Haruyuki Takahashi¡¯s arrest earlier this month on suspicion of receiving ?51 million in bribes from apparel-maker Aoki Holdings Inc. marks a dramatic fall from grace for one of Â鶹´«Ã½ most powerful figures in the world of mass sporting events.
Takahashi, 78, a former executive of the organizing committee for the Tokyo Games and ex-Dentsu executive, denies the allegations and says that all payments from Aoki were legitimate consulting fees. But as Tokyo prosecutors continue to investigate, Takahashi¡¯s 4?-decade career with Dentsu and as an independent consultant, and his work spearheading international sporting events in Japan, have come under the spotlight.
While Takahashi¡¯s career at Dentsu began in 1967, it was his effort to bring the New York Cosmos and Brazilian soccer star Pele to Japan for a ¡°sayonara¡± tour in 1977 that marked his debut as a major figure when it came to organizing international sporting events. Despite Pele¡¯s status as one of the most famous athletes in the world, his arrival in Japan came at a time when the sport was far less popular here than it is today, and the decision to have him come was seen as risky.
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