Photo/Illutration Officials from the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office enter the head office of ADK Holdings Inc. on Oct. 19. (Hikaru Yokoyama)

More arrests were made on Oct. 19 in the growing bribery scandal involving an influential former member of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee.

Haruyuki Takahashi, 78, was arrested for the fourth time on suspicion of receiving bribes in exchange for special consideration related to corporate sponsor operations and licensed product sales, according to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office. 

Three individuals related to the major advertising agency ADK Holdings Inc., including President Shinichi Ueno, were arrested on suspicion of providing about 14 million yen ($94,000) in bribes to Takahashi.

Takahashi is suspected of receiving a total of 47 million yen from ADK Holdings and about 7 million yen from Tokyo-based Sun Arrow Inc., which was chosen to manufacture and sell stuffed dolls based on the mascots for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

The amount the ADK officials were arrested on is smaller because the three-year statute of limitations had expired for the remaining amount.

Until now, Takahashi is suspected of having received bribes from five companies totaling about 196 million yen. He has maintained his innocence throughout.

According to the announcement by prosecutors, ADK Holdings officials approached Takahashi about being an agent to secure Olympic corporate sponsorships.

Between November 2017 and January 2022, a total of about 27 million yen over 50 transactions was allegedly transferred to Commons Co., a Tokyo-based consulting firm headed by Takahashi.

In December 2018, ADK Holdings is suspected of transferring about 20 million yen to a consulting company headed by a golfing friend of Takahashi.

Sun Arrow executives also approached Takahashi about smoothing the way for a contract to allow the company to manufacture and sell stuffed dolls based on the mascots. Between October 2018 and April 2021, a total of about 7 million yen was transferred to the same consulting company operated by Takahashi’s golfing buddy.

Takahashi has been indicted three times on charges of accepting bribes. He is alleged to have received 51 million yen from apparel maker Aoki Holdings Inc., about 76 million yen from publishing company Kadokawa Corp. and about 15 million yen from advertising agency Daiko Advertising Inc.

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