Former PM Mori Yoshiro Swept into Olympics Bribery Scandal

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…