Overview
- The Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested former Tokyo-branch employee Nobuyuki Yoneda on May 20 on suspicion of aggravated bribery under the Japan Post Corporation Law.
- Investigators allege Yoneda set planned bid prices artificially low, leaked those nonpublic prices to a favored carrier, Haruki Express, and steered no-winner tenders into discretionary sole-source contracts.
- Officials say the scheme inflated costs: four contracts tied to the case total about ¥184 million, planned prices were raised up to double, and contract totals rose by more than ¥300 million while failed bids increased over fourfold compared with the prior manager.
- Japan Post says internal approvals existed but failed to catch the anomalies, it dismissed Yoneda in April after an internal probe that began following an external tip in May 2025, and some contracts with the implicated contractor remain active as the company reviews responses.
- The ministry has ordered prompt publication of Japan Post’s internal review, prosecutors and police continue a criminal investigation into wider collusion and hospitality from multiple contractors, and the outcome could force governance and contract-management changes that affect staff and regional subcontractors.