashi served in an executive role on the organization committee for the Games. Scheduled for 2020, the event was ultimately delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent findings indicate that Mori Yoshiro, former Prime Minister and chief of the Organizing Committee, may also have been involved in the scandal. This is likely to have further negative impact on Mori’s reputation, which has taken a hit following sexist remarks that caused him to resign his position on the Games committee.
Both Takahashi and Mori argued heavily in favor of Japan being chosen to host the 2020 Games. 2020 was only the second time Japan had hosted the Summer Olympic Games. The first was over fifty years prior in 1964. Unfortunately, rumors of scandal surfaced almost immediately after Tokyo was chosen for the honor. French authorities alleged that the International Olympic Committee had received bribes from an unidentified Japanese source to accept Tokyo’s bid.
Takahashi’s name was brought up in connection to the bribery in 2019. Although he was not found guilty or arrested, he was forced to resign from Japan’s Organizing Committee. Ongoing investigations revealed that Takahashi had potentially accepted bribes from sponsors. [1] He was arrested in August 2022, with Mori’s potential connection to the scandal discovered in late September.
Takahashi May Have Taken Millions in Bribes
Takahashi Haruyuki has worked as a bidder, promoter, and organizer for sports events for over 40 years. Previously, he worked with the firm Dentsu before retiring to work as an independent consultant. He became known for organizing soccer star Pele’s 1977 Japan tour.
Takahashi also advocated for Japan’s involvement in the highly successful 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, which was seen as a risky investment due to many countries boycotting the event. He was appointed to the Organizing Committee in 2014. This position prohibited the acceptance of any money or gifts that could influence Olympics-related decisions.
Takahashi is alleged to have accepted over 100 million yen in bribes from companies who wished to sponsor the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Implicated companies include men’s apparel manufacturer Aoki Holdings and publisher Kadokawa Publishing. Takahashi was spotted dining with executives from both groups multiple times at a Tokyo steakhouse that he owns.
Although authorities arrested him in August, he continues to deny the charges. He maintains any money he accepted from either Aoki or Kadokawa was not a bribe but a legitimate consulting fee.
In November, he was indicted yet again, with three more companies added to the list of those he had reportedly accepted bribes from. Prosecutors are continuing to build their case against Takahashi, and the investigation remains ongoing.[2]
Mori May Have Been Involved Despite Resignation
Mori Yoshiro served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2000 to 2001. He was unpopular due to making a number of controversial statements. He joked about AIDS, endorsed the idea of the Emperor as a divine figure, and responded flippantly to tragic events.
Despite this negative reputation, in 2014 he was chosen as the head of the Organizing Committee for the 2020 Olympics. However, Mori was later forced to step down after making sexist comments. Mori is quoted as having complained that meetings with female board members “took too much time” because “women talk too much.”
His relationship with Takahashi on the committee was a contentious one, as the two argued about whether or not to postpone the Games due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Sources indicate that Mori may have felt “threatened” by Takahashi’s strong opinion regarding the Games’ continuation. [3]
Although Mori stepped down from his position with the committee, evidence now indicates that he may have been involved, alongside Takahashi, in the acceptance of bribes from potential sponsors. Mori was seen meeting multiple times with Hironori Aoki, the founder of Aoki Holdings, one of the companies believed to have been bribing Takahashi. Mori also met at least once with Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, the chairman of Kadokawa Publishing, another of the potentially involved companies.
As of December 2022, Mori has been questioned but not arrested or officially indicted for his potential role in the scandal.
Mori Was Questioned But Not Indicted
Investigators involved in the prosecution of the scandal questioned Mori regarding his involvement in early September 2022. However, officials released a statement that Mori was questioned as an unsworn witness. He was not considered a suspect at that time.
Initially, when journalists reached out to Mori, he refused to comment, citing that he did not wish to compromise the integrity of the investigation. He later admitted to meeting with Aoki but stated via a lawyer that he had never discussed sponsorship bribes with Takahashi, Aoki, or any of the other involved individuals. As with Takahashi, the investigation regarding Mori’s involvement remains ongoing.[4]
The ongoing scandal is likely to continue to cast a shadow over the 2020 (actually 2021) Games, an unfortunate circumstance given the general mood of excitement and nationwide support when Japan won the bid to host its second-ever Summer Games. The professional reputations of both Takahashi and Mori will likely also take a hit, especially as the investigation against Takahashi continues. It is possible that Mori will be officially indicted or named a suspect in the future, depending on what evidence prosecutors uncover.
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Sources
[1] Johnston, Eric. “Arrest over alleged bribery could be final whistle on career of Japan’s sporting event ace.” The Japan Times. 26 August 2022. Link.
[2] Kyodo News. “Ex-Tokyo Olympic exec indicted 4th time in bribery case.” 9 November 2022. Link.
[3] Bunshun. “森喜朗は、高橋治之・元五輪組織委理事に脅されていた” November 2022. Link.
[4] The Asahi Shimbun. “Mori questioned as witness in Tokyo Olympic bribery scandal.” 9 September 2022. Link.
