A sports school operation company, School Partner, and its president Yuji Hashino are facing charges of tax evasion amounting to 68 million yen, with allegations of falsely reporting fees and hiding income.
The Tokyo National Tax Agency has charged 'School Partner,' a company running sports classes in Japan, for allegedly evading taxes amounting to approximately 68 million yen. The company, led by its president Yuji Hashino, is accused of inflating intermediary fees and concealing additional income, hiding around 211 million yen in total earnings over the past three years until March 2024. The agency's investigation revealed that the company reportedly diverted some of the illicit earnings into gambling activities such as boat racing and horse racing.
The firm, once headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, catered to young children offering classes in various sports including baseball, soccer, and e-sports. It had around 11,000 members and generated annual revenues of about 10 billion yen from membership fees and other sources. Previously, School Partner collaborated with notable organizations like the Saitama Seibu Lions Baseball School, though operations are currently being handled by another entity.
Despite attempts by Asahi Shimbun to contact President Hashino for a response to these allegations, no comment has been forthcoming. This case highlights the ongoing scrutiny of tax compliance within the sports education sector in Japan, raising concerns about corporate governance and the integrity of financial operations within youth-oriented programs.
