Arrested Exec. Mentioned Aoki As Games Sponsor Before Official Announcement
Sources have told NHK that a former executive of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee said business suit retailer Aoki Holdings would be a Games sponsor before the official decision was made.
Sources close to the case quote a former senior official of the organizing committee as saying that the former executive, Takahashi Haruyuki, told others in 2017 that Aoki intended to sponsor the events for 500 million yen, or about 3.7 million dollars.
More than one year later, in October 2018, Aoki was officially named a sponsor of the Tokyo Games by making a financial contribution of 3.7 million dollars.
Sources say Tokyo prosecutors suspect that Takahashi played a leading role in Aoki's selection as a sponsor.
Takahashi was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of receiving bribes totaling 51 million yen, or about 380,000 dollars, from former Aoki Holdings Chairman Aoki Hironori and two others. The three on the Aoki side were also arrested.
The sources say Takahashi has denied involvement in coordinating corporate financial contributions for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.