Former Takenaka Manager Re-arrested Over Alleged ¥11 Million Overbilling at Osaka Expo
Police re-arrested 61-year-old Tatsumi Kawai, a former senior manager at Takenaka Corporation, on suspicion of inflating invoices for Osaka Expo construction work, causing a loss of about ¥11 million.
Tatsumi Kawai, a 61-year-old former senior site manager at Takenaka Corporation, was taken into custody again on October 7 by Osaka Prefectural Police for alleged breach of trust involving inflated construction invoices for the Expo 2025 Osaka project. Kawai had first been arrested in August and formally indicted in September, after which Takenaka terminated his employment on September 11. Prosecutors allege that Kawai, who supervised Expo-related works in mid-2025, conspired with the president of a subcontracting firm to submit overstated bills for fall-prevention measures and tactile paving installed from March 2024 to April 2025.
Investigators claim Kawai kept the entire ¥11 million overpayment, while the subcontractor received nothing, and that a similar pattern may have produced more than ¥60 million in illicit gains. The suspected proceeds were reportedly used for renovations to Kawai’s home, a condominium he owned, and a restaurant run by a family member. The case remains under investigation, and police have not disclosed whether Kawai has admitted or denied the accusations. Takenaka issued an apology, expressing regret for the trouble caused by the incident.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential corruption in large-scale public construction projects and raises concerns about corporate oversight.
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