Suntory CEO Takeshi Niinami Resigns Amid Probe Into Banned Supplements
Allegations Against Niinami
Suntory Holdings announced on Tuesday that its chairman and CEO, Takeshi Niinami, has resigned after becoming embroiled in an investigation over supplements suspected of containing banned substances.
The 66-year-old executive, widely regarded as one of Japan’s most outspoken business figures, maintained that he believed the products he purchased were legal.
Police Investigation
Public broadcaster NHK reported that investigators searched Niinami’s Tokyo residence on suspicion that he had received supplements with cannabis-derived ingredients from an acquaintance abroad. Authorities suspect the items may have contained THC, a substance strictly prohibited in Japan.
Suntory executives Nobuhiro Torii (President) and Kenji Yamada (Vice President) revealed during a press conference that Niinami had informed colleagues of the probe on August 22. He offered his resignation on September 1, citing personal reasons, and the company accepted the same day.
Japan’s Strict Drug Laws
In Japan, possession, sale, or import of THC is a criminal offense. Even simple possession can result in up to seven years in prison, while trafficking carries even harsher sentences. Unlike in other countries, Japan does not differentiate between recreational and medical cannabis use.
Niinami’s Career and Legacy
Niinami has long been a high-profile figure in both business and politics, having served as an economic adviser to several prime ministers. Before joining Suntory, he led the Lawson convenience store chain and became the first outsider to run the family-founded beverage giant.
Suntory itself is one of Japan’s most recognizable brands, famous globally for its whisky, beer, and energy drinks. The brand gained worldwide attention through Sofia Coppola’s film Lost in Translation, which featured its whisky in a memorable storyline.
Leadership Transition
In December, Suntory promoted Nobuhiro Torii to president, restoring day-to-day management to the founding family. Niinami remained chairman and CEO until his resignation this month, marking the end of nearly a decade of leadership at the helm of the beverage giant.