The headquarters of major advertising agencies Hakuhodo Inc. and Tokyu Agency Inc. were searched by members of the special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office and the Japan Fair Trade Commission on Monday morning.
The raids were made to investigate suspected violations of the Antimonopoly law, and took place amid growing suspicions that several companies engaged in bid-rigging for test events held ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
Suspicions of coordination came to light as investigators raided the headquarters of advertising giant Dentsu Inc. on Friday, and major advertising company ADK Holdings Inc. admitted to their involvement.
At around 10 a.m. on Monday, six people, including those from the investigation squad, entered the building in Minato Ward, Tokyo, where Hakuhodo's headquarters are located. Event-planning company Same Two Inc. and TV program production company Fuji Creative Corporation were also searched.
Sources said that investigators suspect bids were rigged for planning work for test events. A total of 26 such projects were submitted by the Tokyo Games organizing committee in 2018 for the competitive process in which the winning bids would be determined via general evaluation.
Hakuhodo won two bids for Oi Hockey Stadium and other venues, worth a total of about 40 million yen. The advertising company also had a private contract for the same kind of work at Kokugikan Arena after the project failed to attract bidders.
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