A Scandal Beneath the Surface—The University of Tokyo, Cosmetic Research, and Misappropriated Luxury

What is really happening in this case involving public resources.

In Japan—a country known for its discipline, order, and academic prestige—news of a strange and disconcerting scandal has surfaced. What was initially framed as a collaborative academic research project between The Japanese Association of Cosmetics and the University of Tokyo has spiraled into an embarrassing and ethically ambiguous controversy.

According to scattered but increasingly detailed media reports, the collaboration began as a formal research effort over two years ago. Two university faculty members—a senior professor aged 60 and an associate professor aged 40—were allegedly tasked with participating in or overseeing cosmetic-related research. The connection to science, however, quickly blurred. The project reportedly included frequent visits to high-end French restaurants and Tokyo’s most exclusive nightlife spots—including establishments known for adult entertainment services.

These excursions were, according to Mr. Hikiji, a representative of the Japanese Association of Cosmetics, lavishly funded not by the university or transparent research grants, but by him personally. Hikiji claims he was misled, pressured, and effectively manipulated into spending approximately 20 million yen (nearly USD $130,000) over 18 months under the pretext of academic collaboration.

What began in upscale restaurants soon progressed into full-blown nights of drinking and sexual entertainment—expenses Mr. Hikiji alleges were neither authorized nor necessary for any cosmetic-related research. He has since launched a legal claim against the professors, stating he was exploited financially and emotionally.

The University of Tokyo has so far refused to comment, casting an opaque shadow over one of Japan’s most prestigious academic institutions. Meanwhile, public frustration and confusion mount. One Tokyo resident described the situation as “a shameful act that defies the principles of public service and educational integrity.”

Many observers question how any legitimate research would require repeated visits to Ginza’s nightlife districts or adult clubs. The average expenses reportedly ranged between $5,000 to $8,000 per night—staggering figures for any project funded, even indirectly, through private or public means.

The scandal underscores a critical issue: the lack of transparency and accountability in public-private collaborations in Japan. It also ignites concerns about the ethical conduct of academic professionals when external corporate entities are involved.

This case is not simply about financial misappropriation—it is about the deterioration of trust in academic institutions, and how personal indulgences can blur professional lines when not monitored or held to public scrutiny.

The Japanese public now awaits the full facts: What exactly was the nature of the research? Who authorized these expenses? Were university funds ever misused? And perhaps most importantly—will there be consequences?

Until then, the silence from the University of Tokyo is both deafening and damaging.

It's also important to emphasize that the Japanese cosmetics association simply wants to be compensated for the large sums of money they spent and then continue their research collaboration with the university. This seems like a mockery of Japanese society and all those who are part of the Japanese system.

Papers speak when it comes to demonstrating evidence and the truth