Photo/Illutration The building that serves as the headquarters of Kadokawa Corp. in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward (The Asahi Shimbun)

Publisher Kadokawa Corp., a sponsor for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, paid 70 million yen ($500,000) to a consultancy linked to Haruyuki Takahashi, a former member of the organizing committee arrested in a bribery scandal surrounding the summer Games, investigative sources said.

Investigators with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office have been interviewing Kadokawa officials on suspicion the funds were intended to bribe Takahashi, 78, in selecting the company as a sponsor for the Games, according to the sources.

The latest revelation indicates that the scope of the bribery scandal centering on Takahashi, a former executive of advertising giant Dentsu Inc., could widen with allegations against more companies and individuals.

Kadokawa, a leading publisher that is also involved in the creation of films, anime, games and other content, landed an Olympic sponsorship contract as official supporter in April 2019.

The company published official programs and results books on all competitions held during the sports extravaganza originally scheduled to be held in 2020 but delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the sources, Kadokawa signed a deal with the consultancy based in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward, paying 70 million yen to the company in 10 installments from May 2019.

The consultancy and the Takahashi side had close business ties, according to the sources.

The president of the consultancy was a junior colleague of Takahashi when they worked at Dentsu.

Before Takahashi landed a role with the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, Takahashi served as a senior managing director, wielding enormous clout there.

Eager to become an Olympic sponsor, Kadokawa officials apparently approached the president of the consulting company to seek advice on its bid.

After learning of Kadokawa’s intention from the president, Takahashi used his network of contacts to work on Dentsu, which was commissioned to take charge in the selection of sponsors by the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee.

Investigators believe the 70 million yen paid by Kadokawa to the consultancy was a reward for Takahashi for helping the publisher to win the sponsorship contract.

Takahashi was arrested last month on suspicion of accepting 51 million yen in bribes from Aoki Holdings Inc., a clothing company, over a contract as official sponsor and other deals related to the Games.

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