CHIBA (TR) – The Chiba Institute of Technology has stated that there’s “no problem” with Joi Ito serving as president regardless of the emergence of quite a few emails between him and American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, reviews ITmedia News (Feb. 12).
On January 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice launched 3 million pages of paperwork on Epstein, who dedicated suicide beneath mysterious circumstances after being indicted on prices together with intercourse trafficking. Among them had been quite a few emails with Ito.
Regarding Ito, the institute stated, “When he became president in 2023, we conducted a thorough background check, including the third-party investigation report on the MIT incident. We believe there is no problem.”
“Never seen criminal activity”
ITmedia News requested Ito if he had ever visited Little St. James Island. Owned by Epstein, it was reportedly a key location for the sexual abuse and trafficking of younger girls and underage ladies.
“I checked, but I have never seen any criminal or illegal activity,” Ito stated in neither clearly denying nor confirming.
The correspondence within the recordsdata embrace what are believed to be code phrases. When Ito was requested about expression “Japan/dogs” in an e-mail trade with Epstein in September 2013, he stated, “It’s definitely not problematic. There’s evidence.”
The college has no plans to subject an announcement on the matter, in accordance with IT Media.
Resigned from MIT
In 2011, Ito grew to become the director of the MIT Media Lab. Shortly after Epstein’s suicide, it was revealed that Ito had obtained a big donation from him, which led to his resignation.
After returning to Japan, Ito served as director of the Chiba Institute of Technology’s Center for Transformation. He grew to become president in July 2023.