Giants’ Hayato Sakamoto Linked to Undeclared 100 Million Yen Scandal

A report has emerged that Hayato Sakamoto of the professional baseball team, the Giants, has “failed to declare a huge amount of money.

According to the May 16 issue of “Shukan Shincho” (weekly magazine), Sakamoto has been reporting the cost of dining and drinking at high-class clubs in Ginza and Roppongi as necessary expenses on his annual tax returns. A retrospective check of the last five years confirmed that Sakamoto had recorded approximately 20 million yen per year, or a total of 100 million yen in expenses.

When the tax office pointed this out to Sakamoto, he said

“We have been allowed to include food and beverage expenses in the past,” Sakamoto’s side claimed.

Sakamoto’s side claimed that the tax office had “accepted the expenses for food and beverages in the past. The Yomiuri Giants’ public relations department told the magazine, “In regard to tax reporting, we are not responsible for any tax-related issues that may arise in the course of our business.

The Yomiuri Giants’ public relations department responded, “We are continuing discussions with the local tax office regarding tax reporting, and we intend to follow their guidance and file and pay appropriate taxes.

The Giants’ public relations department responded, “We are continuing discussions with the local tax office regarding our tax returns. The company emphasizes that this is not a malicious failure to declare or conceal income.

Sakamoto’s tax returns were mainly filed by a private firm represented by a relative. While it is understandable that he would have recorded expenses if they were directly related to his main business, it is questionable whether eating and drinking at high-class clubs in Ginza and Roppongi would fall under that category.