High court orders Tokyo gov't, state to compensate 3 for illicit company probe
A Japanese high court on Wednesday ordered the Tokyo metropolitan government and the state to compensate a company president and others for an unlawful investigation into the alleged unauthorized export of goods capable of producing biological weapons.
The Tokyo High Court ruled the investigation on Masaaki Okawara, 76, president of machinery maker Ohkawara Kakohki Co, and two other men was illegal.
The court ordered the state and Tokyo to pay about 166 million yen in compensation, up about 4 million yen from the amount awarded by the lower court.
A Tokyo police investigator testified at the lower court that the case was "fabricated," and a former investigator told the high court that people with discretion built the case "out of greed."
The plaintiffs had appealed the Tokyo District Court ruling that awarded the compensation to Okawara, Junji Shimada, a former director of the company, and the family of former adviser Shizuo Aishima, who died in 2021 after falling ill during detainment, insisting court findings on the maliciousness of the investigation by police and prosecutors were insufficient.
The state and the metropolitan government had also appealed, arguing their investigation was legal and seeking a rejection of the plaintiffs' appeal.
The Metropolitan Police Department said it will decide on its response after thoroughly examining the latest ruling.
Prosecutors withdrew the indictment in July 2021, but Aishima died due to stomach cancer at age 72 in February of that year before redeeming his honor.
The plaintiffs sought 560 million yen in damages in the lawsuit filed in September 2021, claiming the items in question -- spray dryers that can atomize liquids and turn them into powder through a quick drying process -- were not subject to export restrictions.
The Yokohama-based firm is Japan's leading maker of spray dryers, widely used to produce food products such as instant coffee, baby formula, medicine and ceramics.
The three men were arrested in March 2020 on suspicion of exporting spray dryers capable of producing biological agents without authorization. Okawara and Shimada spent 332 days in custody until they were released on bail in February 2021.
© KYODO
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
an hour ago
How Social Media Is Reshaping Politics in Japan—for Better or Worse
Social media has rapidly become a force in Japanese politics—shaping public opinion and tipping the scales in national and local elections around Japan. What does this mean for political engagement, trust in mainstream institutions, and the future of Japanese democracy? The Internet and Political Engagement Most Japanese voters rarely observe political debates or take the time to follow policymaking directly, instead relying on the media to stay informed. For decades, that meant newspapers. National surveys by the Association for Promoting Fair Elections (APFE) showed that by the early 2000s, though, TV had overtaken newspapers as the main source of political information. Today, the Internet has surpassed both. At the same time, Ikeda Ken'ichi, an expert on voting behavior, notes that political participation in Japan remains low compared to other mature democracies. Japan's stable but stagnant political environment, dominated by entrenched political interests and personal political support groups, may dampen the motivation to vote. In an APFE survey conducted in the wake of the 2024 House of Representatives election, common reasons respondents gave for abstaining included 'no interest in elections' (24.3%), 'elections don't improve politics' (17.3%), and 'my vote doesn't matter' (11.6%). Young voter turnout in particular has hovered at about half the rate of older generations, raising serious concerns about the health of Japanese democracy. Yet the Internet, especially social media, has opened new doors for political engagement, particularly among those who feel alienated from mainstream politics. People who find traditional media coverage inadequate often turn to the Internet to explore issues on their own terms. Social platforms enable them to connect with others who share their views—or push back against those who see things differently. In a phenomenon known as 'filter bubbles,' users are increasingly exposed to content that matches their beliefs and engage with like-minded users in echo chambers, reinforcing their preexisting views. The political rise of Donald Trump in the United States has been driven by this dynamic. Social media has fueled political polarization, but it has also drawn more people into the political conversation and boosted turnout. In this way, social media acts as a double-edged sword for democracy. The Rise of Social Media Campaigns in Japan Gubernatorial elections in Tokyo and Hyōgo in 2024 showcased just how transformative social media can be. For candidates lacking traditional political capital—such as local support bases, funding, or name recognition—social media offered a vital battleground for guerrilla-style campaigning. Candidates livestreamed speeches, shared campaign events in real time, and rallied support online. These tactics brought a sense of immediacy and authenticity that resonated with many voters, especially those disillusioned with establishment politics, conventional media, or vested interests. This kind of impassioned support for political candidates was sometimes likened to oshikatsu—a term describing the enthusiasm and devotion fans show for their favorite idols. Such social-media-driven campaigns tend to center around charismatic individuals rather than 'faceless' party platforms or abstract policy debates. The Democratic Party for the People made major gains in the 2024 House of Representatives election, but analysis of the seventh Japanese Election Study political survey showed that social media users were not necessarily aligned with the policies advocated by the party or its leader, Tamaki Yūichirō. Rather, disillusioned voters active on social media appear to have been drawn to Tamaki personally, irrespective of his ideology. The flip side of social media politics is its susceptibility to manipulation. Slander, rumors, fake news, and eye-catching stunts can distort the political process. Globally, Internet-based misinformation campaigns, attacks on political opponents, and foreign interference have plagued elections since the 2010s. In Romania's 2024 presidential race, for example, support for an obscure, far-right candidate surged via social media—only to be later traced to foreign influence, leading to the annulment of the election. In Japan, concerns have arisen over possible violations of the Public Offices Election Act and the role of PR firms in manipulating social media narratives, prompting calls for clearer regulations and penalties. Long-Term Shifts in Voter Behavior Given these dynamics, can the Internet fundamentally reshape how Japanese people perceive politics or vote? In the short term, the effects are likely to vary depending on the type of election and the demographics involved. Urban areas with more young people, higher social media use, and a larger share of residents born elsewhere are fertile ground for online campaigns—especially in local, personality-driven races like the gubernatorial elections that were held in Tokyo and Hyōgo. But in rural regions with older populations and limited social media penetration, or in party-centered contests like national legislative races, the impact may be more muted. That said, recent developments—rising prices, rice shortages, geopolitical tensions, major accidents, and natural disasters—have shaken public confidence and intensified political frustration. As seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, such periods are conducive to conspiracy theories and misinformation, often spread via social media. When these conditions align, even short-term shifts in social and political awareness can occur. Meanwhile, long-term transformations are also underway. The 2024 APFE survey showed that older generations still rely on newspapers, middle-aged voters favor TV, and younger people increasingly turn to the Internet for political information. As generations shift, Internet influence is likely to grow. Another major change is the decline of traditional intermediary organizations like business associations, labor unions, and religious groups that once helped shape party-centered political identity and behavior. These groups play a key role in 'political socialization,' but as their influence wanes, individuals find fewer structured ways to understand and engage with politics. Instead, the Internet and online communities are gradually taking on that role. Over time, these changes may fundamentally reshape how Japanese voters think and act politically. Social media has proven to be a powerful tool for new political movements. But established players—with deeper pockets and greater organizational reach—could eventually learn to use it just as effectively and strategically, if not more so. Political success in a democracy hinges on effectively delivering one's message to large numbers of voters, and communication tools—social media included—are likely to continue to grow and evolve. The future of democracy will hinge on how well we navigate this evolving media environment. As AI-generated deepfakes and sophisticated misinformation campaigns become harder to detect, it will be critical for news organizations, monitoring groups, and platform companies to step up their fact-checking efforts. At the individual level, information literacy must be strengthened across all generations. This includes diversifying news sources, checking facts, and fostering critical thinking through discussion with others. Understanding political dynamics requires more than reacting to sensational headlines; it demands the ability to discern the broader structures behind them. Finally, civic education must also evolve, especially since the voting age was lowered to 18. Teaching young people how politics works and how to make informed electoral choices is crucial to sustaining a healthy democracy. (Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo: Saitō Motohiko, ousted as Hyōgo governor in a no-confidence vote, addresses a crowd of voters holding up smartphones on the final day of his reelection campaign, November 16, 2024. © Kyōdō.)
2 hours ago
Chinese Premier Urges Japan to Stand against Trump Tariffs
News from Japan World Jun 3, 2025 23:11 (JST) Beijing, June 3 (Jiji Press)--Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday urged Japan to deepen cooperation with China to stand against high U.S. tariffs. In a meeting in Beijing with a delegation from the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade, Li said that the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration are a defiant challenge to nations around the world. According to sources with access to discussions at the meeting, Li said that the recent agreement between the United States and China to reduce their tariffs was based on the Chinese side's views. He also voiced hopes for expansion of Japanese companies' investments in China. Former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono, who heads the delegation, said he is concerned that Japan-China relations may be rocked by outside influences. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
The Mainichi
2 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Basketball: Japan guard Tominaga joins Hokkaido in B-League
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Sharpshooting Japanese guard Keisei Tominaga has signed a contract with Levanga Hokkaido for the 2025-2026 season, the B-League club announced Tuesday. The 24-year-old former U.S. college standout saw limited game time the past season playing for the Indiana Mad Ants in the NBA's developmental G League. "I'll use my ability behind the three-point line and give all I have to contribute to the team winning the B-League for the first time," Tominaga, who will wear No. 30 for Hokkaido, said in a statement. The Aichi Prefecture native played for Ranger College in Texas and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Tominaga represented Japan both at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, while he also represented his country in 3x3 basketball at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
