TOKYO (TR) – On January 30, the U.S. Department of Justice launched 3 million pages of paperwork on American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who dedicated suicide below mysterious circumstances after being indicted on expenses together with intercourse trafficking.
Among the paperwork launched had been quite a few emails with Japanese entrepreneur Joi Ito, 59, the president of the Chiba Institute of Technology. Ito served as director of the MIT Media Lab till his resignation in 2019 after Epstein’s financial contributions to the lab turned public.
“Until the reports leading to his arrest, I did not know that Mr. Jeffrey Epstein had engaged in the malicious criminal acts that have been reported,” Ito tells Shukan Bunshun (Feb. 19). “I have never been involved in any criminal or fraudulent acts by him as reported, nor have I ever personally witnessed such acts.”
Despite this, an examination of the emails reveals the shut relationship between Epstein and Ito. Within them, Ito is discovered to have organized visa purposes for feminine associates of Epstein and an internship at a resort.
“Assistants”
On April 27, 2015, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited MIT throughout a visit to the United States. According to e mail correspondence from the identical interval, Ito repeatedly consulted by way of e mail relating to visa purposes to Japan for Epstein’s Belarusian girlfriend and her Russian feminine good friend.
Three days earlier than Abe’s go to, Ito writes to Epstein, “How’s your Visa for Japan going? I think we’re making progress with the Russians. I’m going to see the PM / Abe on Monday.”
There are additionally exchanges exhibiting that the Belarusian and Russian ladies had been positioned as “assistants” at an organization wherein Ito was an investor.
In getting ready the purposes, Ito’s assistant in an e mail dated April 15, 2015 suggests to an affiliate of Epstein, “Maybe can you explain their occupations that they are executive assistants or administrative staff at Jeffrey’s company?”
Yoshiko Sakurai
Epstein died in an obvious suicide in August 2019 inside a New York detention facility about one month after being arrested.
After leaving MIT, Ito in 2021 served as a member of an knowledgeable panel of the Digital Agency. Since 2023, he has served as president of Chiba Institute of Technology.
It was journalist Yoshiko Sakurai who related the college with Ito. Sakurai states, “I have known him for more than ten years. He is overflowing with creativity and, together with Shohei Ohtani, is a treasure of Japan. When he was returning to Japan because of difficulties in America, I introduced him to Osamu Setokuma, chairman of Chiba Institute of Technology. After serving as Director of the Transformation Center, he became president two years later. He appears to be respected and liked by students and faculty.”
Toshiba
Japan’s involvement with Epstein was not restricted to Ito. Toshiba Corporation can be talked about within the Epstein paperwork.
Located within the United States Virgin Islands, Little St. James Island was a key location for Epstein in his finishing up of the alleged sexual abuse and trafficking of younger ladies and underage women.
For energy on the island, Epstein at one level thought-about renewable vitality. From 2012 to 2013, Toshiba and Epstein’s facet exchanged a number of phone calls and emails concerning the set up of photo voltaic gear on the island. On February 1, 2013, the corporate submitted a 19-page proposal.
“It will be important for you as the customer of this project to choose a provider that has not only the experience and capabilities to ensure your system functions as designed but also has the financial wherewithal to stand behind each project we install,” writes Mark Lonkevych within the cowl letter dated February 1, 2013.
Mori Building
When Epstein visited Japan, Ito relied upon Mori Building Co., Ltd., a serious actual property firm, to offer help.
In an e mail from November 2013, Ito proposes utilizing Mori Building’s helicopter to journey from Tokyo to Kyoto.
He explains that the round-trip constitution charge would exceed 1.5 million yen, and that the journey would take roughly two and a half hours on account of refueling in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Three years later, Ito launched Andaz Tokyo, a luxurious resort operated by Mori Building, and made reservations below Epstein’s identify.
Ito additionally inquired with administration at Andaz Tokyo about whether or not an internship was out there for a Russian girl related to Epstein. On December 24, 2018, Ito writes to an govt of Mori Building, “She is a daughter of a friend of mine.”
In responding, the chief says that he had “adjusted it to accept interns with andaz.” The govt then asks Ito, “Can we contact her directly from the hotel representative?” To which, Ito writes, “Please do. Thank you very much!”
On May 22, 2019, Epstein inquires in an e mail about reserving a room on the “Andaz Hotel in Tokyo where [redacted] has her internship.”
Refrain from remark
Ito didn’t remark to Bunshun relating to the visa mediation or the internship.
Mori Building informed Bunshun that it has no relationship with Epstein in any respect, and denied having granted any particular favors.
Meanwhile, Toshiba said that it will chorus from remark as it’s confirming the information.