News Japanese business leaders raise funds for Mori bust

[thomas]

In Japanese politics, not a day goes by that doesn't leave you gasping for air. Top business leaders, including Mitarai Fujio, chairman and CEO of Canon Inc., started raising funds to finance a bust to praise the achievements of Mr Mori (yes, the women-talk-too-much Mori).

"Mori Yoshiro sensei honour project"​

That's the same Mori who is implicated in the bribery scandal involving top sponsors in the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Olympic sponsor accused of bribery allegedly paid ex-Prime Minister Mori

Tokyo prosecutors are investigating the purpose and the timing of a suspected payment to Yoshiro Mori, who was for a time head of the Games organizing committee.

www.japantimes.co.jp

According to a document obtained by The Asahi Shimbun, the 15 leaders initiated a project to commemorate Mori's contribution in Japan's successful bidding for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well as the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Mori, a former prime minister, became the head of the organizing committee in 2014, but resigned in February 2021 after his misogynistic remarks were widely reported. The fund-raising campaign was launched in May this year, asking for donations of 5,000 yen ($34.80) or more to a bank account named, "Mori Yoshiro sensei honor project." The donor drive is not open to the public, however. The 15 founders and others have made referrals to their acquaintances. The location of where the bust will be placed is undecided.

Bigwigs raising funds for bust of ex-Olympic chief Yoshiro Mori | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

The lesson to be learned: untruthfulness, misogyny, and graft will get a bust and if you're lucky, even a state funeral.

 

[mdchachi]

The lesson to be learned: untruthfulness, misogyny, and graft will get a bust and if you're lucky, even a state funeral.

That's the normal state of the world. It would be odd were it otherwise.

 

[thomas]

That's the normal state of the world. It would be odd were it otherwise.

Striving for ethical comportment shouldn't be odd but something we should all aim for—just my 2 JPY.

 

[mdchachi]

Striving for ethical comportment shouldn't be odd but something we should all aim for—just my 2 JPY.

I don't disagree. All I'm saying is that ethical comportment -- especially among "the elite" -- is an aberration.

 

[Lothor]

I don't disagree. All I'm saying is that ethical comportment -- especially among "the elite" -- is an aberration.

It didn't use to be this bad though.

 

[mdchachi]

It didn't use to be this bad though.

I think we just weren't as aware of it before. Now the media is much more pervasive and it's harder to keep things hidden like they used to.