Tokyo, Japan – August 25, 2025 — Japanese prosecutors and police officials have formally apologized at the grave of Shizuo Aishima, a businessman wrongfully accused of illegal exports, after a court ruled the charges were unfounded and violated his rights.
Aishima, along with three other executives of Ohkawara Kakohki, was arrested in March 2020 over the export of spray dryers — machines capable of military applications — allegedly without proper clearance. However, prosecutors dropped the charges in July 2021, citing “doubts” about their guilt. By then, Aishima had died of stomach cancer in February 2021, five months before the case was dismissed.
He had filed eight bail requests, all of which were denied, severely limiting his access to medical care. His family later sued for damages, and in September 2021, a Tokyo court ruled that the indictment was illegal and ordered compensation of 166 million yen (approximately $1.12 million USD / £835,000).
On Monday, authorities bowed and offered flowers at his grave in Yokohama to apologize to his family. However, Aishima’s widow stated that she could not forgive those responsible.
Despite investigating the wrongful indictment, the authorities were criticized for failing to identify the true cause of the error, and families of the accused say the punishments for those responsible were too lenient.
