• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Tuesday 2 September 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 日本語
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 日本語
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

New facts emerge on suspected witness bribery in Akimoto IR scandal

Shintaro Kamimura by Shintaro Kamimura
Mon 10 Aug 2020 at 06:28
Internal 500.com memo indicates JPY 5 million provided to five lower house representatives in pursuit of Japan IR

Tsukasa Akimoto

33
SHARES
717
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

New facts have emerged around the three company executives arrested by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor’s Office on suspicion of paying off witnesses in the ongoing IR corruption case involving House of Representatives member Tsukasa Akimoto and Chinese firm 500.com. The three company executives are Akihito Awaji, 54, of Tokyo’s Minato Ward, Fumihiko Sato, 50, of Chuo Ward, and Kazuhiro Miyatake, 49, of Naha.

At the trial, Akimoto stated that on the day money was allegedly handed over, he had not gone to the Diet Members’ building. Knowing this claim, Awaji instructed Sato to ask Akihiko Konno – a former advisor to 500.com who has been arrested for allegedly bribing Akimoto – to say he had not met Akimoto at the building. Some reports have included a video of the moment in which Sato is believed to have delivered cash to Konno. Akimoto is denying any involvement.

Awaji is a supporter of Akimoto and the former president of Yotsuba Holdings, a multi-level marketing company that dealt in a virtual currency called Clover Coins. The company was ordered to cease business by the Consumer Affairs Agency in October 2017 for violating the Specified Commercial Transactions Act, and victims have filed dozens of claims for damages.

Attorney Nobuo Gohara, who had been newly appointed to defend Akimoto, was interviewed in Tokyo on 6 August and announced he would have Akimoto acquitted.  The following day he resigned, offering “differences of defense policy” as the reason.

According to some reports, Akimoto’s new lawyer is Junichiro Hironaka. Hironaka is known the “Innocence Contractor” and recently defended Carlos Ghosn – the former Nissan and Renault CEO currently on the run after fleeing Japan while facing charges of misappropriation of funds.

RelatedPosts

10 Years Ago: Next Stop Japan

Osaka-based forum to study the potential impact of MGM’s Japan IR on Korea’s casino industry

Wed 27 Aug 2025 at 05:40
Improved Okada Manila performance not enough to push Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corp back to profit in 2021

Japan’s Universal falls to US$69 million loss in 1H25 on Okada Manila underperformance

Sun 10 Aug 2025 at 12:56
Konami reveals strong growth for Gaming and Systems segment despite group-wide declines in 1H20

Konami’s Gaming & Systems suffers decline in in June quarter profits on competitive environment, rising tariff costs

Fri 1 Aug 2025 at 05:44
In the crosshairs

Fitch: No clear near-term recovery path for Philippines integrated resort Okada Manila

Wed 30 Jul 2025 at 06:08
Load More
Tags: 500.combriberyirJapanscandalTokyo District Public Prosecutor's OfficeTsukasa Akimoto
Share16Share2
Shintaro Kamimura

Shintaro Kamimura

Shintaro Kamimura (from Tokyo) has worked for many years as a professional mahjong player, mahjong instructor and a writer. He travels far and wide both in Japan and overseas, fine-tuning his already extensive expertise in many areas of gaming, including Japanese pachinko and slot machines, and overseas casinos.

Current Issue

Editorial – Flipping the script

Editorial – Flipping the script

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:30

This month represents an important milestone for Inside Asian Gaming as we launch IAG EXPO – an expansion of the...

Asia market roundup

Asia market roundup

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:26

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the state of Asia-Pacific’s key gaming markets: who’s hot, who’s not and...

Rewriting the rules

Rewriting the rules

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:43

IAG EXPO, taking place at Newport World Resorts from 8 to 10 September, is not your usual trade show. IAG...

Test of character

Test of character

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:28

Since its establishment in 1989, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has developed into the world’s most trusted name when it comes...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR

Related Posts

Macau’s Legislative Assembly discussing new tour guide law proposing higher penalties for unlicensed guides

Macau GGR tipped to continue positive momentum in September and beyond

by Ben Blaschke
Tue 2 Sep 2025 at 11:39

Macau’s gross gaming revenue generation should maintain its recent strength in the coming months, including a forecast 13% year-on-year increase in September, according to industry analysts. Following confirmation on Monday that August GGR had again set a new post-pandemic record...

Jeju Dream Tower casino sales down 7.4% in March

Korea’s Jeju Dream Tower stretches run of consecutive volume and visitation growth to seven months as September hits record highs

by Newsdesk
Tue 2 Sep 2025 at 05:20

Korea’s Jeju Dream Tower registered another all-time record in casino drop and visitation in August, stretching its run of consecutive growth to seven months. According to information from the property’s parent company Lotte Tour, August visitation reached 57,042 – up...

Editorial – Beware the Lion King

Macau’s Galaxy Entertainment Group opens new office in Singapore

by Pierce Chan
Tue 2 Sep 2025 at 05:05

Macau’s Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) has announced the opening of a new office in Singapore, which it says aims to support tourism and MICE-related enquiries from customers. Located in the heart of Singapore’s central business district, GEG said the office...

Zitro: Spanish flair

Zitro teases big reveal at G2E Las Vegas 2025

by Newsdesk
Mon 1 Sep 2025 at 14:40

Spanish gaming supplier Zitro says it is gearing up for a milestone appearance at this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, promising an experience filled with new content, innovation and a highly anticipated product debut. Located in a...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 日本語

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 日本語
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • English
  • 日本語