Takafumi Horie

Horie provoked lasting controversy by arguing that spending ten years in a traditional apprenticeship to become a sushi chef was absurd and that much shorter training could suffice. He repeatedly reaffirmed his position, including in 2024, maintaining that he was merely telling the truth about an overly closed profession.

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

A video showing WAGYUMAFIA customers scattering large quantities of edible chrysanthemums across a dish, the counter and the floor provoked major controversy over food waste and the ostentatious character of the restaurant promoted by Horie.

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Horie and his companions were refused service at a small gyoza restaurant following a discussion about wearing masks. Horie subsequently criticised the restaurant publicly without directly naming it; internet users identified it, and the business received malicious calls and harassment before temporarily closing.

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

LDH, Livedoor's successor, brought a liability action against Horie and other former executives. Horie reached a settlement under which he transferred approximately 20.87 billion yen in assets to the company, described by LDH as representing nearly all his available wealth.

A Democratic Party lawmaker presented an email in Parliament as purported proof that Horie had ordered a payment of 30 million yen to the son of Tsutomu Takebe, a senior LDP official. The allegation collapsed when the document proved unreliable, and the opposition party had to apologise.

Legal status — source text

No wrongdoing by Horie established; opposition apologised

Livedoor rapidly acquired a major stake in Nippon Broadcasting through off-hours transactions, seeking control of the group and closer links with Fuji Television. Fuji/NBS launched a rights issue designed to dilute Livedoor's stake, but the courts blocked this defence before a settlement ended the struggle.

Legal status — source text

Civil corporate litigation; courts initially granted Livedoor an injunction against the defensive share issue

Attribution

Direct CEO strategy

Horie stood as an independent in a Hiroshima constituency against heavyweight politician Shizuka Kamei, an opponent of postal privatisation, with visible support from officials of Junichiro Koizumi's LDP. He lost, but the episode reinforced his image as an outsider close to the reformist government.

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Horie attempted to buy the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes during a major crisis in Japanese professional baseball, presenting himself as an outsider willing to challenge the establishment. After the acquisition failed, Livedoor applied for a new franchise in Sendai, but the league selected Rakuten.

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings