The former chairman of publisher KADOKAWA, appealing his bribery conviction over the Tokyo Olympics, asked a court to start hearings quickly, saying the wait for prosecutors to respond has become its own burden.
Tsuguhiko Kadokawa and his defense team filed a supplementary statement of appeal grounds and a request for an early hearing with the court on November 9, then held a news conference. The Tokyo District Court found him guilty on January 22, 2026, handing down a prison term of 2 years and 6 months, suspended for 4 years.
Kadokawa appealed the ruling and submitted his statement of appeal grounds on August 7. Three months later, prosecutors have still not filed their reply, his lawyers said at the news conference.
Nobuo Gohara, the lead defense lawyer, argued that the indictment does not state the elements required for bribery to be established. The first-instance ruling contains "a problem that goes to the very foundation of the judgment," he said.
Kadokawa has an ongoing heart condition and may need a long hospital stay depending on test results, according to the defense. At the news conference he again pleaded not guilty.
“I have never committed the crime of bribery. I want the court to begin hearings as soon as possible.”Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, former KADOKAWA chairman
He also said he wants to hear a ruling that confronts his arguments head-on.