logo
Transport ministry issues warning to Haneda Airport operator

Transport ministry issues warning to Haneda Airport operator

Japan Times12-05-2025

The transport ministry on Monday issued a strict warning to Japan Airport Terminal over its subsidiary's inappropriate transactions that benefited a consultant firm headed by the eldest son of Makoto Koga, former secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
The ministry summoned Kazuhito Tanaka, president of the operator of Tokyo's Haneda Airport, and gave the warning over misconduct related to a massage chair business in a terminal building at the airport.
The ministry said it is "regrettable" that a company responsible for public infrastructure has been involved in long-term misconduct at the airport terminal.
It urged the company to revise its compliance audit system and continue to report to the ministry on the status of measures to prevent a recurrence.
On Friday, a special investigation committee set up by the company announced that the inappropriate transactions had continued for many years, led by former company president Nobuaki Yokota and tolerated by former chairman Isao Takashiro. Yokota and Takashiro resigned the same day.
Following the ministry's warning, Japan Airport Terminal said that it will make sincere efforts to prevent a recurrence and regain trust.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Former manager of Nihon University weightlifting club arrested over fraud
Former manager of Nihon University weightlifting club arrested over fraud

Japan Times

timean hour ago

  • Japan Times

Former manager of Nihon University weightlifting club arrested over fraud

Tokyo police arrested a former manager of Nihon University's weightlifting club on Tuesday for allegedly defrauding the club's scholarship students of money, including by claiming the funds would go towards tuition fees. Kenji Nanba, 63, was arrested on suspicion of swindling four scholarship students out of a total of ¥2.05 million in December 2022 by saying that the money included facility costs, from which they were actually exempt. Police believe that Nanba has collected a total of about ¥38 million from 48 students over 10 years by telling similar lies. He is believed to have used swindled money to buy business suits and bags and to cover the cost of painting his luxury BMW car. According to the university, Nanba began such scams around 20 years ago or earlier, receiving a total of ¥53.2 million. The university detected the fraud during an investigation into a separate scandal, and it has fully compensated 58 parents of former club members whom it confirmed as victims. Following his arrest, the university said in a statement that it deeply apologizes to society and will continue to fully cooperate with investigative authorities. Nanba became the club's manager in April 2000. After the fraud came to light, the university dismissed him in July 2024 and consulted with police. Established in 1965, the university's weightlifting club has won the national intercollegiate championships 23 times and produced many Olympic athletes.

Japan Looks to Boost Trust with S. Korea's President Lee, Who Has Called for ‘Pragmatic Diplomacy'
Japan Looks to Boost Trust with S. Korea's President Lee, Who Has Called for ‘Pragmatic Diplomacy'

Yomiuri Shimbun

timean hour ago

  • Yomiuri Shimbun

Japan Looks to Boost Trust with S. Korea's President Lee, Who Has Called for ‘Pragmatic Diplomacy'

The Associated Press South Korean President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a press conference at the presidential office in Seoul on June 4. Japan is eager to foster a trusting relationship with South Korea under its new President Lee Jae-myung, who advocates 'pragmatic diplomacy' — prioritizing practical benefits over ideology. During their first phone call on Monday, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Lee, who is known for being critical of Japan, agreed to keep up momentum toward better Japan-South Korea relations. Ishiba hopes to hold an in-person meeting, according to government sources. 'We had an excellent phone conversation. Although difficult issues exist between Japan and our neighbor South Korea, I intend to communicate actively and energetically [with Lee] to develop a stable bilateral relationship,' Ishiba told reporters at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo after the phone call. Lee, on his X account, praised Ishiba as a leader who believes in trying to build a genuine relationship of trust with South Korea. Given the increasingly challenging strategic environment, the leaders recognized the need for cooperation between Japan and South Korea, and trilaterally with the United States. Concerns in this area include military collaboration between Russia and North Korea, and confrontation between the United States and China during President Donald Trump's term. The fact that Lee spoke with Ishiba before China suggests, to some extent, South Korea's continued focus on its relationship with Japan. Japan is watching how Lee pursues his 'pragmatic diplomacy,' viewing this approach as the reason he stopped his anti-Japanese remarks. Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who like Lee was a left-leaning leader, emphasized on ideology and principles. During his inaugural phone call with then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which he held after his call with China, Moon expressed that he could not accept the agreement on former comfort women that was previously made with Japan. He subsequently nullified the agreement, causing Japan-South Korea relations to severely deteriorate. In contrast, Lee expressed his eagerness on Monday for cooperation based on the national interests of both countries. He showed that he intends to separate historical issues from economic and security matters. At a press conference shortly after his inauguration on June 4, he also hinted that he would stick to his predecessors' solution to a lawsuit filed by former wartime requisitioned workers from the Korean Peninsula. However, Japan is still deeply concerned about whether Lee can address potential friction between the two countries while maintaining the support of his base. Tokyo is looking to stabilize relations by building trust through frequent summit meetings.

Japan aims to reduce estimated deaths from megaquake by 80%
Japan aims to reduce estimated deaths from megaquake by 80%

NHK

timean hour ago

  • NHK

Japan aims to reduce estimated deaths from megaquake by 80%

Japan's government has set goals for reducing the estimated death toll and structural damage from an anticipated massive earthquake occurring in the Nankai Trough off the country's Pacific coast. The government in 2014 set disaster mitigation goals that called for reducing the death toll by about 80 percent and structural damage by about 50 percent. But a new damage estimate released in March this year said 298,000 people could be killed and 2.35 million buildings destroyed in the worst-case scenario. The figures fall short of the disaster mitigation goals. The government has been reviewing its basic plan on disaster preparedness measures, based on the new damage estimate. Sources say the goals set in 2014 remain largely unchanged, with a roughly 80-percent cut in the death toll and a roughly 50-percent cut in structural damage to be attained over the next decade. The government will also make homes more quake-resistant, promote the installation of quake-sensitive circuit breakers, and step up tangible disaster preparedness measures such as building embankments. It will confirm progress in such measures on a regular basis, taking in advice from experts. The basic plan on measures for a Nankai Trough megaquake is expected to be officially endorsed next month.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store