Latest news with #Yokohama-based
Kyodo News
9 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Police, prosecutors apologize to 2 men over illicit probe
KYODO NEWS - 2 hours ago - 20:13 | All, Japan Tokyo police and prosecutors on Friday apologized in person to two men over their wrongful arrest and indictment in 2020 in a case involving the suspected unauthorized export of sensitive equipment. The apology comes after the finalization last week of a Tokyo High Court ruling that ordered the metropolitan government and state to compensate Masaaki Okawara, president of Ohkawara Kakohki Co., and Junji Shimada, one of the company's former directors. Tetsuro Kamata, deputy superintendent general of the Metropolitan Police Department, and Hirohide Mori, head of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's public security bureau, apologized for the stress the men had to undergo due to the investigation during a visit to the head office of the Yokohama-based machinery maker. Okawara, 76, who was detained for nearly a year, said in response, "It would have been better if the apology had come much earlier." The family of Shizuo Aishima, a former adviser to the company who died in February 2021 at age 72 after falling ill during detention, was not present during the meeting. In a statement issued through their lawyer, the family said they "cannot accept an apology under the current circumstances." During the meeting, Kamata mistakenly called Shimada, 72, "Yamamoto," while Mori also referred to the company by the wrong name. Kamata told reporters afterward that authorities failed to thoroughly investigate the case, which involved the export of spray-drying apparatus that investigators suspected could be used in the process of making biological weapons. "We will review (the case) carefully without preconceptions," he said. The company has been seeking a third-party review of the investigation, but the police and prosecutors have expressed reluctance to accept such a probe. Okawara, Shimada and Aishima were arrested and indicted between March and June 2020 on suspicion of exporting spray dryers capable of producing biological agents without authorization. But the prosecutors withdrew the indictment in July 2021. In late May, the Tokyo High Court ruled the investigation of the three men was illegal and ordered the metropolitan government and state to pay about 166 million yen ($1.14 million) in damages to the plaintiffs. Related coverage: Compensation by Tokyo gov't, state finalized over illicit probe High court orders Tokyo gov't, state to compensate for illicit probe
Kyodo News
12 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Police, prosecutors apologize to 2 men over illicit probe
KYODO NEWS - 3 minutes ago - 20:13 | All, Japan Tokyo police and prosecutors on Friday apologized in person to two men over their wrongful arrest and indictment in 2020 in a case involving the suspected unauthorized export of sensitive equipment. The apology comes after the finalization last week of a Tokyo High Court ruling that ordered the metropolitan government and state to compensate Masaaki Okawara, president of Ohkawara Kakohki Co., and Junji Shimada, one of the company's former directors. Tetsuro Kamata, deputy superintendent general of the Metropolitan Police Department, and Hirohide Mori, head of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's public security bureau, apologized for the stress the men had to undergo due to the investigation during a visit to the head office of the Yokohama-based machinery maker. Okawara, 76, who was detained for nearly a year, said in response, "It would have been better if the apology had come much earlier." The family of Shizuo Aishima, a former adviser to the company who died in February 2021 at age 72 after falling ill during detention, was not present during the meeting. In a statement issued through their lawyer, the family said they "cannot accept an apology under the current circumstances." During the meeting, Kamata mistakenly called Shimada, 72, "Yamamoto," while Mori also referred to the company by the wrong name. Kamata told reporters afterward that authorities failed to thoroughly investigate the case, which involved the export of spray-drying apparatus that investigators suspected could be used in the process of making biological weapons. "We will review (the case) carefully without preconceptions," he said. The company has been seeking a third-party review of the investigation, but the police and prosecutors have expressed reluctance to accept such a probe. Okawara, Shimada and Aishima were arrested and indicted between March and June 2020 on suspicion of exporting spray dryers capable of producing biological agents without authorization. But the prosecutors withdrew the indictment in July 2021. In late May, the Tokyo High Court ruled the investigation of the three men was illegal and ordered the metropolitan government and state to pay about 166 million yen ($1.14 million) in damages to the plaintiffs. Related coverage: Compensation by Tokyo gov't, state finalized over illicit probe High court orders Tokyo gov't, state to compensate for illicit probe
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Johor forges strategic pact with Japan's NEOJAPAN to build Asean digital talent hub
jashadiqe@ ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor state government has taken a bold step to anchor itself as Asean's next digital powerhouse by sealing a strategic partnership with Japanese tech firm NEOJAPAN Inc today (June 19). The MoU inked between Invest Johor chief executive officer Natazha Harris and the Yokohama-based digital solutions provider president Akinori Saito, will pave the way for the Southeast Asian Centre of Excellence (SEA CoE) to be establish within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). Witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Japan's Economy Minister Yoji Muto and Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata, the agreement was formalised on the sidelines of the Nikkei Forum Medini Johor 2025. The SEA CoE will serve as a regional training and innovation hub, aiming to upskill more than 1,000 local tech talents in areas such as cloud infrastructure, multilingual IT support and no-code development. The initiative is also set to generate 300 high-skilled jobs, boosting Johor's position as a tech-driven investment destination. "This collaboration aligns perfectly with our goal of turning Johor into a regional hub for digital excellence," Onn Hafiz said. "By fostering innovation, talent development, and strategic investments, we believe the JS-SEZ can become a catalyst for Johor's digital economy." NEOJAPAN, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, will contribute its expertise in cloud-based platforms and digital transformation tools, including desknet's NEO, AppSuite and NEOPORT. The partnership signals deepening Malaysia-Japan economic ties and supports Malaysia's wider digitalisation push under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry's regional strategies.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Johor forges strategic pact with Japanese tech firm to build Asean digital talent hub
ISKANDAR PUTER: The Johor government has taken a bold step to anchor itself as Asean's next digital powerhouse by sealing a strategic partnership with Japanese tech firm NEOJAPAN Inc today (June 19). The MoU, inked between Invest Johor chief executive officer Natazha Harris and the Yokohama-based digital solutions provider president Akinori Saito, will pave the way for the Southeast Asian Centre of Excellence (SEA CoE) to be established in the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). Witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Japanese Economy Minister Yoji Muto and Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata, the agreement was formalised on the sidelines of the Nikkei Forum Medini Johor 2025. The SEA CoE will serve as a regional training and innovation hub, aiming to upskill more than 1,000 local tech talent in areas such as cloud infrastructure, multilingual IT support and no-code development. The initiative is also set to generate 300 high-skilled jobs, boosting Johor's position as a tech-driven investment destination. "This collaboration aligns perfectly with our goal of turning Johor into a regional hub for digital excellence," Onn Hafiz said. "By fostering innovation, talent development and strategic investments, we believe the JS-SEZ can become a catalyst for Johor's digital economy." NEOJAPAN, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, will contribute its expertise in cloud-based platforms and digital transformation tools, including desknet's NEO, AppSuite and NEOPORT. The partnership signals deepening Malaysia-Japan economic ties and supports Malaysia's wider digitalisation push under the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry's regional strategies.
Kyodo News
3 days ago
- Business
- Kyodo News
Football: Locally produced rice funds Yokohama FC player development
KYODO NEWS - 4 hours ago - 19:40 | Sports, All, Japan Yokohama FC recently launched their annual sales of rice planted and harvested by members of the J-League first-division club, with 10 percent of the proceeds going to player development. With players from the Yokohama-based club lending a hand, the "Yokohama FC Support Rice" is produced locally to be sold online and at their home stadium at a time when soaring rice prices are squeezing household budgets across Japan. In late May, two young players tried rice planting under the guidance of local farmers. "I would be happy if our activities could help people get to know the Yokohama rice," 18-year-old defender Jui Hata said. The support rice project was first launched in 2021 in collaboration with rice wholesaler Mitsuhashi Inc. A 300-gram Yokohama FC rice pack has been sold at the stadium around twice a year. A 5-kilogram bag, currently priced at 6,000 yen ($41), became available online this year. "Meals are important for players. I eat a lot before each match," said 22-year-old midfielder Takanari Endo, who eats rice for all three meals a day. As of next year, the J-League will move the start of its season from February to August. "We can make new rice available for sale in December," Keiichiro Yamabe, head of Mitsuhashi's public relations. "We hope to see a rise in both rice production and Yokohama FC's performance." "For better or worse, rice has been a main topic of daily conversation now. Local production for local consumption is drawing a lot of attention," Yamabe said. Related coverage: Football: Japan's Moriyasu unstressed in pursuit of World Cup glory Football: Miura rewrites oldest-appearance record in 40th pro season Football: Japan need striker to develop for World Cup success: boss
