Games exec pushed for quick screenings of Aoki products

An executive board member of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee who allegedly received about ¥45 million from Games sponsor Aoki Holdings Inc. has told e Yomiuri Shimbun he urged relevant o cials to expedite the licensing screening for items produced by the business wear retailer. Experts claim the actions of Haruyuki Takahashi, a former executive of advertising agency Dentsu Inc., could be interpreted as an attempt to in uence the screening process as the executive board was responsible for making nal decisions on product licensing.

e Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee disbanded at the end of June.

Takahashi, 78, spoke with e Yomiuri Shimbun on multiple occasions earlier this month, both in person and over the phone.

Takahashi allegedly received more than ¥45 million from the Aoki side during his tenure as an executive board member, between the autumn of 2017 and around the time the Games closed in 2021, even though members are considered public servants and are prohibited from receiving funds or goods in connection to their duties.

e special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors O ce is investigating the case and has questioned senior Aoki o cials, among others.

In October 2018, Aoki announced that it had signed a contract to become a Tokyo 2020 corporate sponsor.

e retailer sold o cially licensed products including suits and jackets bearing the Olympic emblem.

According to documents of the organizing committee and other materials, o cially licensed products needed to be approved by the committee a er a screening to check the quality, design and other aspects.

Takahashi told e Yomiuri Shimbun that he had contacted relevant o cials in the committee’s marketing department when Aoki’s items were undergoing screening.

Many of the o cials in the department were employees of Dentsu Inc., where Takahashi served as an advisor until 2011.

“ey were taking so much time over trivial matters, so I pushed them, saying, ‘Get this done quickly,’” Takahashi said. “I also said something like, ‘As long as it’s the right format, it’s ne.’ ings wouldn’t have been completed on time with all the red tape.”

Takahashi denied that he was involved in the screening process but admitted there had been times when he pushed o cials at the request of sponsor rms.

“It would be very problematic if such conduct undermined the fairness and credibility of the screening process,” said Shinji Hatta, professor emeritus at Aoyama Gakuin University and an expert on organizational governance. “e Olympics and the Paralympics were a national project, so the organizing committee executives should have acted with fairness and integrity.” (July 23)