The University of Tokyo is the most prestigious university in Japan, and it’s extremely difficult to get into.
Only the top students can enter. That means its faculty members are also seen as prestigious.
That’s why it feels especially embarrassing that a professor from such a respected university was involved in something like this.
Since the University of Tokyo is a national university, its faculty members are seen as part of , a kind of public servant. So they are not allowed to receive any bribes regardless of the amount.
What really drew so much attention in this case was the fact that the professor was repeatedly receiving entertainment at sex-related establishments. That specific detail made the story much more sensational.
What’s more, apparently he wasn't just passively accepting it, but he actually specified his favorite places and asked to go there. He was actively requesting it. It makes the situation even worse.
On social media, people were talking about it in a mocking way, almost like it was gossip or scandalous entertainment, and it caused a huge backlash. A lot of people were criticizing him, saying it was extremely shameful behavior — especially for someone in such a respected position.
I don’t know what kind of sentence the arrested professor will eventually receive.
Even if the legal punishment turns out to be relatively light, his career as professors is basically over.
All the research achievements and professional reputation he built up over so many years could be destroyed over just a few tens of thousands of dollars.
When you think about it that way, it just feels like such a waste.
It’s hard to understand why someone could risk everything they’ve worked for because of something like that.
He probably knew that he had influence and authority. And maybe he was so used to receiving special treatment or favors from others that it started to feel normal.
Sometimes people in privileged positions gradually lose their sense of boundaries because no one around them challenges them. For companies or industry groups, having their research or products backed by a professor from a prestigious university is probably a huge advantage.
It gives them credibility and authority. If a well-known professor supports their project, it can make the research look more trustworthy and make their products much easier to market. I think part of the problem is that people tend to automatically admire someone just because they’re a professor at a famous university. The title alone carries so much authority.
That’s probably why companies are so eager to get their endorsement, even if it means offering this kind of entertainment. For example, when it comes to selling supplements or cosmetics, if people hear that a medical professor from a top university is recommending the product, many of them will trust it and buy it without much hesitation.
In that sense, we might also need to question how easily we’re influenced by academic prestige.
