The dietary supplements allegedly contained THC, the psychoactive element of hashish, which is against the law in Japan.
Printed On 2 Sep 2025
Suntory Holdings CEO Takeshi Niinami, one in all Japan’s best-known enterprise leaders, has resigned from the beverage group following a police investigation into his buy of a complement that will have breached the nation’s strict drug legal guidelines.
Niinami, who has served as an adviser to a number of Japanese prime ministers and was typically the face of company Japan at Davos and different worldwide occasions, instructed Suntory he bought the complement believing it was authorized, the corporate stated on Tuesday.
“I used to be not conscious that it was an unlawful complement. I’m harmless,” he instructed the Asahi newspaper in a report revealed Tuesday night. He added that he felt the corporate can be unable to unite if he didn’t resign. Reuters was not capable of instantly attain Niinami for remark.
Suntory’s president, Nobuhiro Torii, a great-grandson of the corporate’s founder Shinjiro Torii, instructed a press briefing that he would now be absolutely helming the corporate.
“He was a daring, decisive chief who acquired issues executed, and I actually revered him,” Torii stated of Niinami. “In that respect – and I instructed this to him yesterday as effectively – it’s an actual disgrace that we couldn’t proceed as a workforce.”
Niinami, a fluent English speaker, is chairman of the influential Keizai Doyukai enterprise foyer. He stated he had no intention of resigning from that function, in keeping with the Asahi report. Keizai Doyukai officers weren’t instantly out there for remark.
He’s scheduled to carry his common press convention for the enterprise foyer on Wednesday afternoon, the place he’s anticipated to elucidate the small print behind his resignation.
Identified for being outspoken, Niinami often voiced opinions on how Japan’s financial system needs to be managed and the way the central financial institution ought to act.
Investigation continues
The Tokyo Shimbun each day reported that police in Fukuoka prefecture had been investigating whether or not dietary supplements containing hashish parts had been despatched to Niinami’s house – a probe that’s related to a person who was arrested in July.
Different Japanese media stated the dietary supplements allegedly contained THC, the psychoactive element of hashish, which is against the law in Japan. CBD, a separate chemical compound from the hashish plant, nonetheless, is authorized, and merchandise containing it can be found in Japan.
Suntory, which makes whisky, beer and smooth drinks corresponding to Orangina-branded soda, stated Niinami instructed the corporate on August 22 that he was the topic of a police investigation. He resigned on September 1.
Niinami, 66, considerably expanded Suntory’s income and earnings, becoming a member of the drinks maker as president in 2014 shortly after it bought US spirits firm Beam for $16bn, together with debt.
In keeping with Tokyo Shimbun, police questioned Niinami and searched his Tokyo house, however no unlawful drug possession or use has been confirmed. A Fukuoka Police official was not instantly out there to touch upon the experiences.
A graduate of Harvard Enterprise Faculty, Niinami was beforehand chief government of comfort retailer operator Lawson earlier than turning into Suntory’s boss, the primary head of the agency from outdoors its founding household.
Japan has strict drug legal guidelines. Late final 12 months, Japanese endoscope producer Olympus Corp sacked then-CEO Stefan Kaufmann, a German nationwide, after an allegation that he had bought unlawful medication.
In 2015, police arrested Toyota Motor government Julie Hamp, a United States citizen, on suspicion of illegally importing the painkiller oxycodone into the nation. She was later launched.
