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Corruption scandals rock Japan Post Group, experts call for governance overhaul
A series of bribery cases involving employees at Japan Post Group has prompted experts to warn of the need for a fundamental rebuilding of governance. In May, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested a former employee of Japan Post's Tokyo branch for allegedly accepting bribes in return for favors related to a bidding process for mail collection services. This month, a former Japan Post employee was referred to prosecutors for allegedly influencing a bidding process for post office reconstruction work to secure contracts. Shigeru Tachihara, professor emeritus at Tokai University, noted that with the two financial arms, Kampo Life and Yucho Bank, propping up earnings, Japan Post faces limited growth prospects, leading to a decline in compliance awareness across the group. He pointed out that nearly 20 years after privatization, employees' sensitivity to bribery may have faded, and stressed that a fundamental organizational reform to rebuild governance is necessary for the public service.