Suntory Holdings chairman and CEO Takeshi Niinami resigned this week following a police investigation into allegations he purchased supplements containing illegal substances.
Niinami, 66, one of Japan’s most prominent business leaders, said he believed the supplements he bought in the United States were legal cannabidiol (CBD) products. Japanese authorities suspect the items may have contained tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in marijuana that is tightly restricted in Japan.
Takeshi Niinami, one of Japan's best-known business leaders who is the subject of a police investigation into his purchases of supplements, said that he believed that the products were legal https://t.co/vWLBR3Flgu
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 3, 2025
Investigators searched Niinami’s Tokyo home last month. He acknowledged receiving another batch of supplements from an advisor’s associate but claimed he did not request them. “I have no recollection of violating laws or regulations. However, I decided to resign voluntarily to avoid further trouble,” he said.
Niinami informed Suntory leadership of the probe on August 22 and formally stepped down on September 1. Suntory is among Japan’s best-known beverage brands, famous worldwide for its whisky and beer.
