Latest news with #JapanAirportTerminal
Yomiuri Shimbun
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Airport Terminal Issue: Were Inappropriate Transactions Conducted Only at Haneda?
Opaque funds were flowing from a firm related to an operating company for Haneda Airport terminal buildings to a company headed by a family member of an influential politician. Why was the cozy relationship not cut off? A thorough investigation is needed, including looking into transactions at other airports. From 2006 to 2016, a wholly owned subsidiary of the operating company Japan Airport Terminal Co., which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime Market, provided more than ¥400 million to a company run by the eldest son of Makoto Koga, a former secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, over a project to set up massage chairs at Haneda Airport. The eldest son's company had entirely delegated the actual business operations to another company. The national tax authorities pointed out that the eldest son's company took no part in actual business operations and imposed additional taxes on the subsidiary. Even after that, the subsidiary continued to provide funds in different forms, and the national tax authorities noted the failure of the eldest son's company to report the income. Japan Airport Terminal is a highly public company that is allowed to operate on state-owned land based on the Airport Law and other legislation. It is unacceptable for the company to provide opaque funding that would arouse the suspicion of users. It can be said that the incident has exposed the malfunctioning of corporate governance. It is not surprising that the chairman as well as the president of Japan Airport Terminal, who led the provision of funds, both resigned to take responsibility in response to the revelation of the problem. In an internal investigation, the president of Japan Airport Terminal was quoted as saying that since the person in question was the son of a former member of the House of Representatives, the president was unable to end their long-standing personal relationship. The president also explained he had never asked for anything in return. The question remains as to whether the 'personal relationship' was the only reason for the massive provision of funds. The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry has issued a stern reprimand, which amounts to administrative guidance, to Japan Airport Terminal. It also requested that 25 airport terminal operating companies nationwide investigate the actual situation, including their subsidiaries, to determine if there are any inappropriate funds being provided to business partners. The eldest son's company has already been found to have had dealings with operating companies at two airports in Fukuoka and Osaka prefectures as well. Each operating company must conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether any improper provision of funds similar to that which took place at Haneda Airport also occurred at other airports. The government has a responsibility to supervise operating companies for airport terminals under the Airport Law. If investigations are insufficient or inappropriate transactions are suspected, the ministry should launch its own investigation. The government is aiming to make Japan a 'tourism-oriented country,' but it is not doing enough to check airport operations, which are the key to achieving this goal. The reality is that the selection of tenants in airport terminals and business partners is left to the discretion of the operating companies. To prevent problematic transactions, it is necessary to require operating companies to report to the government about contract details between them and their business partners, and their actual business situation. For example, the introduction of a system in which the government conducts regular audits may also be something to consider. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 30, 2025)
Japan Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Transport ministry issues warning to Haneda Airport operator
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.
Yomiuri Shimbun
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Inappropriate Transactions Found at Japan Airport Terminal
The Yomiuri Shimbun Kazuhito Tanaka, left, president of Japan Airport Terminal Co., speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Friday. TOKYO (Jiji Press) — An investigation committee set up by Japan Airport Terminal Co. said Friday that a subsidiary engaged in inappropriate transactions that benefited a consultant firm headed by the 52-year-old son of Makoto Koga, former secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The panel found that the transactions were led by Japan Airport Terminal President Nobuaki Yokota and tolerated by Chairman Isao Takashiro. Both Yokota and Takashiro resigned on the day. The panel's investigation found that the Tokyo-based subsidiary, Big Wing Co., paid a total of some ¥400 million to the consultant firm over 10 years through 2016 in the guise of commission fees for a massage chair business at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, although actual work was performed by another company. The payments continued even after the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau warned that they amounted to concealment of income totaling about ¥100 million. The panel found no evidence that the company sought favors from Koga or his son. 'As a company that provides public services, we should never engage [in such transactions],' Kazuhito Tanaka, who became president of Japan Airport Terminal on Friday, told a press conference in Tokyo. 'We take the matter extremely seriously.' The new president said the company will cut ties with Koga's son and consider seeking damages after consulting with lawyers.
Japan Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan Airport Terminal's top execs step down amid corruption scandal
Japan Airport Terminal President Nobuaki Yokota and Chairman Isao Takashiro resigned Friday amid a corruption scandal involving the operating company for Tokyo's Haneda Airport terminals and a son of Makoto Koga, former secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The company said it accepted resignation offers from the two top executives the same day. They stepped down as Japan Airport Terminal's Audit and Supervisory Committee was investigating allegations that the company had given favor to a consultant firm headed by Koga's first son over massage chairs being installed at the terminal buildings of the airport. The Haneda terminal facility operator will announce a new management team shortly. It also plans to disclose the results of the investigation after reporting them to the transport ministry. Joining Japan Airport Terminal in 1974, Yokota became president in June 2016. Takashiro, who entered the firm in 1968, assumed the post of chairman in June 2016 after having served as president since 2005.
09-05-2025
- Business
Japan Airport Terminal's Top Execs Quit amid Scandal
News from Japan May 9, 2025 12:54 (JST) Tokyo, May 9 (Jiji Press)--Japan Airport Terminal Co. President Nobuaki Yokota and Chairman Isao Takashiro resigned Friday amid a corruption scandal involving the operating company for Tokyo's Haneda Airport terminals and a son of Makoto Koga, former secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The company said it accepted resignation offers from the two top executives the same day. They stepped down as Japan Airport Terminal's Audit and Supervisory Committee was investigating allegations that the company had given favor to a consultant firm headed by Koga's first son over the installation of massage chairs at terminal buildings of the airport. The Haneda terminal facility operator will announce a new management team shortly. It also plans to disclose the results of the investigation after reporting them to the transport ministry. Joining Japan Airport Terminal in 1974, Yokota became president in June 2016. Takashiro, who entered the firm in 1968, assumed the post of chairman in June 2016 after having served as president since 2005. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
