Hidetoshi Tanaka is seen in this September 2020 file photo. (Mainichi/Yoshinori Matsuda)

       TOKYO -- Former Nihon University board chairman Hidetoshi Tanaka has fully admitted to tax evasion allegations, telling prosecutors that he told his wife to keep the money that he received from multiple parties, investigative sources told the Mainichi Shimbun.

       Tanaka, 75, was arrested Nov. 29 on suspicion of underreporting his income in 2018 and 2020 when he failed to file earnings of a total of some 118 million yen (about $1.04 million) which he received as kickbacks from businesses and others, and dodging income tax totaling 53 million yen ($466,000). He subsequently resigned as board chairman of the university with the largest enrollment in Japan.

       Tanaka reportedly has admitted that he received the full amount of cash he is suspected of not declaring as income and was quoted as telling the special investigation unit at the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, "My wife received the money, but it was all addressed to me." He reportedly also said to investigators that he told his wife to keep the money because "returning it would be a waste."

       According to the sources, Tanaka has admitted to accepting some 118 million yen including the 75 million yen ($659,000) from Masami Yabumoto, the 61-year-old former head director of the Kinshukai medical corporation in Osaka who has been indicted for suspected breach of trust.

       Tanaka has explained to investigators that his wife received a paper bag from Yabumoto in December 2018, and when she checked the contents after returning home she apparently found stacks of bills inside. Concerned, the wife consulted with Tanaka if they should return the money, but he said he told her not to, telling her, "Let's not waste it."

       The money in the paper bag was the 10 million yen that Yabumoto is believed to have given to Tanaka as a birthday gift. The remaining 65 million yen apparently was handed to Tanaka in 2020 in three separate installments.

       Other cash was supposedly a kickback from businesses for accepting project orders involving Nihon University, among other purposes. The locations of the money exchanges included a yakiniku barbeque restaurant in Tokyo, and Tanaka, as well as his wife, were apparently present on at least one occasion.

       Tanaka has told prosecutors that he had left filing his taxes to his wife, but also said, "My wife was just following my procedures." He apparently has indicated to those around him that he would file a tax correction.

       Meanwhile, in a voice mail left in Yabumoto's cell phone that prosecutors confiscated, Tanaka's wife could be heard saying, "There was a lot in the paper bag. Thank you." Yabumoto has reportedly admitted to giving the Tanakas cash, and a record of disbursement was also confirmed with Yabumoto's related company supporting his statement. Considering such a series of evidence, the investigation unit seems to have judged they could objectively verify the money exchange.

       Tanaka initially denied that he had accepted the money, but about a week after his arrest he started showing his willingness to admit to the allegations.

       (Japanese original by Kazuya Shimura, Yujiro Futamura, Ai Kunimoto and Tomonori Matsuo, Tokyo City News Department)

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