Aggravated Bribery Case (Reiwa 7 (Wa) No. 128)

In 2025, the Tokyo District Court commenced hearings for the aggravated bribery case against Tadao Inokuchi, a former board director of Nihon University. According to the indictment by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Squad, Inokuchi received 10 million yen in cash in 2021 from a parent seeking to secure a medical position for their child at Nihon University Itabashi Hospital. Prosecutors argued that Inokuchi, as a de facto public official entrusted with university affairs, accepted the bribe in connection with his duties, meeting the criteria for aggravated bribery under the Penal Code. Inokuchi partially denied the allegations during the first hearing, contesting the existence of a specific request and his official capacity. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of corruption in Japanese higher education.

As of the initial 2025 hearings, no final verdict has been rendered; the trial remains ongoing at the Tokyo District Court.

Whether Inokuchi qualified as a public official or a person deemed equivalent, and whether the money was received in exchange for exercising his duties based on a clear request, thus satisfying the statutory requirements for aggravated bribery.

The case intensified public scrutiny over fairness in medical university admissions and triggered demands for stricter governance reforms at private educational institutions receiving public funding.