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Japanese to English: Japanese 「安平町」 Wikipedia article source translated into English General field: Other Detailed field: Tourism & Travel
{{Nihongo|'''Abira'''|安平町|Abira-chō}} is a [[List of towns in Japan|town]] located in [[Iburi Subprefecture]], [[Hokkaido]], [[Japan]].
==Geography==
Located in the north-east of Iburi Subprefecture, and is a hilly area extending from the Yufutsu Plain to the [[Yūbari Mountains]] and the Maoi Hills. Abira is surrounded by [[Tomakomai]] in the south-west, [[Chitose]] in the north-west, [[Yuni, Hokkaido|Yuni]] in from the north to the east, and [[Atsuma, Hokkaido|Atsuma]] in the south-east. The Toasa River flows through Abira and Tomakomai, and Abira River flows through the center of Abira.
The [[Pacific Ocean]] is close to the southern areas of Abira. So those areas' weather is mild year-round because of the [[oceanic climate]]. The northern areas have an inland climate, so the temperatures are high in the summer and a harsh cold in the winter. All together, the yearly snowfall is low.
* Mountains: Kumanoatama Yama (155m), Shiabiranupuri (364m)
* Rivers: Abira River
* Bodies of water: Mizuho Reservoir
==Origin of the Town's Name==
The name "Abira" comes from the [[Ainu language]]. However, there are various opinions as to what Ainu words does it come from.
Possible words include:
* "ar-pira-pet" (pronounced arapirape in Japanese) [meaning the surface of a cliff's river]書籍『北海道鉄道駅大図鑑』（著：本久公洋、[[Hokkaido Shimbun]]、[[2008]][[August]]発行）117ページより。
* "ar-pira" (pronounced arapira in Japanese) [one side of a cliff]{{Cite web|url=http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ks/ass/grp/110P.pdf|title=アイヌ語地名リスト ア～イチ P1-10|accessdate=2017-10-20|date=2007|publisher=Hokkaido Dept. of Environment and Lifestyle - Ainu Policy Office}} {{Cite web|url=http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ks/ass/new_timeilist.htm |title=アイヌ語地名リスト|accessdate=2017-10-20|date=2007|publisher=Hokkaido Dept. of Environment and Lifestyle - Ainu Policy Office}}
==History==
[[File:Abira Town Hall Oiwake Government building 1.JPG|thumb|Abira Town Hall, previously Oiwake Town Hall）]]
* [[1900]] (33rd year of the [[Meiji (era)|Meiji Era]]): Abira's own government office is established.
* [[1902]] (Meiji 35): Shika Park is opened.
* [[1908]] (Meiji 41): The village of Abira received a 2nd grade town/village rating from the Japanese government.
* [[1923]] (12th year of the [[Taishō|Taishō Era]]): Abira received a 1nd grade town/village rating.
* [[1952]] (27th year of the [[Shōwa (1926–1989)|Shōwa Era]]): The village of Oiwake separated from the village of Abira.
* [[1953]] (Shōwa 28): The village of Oiwake became a town.
* [[1954]] (Shōwa 29): The village of Abira changed it's name to Hayakita.
* [[1957]] (Shōwa 32): The village of Hayakita became a town.
* [[1994]] (6th year of the [[Heisei|Heisei Era]]): [[Northern Farm (stud)|Northern Farm]], a horse breeding ranch, was opened.
* [[2006]] (Heisei 18): The towns of Hayakita and Oiwake merged and became the town of Abira.
* [[2018]] (Heisei 30): The [[2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake]] occured. Abira experienced a [[Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale|JMA seismic intensity]] of 6 higher.[http://web.archive.org/web/20190414102706/https://www.town.abira.lg.jp/oshirase/44/10252 北海道胆振東部地震にかかる被害概要要約版の公開について] Abira homepage. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019.。
==Economy==
===Industry===
Agriculture is the main industry for Abira. Abira's Toasa area is especially famous for their breeding of dairy cattle, which are then sent all over Japan. Another specialty is [[Cantaloupe]]. Asahi Melon is a well known brand from the area.
Horse breeding is also a thriving industry in Abira, such as Yoshida Bokujo (Yoshida Ranch) in the Hayakita-tomioka area and Northern Farm in the Hayakita-genbu area. The local horse breeding industry actively participates in the [[Japan Racing Association|JRA]] Central Horse Racing. Many offsprings of famous [[Stallion]]s, such as Marzensky and [[2005]]'s Japanese [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing]] winner [[Deep Impact (horse)|Deep Impact]], are bred here.
* [[New Chitose Airport]] and [[Tomakomai]]'s eastern industrial area are close to Abira, so it is also active in attracting industry.
* There are many golf courses.
* Since [[1986]], has been selling a Snowman Packaging through the [[Japan Post Service]].
===Local Companies===
* The Hokkaido factory of [[Iris Ohyama]]
* [[SoftBank Tomatoh Abira Solar Park]]
* The Hayakita factory for Saveur Ss Inc (previously the Hokkaido factory for Snow Brand Foods).
===Agricultural Cooperative===
* The Hayakita branch and Oiwake branch of the Tomakomai wide-area of the [[Japan Agricultural Cooperatives]].
===Post Offices===
* Hayakita-Yukidaruma Post Office
* Oiwake Post Office
* Toasa Post Office
* Abira Post Office
File:HayakitaYukidarumaPostoffice.JPG|Hayakita-Yukidaruma Post Office
File:OiwakePostoffice.JPG|Oiwake Post Office
===Financial Institutions===
* [[Hokkaido Bank]] Hayakita Branch, Oiwake Branch
* Hokuo Credit Union Hayakita Branch
* Credit Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives AKA JA Hokkaido Shinren AKA Shinren, JA Tomakomai Area Hayakita Branch and Oiwake Branch.
===Schools===
* High Schools
** Oiwake High School (Established by Hokkaido Prefecture)
* Junior High Schools
** Oiwake Junior High School (Established by the town of Abira)
** Hayakita Junior High School (Established by the town of Abira)
* Elementary School
** Oiwake Elementary School (Established by the town of Abira)
** Hayakita Elementary School (Established by the town of Abira)
** Toasa Elementary School (Established by the town of Abira)
** Abira Elementary School (Established by the town of Abira)
===Area Broadcasting===
Abira obtained a general terrestrial broadcast station license and now broadcasts Abira Channel in the local area.[http://reea.or.jp/area/index/ list of local broadcasters] Radio Engineering & Electronics Association (REEA)
==Transportation==
[[File:JR Muroran-Main-Line・Sekisho-Line Oiwake Station building.jpg|thumb|250px|Oiwake Station]]
[[File:JR Muroran-Main-Line Hayakita Station building.jpg|thumb|250px|Oiwake Station]]
===Airport===
* [[New Chitose Airport]] (Chitose) is near.
===Rail Transport===
* [[Hokkaido Railway Company]] (JR Hokkaido)
** [[Muroran Main Line]]: [[Toasa Station]] - [[Hayakita Station]] - [[Abira Station]] - [[Oiwake Station (Hokkaido)|Oiwake Station]]
** [[Sekishō Line]]: [[Oiwake Station (Hokkaido)|Oiwake Station]] - ([[Higashi-Oiwake Station|Higashi-Oiwake Signal Station]])
At one time, a company called Hayakita Railway (now known as Atsuma Bus) had a train line from Hayakita Station to [[Atsuma, Hokkaido|Atsuma]].
==Attractions==
===Designated Cultural Assets===
[[file:Wooden silo.JPG|thumb|250px|The oldest wooden silo in Japan（torn down in 2015）]]
[[file:Michinoeki Abira D51Station.jpg|thumb|250px|Abira Roadside Station D51]]
Source: List of Designated Municipal Cultural Properties in Hokkaido{{Cite web |format=PDF |url=http://www.dokyoi.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/hk/bnh/H30sityousonnbunnkazaiz.pdf|title=List of Designated Municipal Cultural Properties|pages=21-23|publisher=Hokkaido|date=2017-05-01 |accessdate=2018-02-20}}
* Wooden Silo - At risk of collapse due to aging, its Cultural Asset designation was removed and it was torn down.
* Within the "Abira Roadside Station D51"[https://d51-station.com/ Abira Roadside Station D51] (viewed April 14, 2019).:
** [[JNR Class D51]]-320 [[Steam locomotive|steam locomotive]] - Railroad Museum
** JNR Class D51-241 steam locomotive number plate - Railroad Museum
** 1890s railroad track rail - Railroad Museum
* Small fire truck from 1955 - Abira Fire Department Substation Oiwake Branch
* Manuel firefighting pump - Abira Fire Department Substation Oiwake Branch
* Fire alarm bell from 1915 - Abira Fire Department Substation Oiwake Branch
* 2 stone storehouses
* The remains of the Yufutsu Electric Company
* Settlers Monument (Located at the place where Hayakita was founded) - Hayakitatomioka
* Location of the town's first rice paddy (monument) - Abira
* Settlers Monument - Hayakitamizuho
* Settlers Monument - Hayakitamidorioka
* Hayakita Junior High School Monument - Hayakitahokushin
* The resting place of renowned race horse [[Ten Point]] (Monument)
* Japan's first cheese factory (Monument)
* Irrigation Ditch Monument
* Myoshuhen Irrigation Ditch Monument
* Location of Abira's first school - 1893 (Meiji 26). Taught by town volunteers and based on the [[Terakoya]] system.
* Location of Abira's first school building
* [[Hokkaido Colliery and Railway Company]]'s cokeyard (former [[Coke (fuel)|coke]] factory)
* Former location of the Oiwake [[Rail yard|Rail Yard]]
* First forest in Japan protected under the designation of health and safety forest. (Encompasses Abira's Shika Park)
* The location of Abira's first post office - 1896 (Meiji 29), was established near the current JP Oiwake branch post office.
* Large [[Elm|elm]] tree - owned by Oiwake Farm
* Site of the former Fuji Brewing Company
===Sightseeing Spots===
* Abira Shika Park
* Seiko Dome - An athletics institute that was made to honor the activities of [[Seiko Hashimoto]].
* Tsuru no Yu Onsen
* Railroad Museum - closed for winter from November to April
* Mizuho Dam
===Famous People===
* Kenryō Ashikaga - Professor of [[Human geography|human geography]] at [[Kyoto University]] (1936 - 1999)
* Miman Endo - [[Painter]] (1913 - 2004)
* Masaru Onozuka - News Commentator for the [[Hokkaido Television Broadcasting]] Co. (1945 - )
* Noriyuki Nakao - Former member of the [[House of Councillors (Japan)|House of Councillors]] and currently the president of Hokkaido Media Port (1946 - )
* [[Seiko Hashimoto]] - Former [[Speed skater|speed skater]] and a current member of the [[House of Councillors (Japan)|House of Councillors]] (1964 - )
* Akira Matsuura - Politician (1929 -1996)
{{Hokkaido}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abira, Hokkaido}}
[[Category:Towns in Hokkaido]]
Japanese to English: Japanese 「ミートホープ」 Wikipedia article translated into English General field: Other Detailed field: Journalism
Source text - Japanese [[Image:Meat_Hope_headquarters.jpg|thumb|250px|right|ミートホープ本社・苫小牧工場（2007年7月19日撮影）]]
'''ミートホープ株式会社'''（Meat Hope inc.）は、[[北海道]][[苫小牧市]]に[[本社]]があった[[食品]]加工[[卸売]]会社。[[2007年]]に'''牛肉ミンチ偽装事件'''をはじめとする数々の[[食品偽装問題|食品偽装事件]]が発覚、これにより倒産した。
Translation - English [[Image:Meat_Hope_headquarters.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Meat Hope head office and Tomakomai plant（photograph taken July 19, 2007）]]
'''Meat Hope Inc.''' was a meat processing and [[Wholesaling| wholesaling]] company headquartered in [[Tomakomai]], [[Hokkaido]], [[Japan]]. It went bankrupt in 2007 after several scandals of fraudulently labeling foodstuffs, including a '''ground beef fraud''' scandal.
The fraud came to light after a former executive felt called upon to become a [[Whistleblower|whistleblower]]. This led to the opening of Japan's [[Consumer Affairs Agency]] on September 1, 2009, a month ahead of schedule.
== Summary ==
Meat Hope was established in 1976 by Minoru Tanaka[https://www.htb.co.jp/telemen/uragiri.html Telementary 2007「The Betrayal of a Meat Artisan - Half a Lifetime of a Butcher's Shop Apprentice turned Company President Who Worked His Way Up Through Deception」](in Japanese). When Mr. Tanaka, who originally worked for a different meat provider, founded his company, he originally focused on the production and supplying of meat products. {{citation needed span|date=June 2020|During the heyday of Hokkaido's food processing wholesale industry, Meat Hope was number 1 in sales.}} In January 2006, they had about 100 employees and about 500 employees if including associated companies.
After graduating from junior high school, Mr. Tanaka worked his way up the corporate ladder. In doing so, he helped expand the business and grow the company. With Mr. Tanaka as the president and supported by his sons as executives and presidents of associated companies, the company was a typical family business (See also [[#Associated Companies]]).
Also, in April 2006, a year before the ground beef fraud scandal, Mr. Tanaka was awarded the [[Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology]] Commendation for Innovation (he later returned the commendation). He was awarded for the development of "a processor that could uniformly mix the red meat and fat in ground beef."
However, after getting the commendation and while the fraud was being conducted, {{citation needed span|date=April 2019|Meat Hope received an order to stop the manufacturing of [[Char siu|char siu]] because they had gone over the legally designated limit of [[Food additive|food additives]] allowed in the meat}}.
Mr. Tanaka did research on meat himself and from within the company was said to be a "genius" who knew a lot about meat. However, the reality was that in order to bring the costs down on the so called "product development", they would mix in food additives along with other inexpensive products such as cow and pig innards, and discarded meats. The plan was to make ground meat look good through artificial means (more details in the next section).
On June 6, 2007, the scandal over the fraudulent labeling of the quality of Hope Meat's ground beef began. With many instances of the mislabeling of food coming to light, it became impossible to continue company operations. Then on July 17 of the same year, Meat Hope applied for [[Personal bankruptcy|personal bankruptcy]]{{Cite web|title=The Decision on Meat Hope's Personal Bankruptcy - A Meeting of Creditors in November - Ground Beef Fraud|language=ja|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/070627/TKY200707180626.html|website=Asashi Newspaper asahi.com|accessdate=2020-06-24|publisher=The Asahi Shimbun Company|date=2007-07-18}}. And on the same day, it was decided to commence with bankruptcy proceedings[http://www.tsr-net.co.jp/news/flash/1197632_1588.html Meat Hope Co. | Bankruptcy Newsflash | New Article | Tokyo Commerce and Industry Research](in Japanese). Their total debt was about 670,000,000 yen. A meeting of Hope Meat's creditors was held on November 20 of the same year. However, among Meat Hope's client companies, one company experienced a loss adding up to tens of millions of yen. So the recovery of all of Hope Meat's debt was hopeless. On August 7, 2008, due to the lack of expenses, the company was closed due to bankruptcy, i.e., it ceased to exist as a legal entity. The head office building also remained after the sale. However, since no buyers were found, it was demolished and now no longer exists.
Minoru Tanaka was arrested and prosecuted[http://www.asahi.com/special/071031/TKY200711070288.html asahi.com：Meat Hope President Indicted on Fraud Charges for Deceiving Business Partners and Food Fraud] (in Japanese). Then on March 19, 2008, he was sentenced to prison for 4 years by the Sapporo District Court for the violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention Law. Mr. Tanaka said he wanted to atone for his crimes, so he will accept the courts verdict and not seek an appeal from the Sapporo High Court{{Cite news|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419082504/http://www.47news.jp/CN/200804/CN2008040301000149.html |language=ja|title=Former President of Meat Hope Sentenced to Prison Over Fraudulent Labeling Scandal|agency=Kyodo News| date=2008-04-03 |accessdate=2019-01-08}}※ Currently only available through the Internet Archive.
==The meat fraud scandal==
===The ground beef fraud scandal===
The reason for Meat Hope's meat fraud whistleblowing complaint and the scandal coming to light was because of the company's managing director, Kiroku Akahane{{Cite web|title=The Source of the Food Fraud's Reveal - The Real Name of the whistleblower in "Meat Hope Scandal"|url=http://hoppojournal.sapolog.com/e345017.html|website=Official Blog of the Monthly Magazine "Hoppo Journal"|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|publisher=|date=2007-12-11}}. In the continuous coverage of the Meat Hope scandal and Mr. Akahane's whistleblowing by the "Hoppo Journal", Mr. Akahane stated, "I didn't want things to end with me being just a co-conspirator."{{Cite web|title=January 2008 Edition of "Hoppo Journal" - Special Report - Getting to the Bottom of the "Meat Hope Scandal"|url=http://hoppojournal.sapolog.com/e345024.html|website=Official Blog of the Monthly Magazine "Hoppo Journal"|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|publisher=|date=2007-12-13}}
Mr. Akahane was born in 1935 in [[Nagano Prefecture]]. After graduating from Nagano Prefecture's Kamiina Agricultural High School, he worked at the [[Iida, Nagano|Iida]] branch office of [[Ministry of Justice (Japan)|Ministry of Justice]]'s Legal Affairs Bureau. Then he joined Sankyo Seiki Manufacturing (currently known as [[Nidec Sankyo|Nidec Sankyo Corporation]]) at their main office in [[Shimosuwa, Nagano|Shimosuwa]], [[Suwa District, Nagano|Suwa District]], Nagano Prefecture. He was then put in charge of the sales department of Sankyo Shoji, an associated company of Sankyo Seiki Manufacturing (it was later merged into Nidec Sankyo). After which he became managing director for Sanwa Industries, Ltd.
In 1978, Mr. Akahane was hired as a managing director of [[Noboribetsu]] Prince Hotel, which is part of the Noguchi-Kanko Group hotel chain. He would also work as a general manager at the Tomakomai Prince Hotel{{Cite web|title=New Tomakomai Prince Hotel "Nagomi" |url=https://www.tomakomai-nagomi.com/|website=[Official Website] Hokkaido Business Hotel - Noguchi-Kanko Group|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|first=|last=|publisher=}} and the [[Muroran]] Prince Hotel{{Cite web|title=Muroran Prince Hotel|url=https://www.muroran-princehotel.com/|website=[Official Website] Hokkaido Business Hotel - Noguchi-Kanko Group|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|first=|last=|publisher=}} (unrelated to the [[Prince Hotels]] run by [[Seibu Holdings|Seibu Group]]). In 1995, after retiring at the age of 60, Mr. Akahane was hired by Minoru Tanaka (president of Meat Hope) because of Mr. Akahane's experience managing local tourist destinations. Before his retirement in 2006, he was a managing director.
After joining Meat Hope, Mr. Akahane made use of his many connections he had made as a business executive to expand into other markets such as [[Honshu]]. His job did not bring him into the factory, so he was late to realize the ongoing food fraud. Once he knew what was actually occurring at his company, he went to Mr. Tanaka (the company's president) in an attempt to fix the situation. However, Mr. Tanaka did not heed Mr. Akahane's warnings. Moreover, since the company was run by Mr. Tanaka's family, Mr. Akahane felt it was difficult to reform the company from within. In order to fix things, Mr. Akahane hoped to improve the company through [[Administrative guidance|administrative guidance]]. He anonymously filed complaints at various administrative bodies, such as Tomakomai's Health Center, the city's school lunch center, the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan)|Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)]], the Hokkaido District Agriculture Office, etc{{cite web|date=2011-06-01|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629020131/http://www.ntv.co.jp/gyoten/oa/110601/05.html|title=Meat Fraud - The Shocking Practice|website=The World's Amazing News! (Sekai Gyoten News)|language=ja|publisher=[[Nippon TV]]|accessdate=2019-01-08|quote=→[https://web.archive.org/web/20110626084733/http://www.ntv.co.jp/gyoten/oa/ "Ecology & Fraud - A 3 Hour Special!" Table of Contents] (Shows the date of broadcast)}} *currently only available through the Internet Archive. Mr. Akahane claimed that he was suffering mentally because of Mr. Tanaka's management policies and handling of the food fraud complaints. Mr. Akahane stated that in 2000 (5 years after joining the company) he began taking sleeping pills and anti-depressants.
{{citation needed span|date=April 2019|In 2002, a local newspaper reported on a complaint of food fraud made by a former factory manager. However, the name and location of the company was not reported. And there no investigations or inquires made by any government organizations.}}
In April 2006, Mr. Akahane resigned from Meat Hope. After revealing his identity, he brought a sample of the fraudulently labeled ground beef to the MAFF's Hokkaido District Agriculture Office and requested an investigation. However, the Hokkaido office refused to accept the sample{{Cite web|title=Meat Hope's Former Managing director, We'll Next Press the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries|url=http://hoppojournal.sapolog.com/e345068.html|website=Monthly Magazine "Hoppo Journal" Official Blog|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|publisher=|date=2008-01-16}}{{Cite web|title=Masahiko Katsuya and Kiroku Akahane strike out against the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries|url=http://hoppojournal.sapolog.com/e244491.html|website=Monthly Magazine "Hoppo Journal" Official Blog|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|publisher=2008-02-19}} and Meat Hope's leaders did nothing{{Harvnb|Asahi Shimbun|2006|Ref=asahi20070621}} (in Japanese). The MAFF later stated, "While documents confirm Akahane's visit to the Hokkaido office, there is nothing that confirms that he brought any meat for testing."{{Harvnb|Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries|2006|Ref=maff20070706}} pg. 8-9 (in Japanese) The MAFF then later stated, "Because we recognize that the company is from within Hokkaido, we are requesting that the Hokkaido government take action on March 24."{{Harvnb|National Diet's Response to a Question|2007|Ref=Shugiin0708}} (in Japanese) However, the Hokkaido Government's Department of Environment and Living replied, "There are no such records."{{Cite news|title=Who Holds Responsibility? MAFF or Hokkaido? Ignoring Complaints Surrounding a Meat Company|language=ja|newspaper=Asahi Shimbun|date=2007-06-22||url=http://www.asahi.com/special/070627/TKY200706210426.html}} It was unclear as to who held responsibility, the MAFF or the Hokkaido Government. However, since Meat Hope opened a Tokyo office in 2006, jurisdiction was said to fall under the MAFF.
Later, several people from the leadership ranks of Meat Hope resigned. And like Mr. Akahane, they started complaining to the news media. However, they were ignored by the [[Hokkaido Shimbun]] and the [[NHK]]{{cite book|type=Japanese Book|title=告発は終わらない|trans-title=I Will Not Stop Pointing the Finger|first1=Kiroku|last1=Akahane|first2=Yasuko|last2=Jikumaru|publisher=Nagasaki Shuppan KK|year=2010|isbn=978-4-86095-377-5|language=ja}}.
In the spring of 2007, [[The Asahi Shimbun|the Asahi Shimbun]] started an investigation after receiving a complaint. The results of a DNA test of a frozen beef [[Korokke|korokke]] detected pork, chicken and other types of meat, proving meat fraud{{Harvnb|Asahi Shimbun|2007|Ref=asahi070627}} (in Japanese). Based on this investigation, the Asahi Shimbun reported on the detection of pork found in "[[Consumers'_co-operative#Japan|CO-OP]] beef korokkes" produced by Hokkaido
KaTOkichi (a consolidated subsidiary of KaTOkichi, now known as TableMark Co.,Ltd.) on June 20 of the same year. KaTOkichi's own investigation reported that it was not a mistake of handling the ingredients by Hokkaido KaTOkichi, but that a person in charge at Meat Hope stated that Meat Hope "mixed pork into the beef payed for" by Hokkaido KaTOkichi[http://www.tablemark.co.jp/corp/ir/pdf/Pr530620_1.pdf KaTOkichi's Press Release] (in Japanese).
At a Meat Hope press conference, the company president emphasized meat fraud was an "accident" and not done "intentionally." However, at the urging the eldest son of the company director, he appeared on TV in which he admitted to personally participating in the meat fraud{{Cite web|title=What the Sentence of the Former President of Meat Hope Symbolizes|url=https://xtech.nikkei.com/it/article/OPINION/20080411/298780/|website=NIKKEI xTECH|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|last=|publisher=[[Nikkei Business Publications]]|date=2008-04-14}}. At this time, Meat Hope's president had a paper that calculated the costs of mixing the meat.
Later, outside of mixing substances like pork, chicken, pork innards and bread scraps into the ground meat that was labeled as "100% Beef" in order to dilute the amount of beef, Meat Hope was shown to have blood mixed in to adjust the ground meat's color and flavor enhancements mixed in to adjust the flavor.
Furthermore, Meat Hope was found to have used meat beyond its expiration date and meat that had been returned by customers because of some complaint or another; changed the label of damaged or contaminated meat and ship it out to customers; mixed already stinking rotting meat into other offal and making things such as [[Restructured steak|restructured steak]]; imported poultry meat from Brazil, labeled it as "domestic poultry" and supplied it to organizations such as the [[Japan Self-Defense Forces]]; falsified the data showing [[Salmonella|salmonella]] was found in sausages and then supplied said sausages to school lunch firms that provide lunch for elementary and junior high schools; used rain water to thaw out frozen meats; and many other dishonest acts of Meat Hope came to light.
On June 24, 2007, the Hokkaido police carried out a search of Meat Hope's main office as well as 10 other locations under the suspicion of violating Japan's Unfair Competition Prevention Law (false labeling).
Meat Hope's president continued to pass the blame to others in statements given to the media and at the public trial. He said things such as "Even the customers who are happy with the half-off sale have complaints about the products" and "Because we cannot increase the price on our business customers, we chose to continue our business practices [of mixing in other substances to keep costs down]."{{Cite web|title=Meat Hope's Minoru Tanaka Receives a Sentence of "4 Years in Prison"|url=http://hoppojournal.sapolog.com/e345181.html|website=Monthly Magazine "Hoppo Journal"'s Official Blog|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|publisher=|date=2008-03-19}} On the other hand, he did apologize for making people worried about their food.
===Impact on business clients===
According to the MAFF investigation, from July 2006 to June 2007, Meat Hope distributed a total of 9,838 tons of ground beef to general customers (4,300 tons), business clients (5,504 tons) and specialty facilities (34 tons).{{Harvnb|Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries|2007|Ref=maff0907}}
* KaTOkichi - A total of 20 kinds of korokke were recalled for using ingredients bought from Meat Hope{{Cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/070627/TKY200706200135.html |title=KaTOkichi, 20 Kinds of Korokke Recalled for False Ground Meat, MAFF Investigates - Ground Beef Fraud|newspaper=[[the Asahi Shimbun]] |date=2007-06-20}}.
** An investigation showed that Hokkaido KaTOkichi's plant manager illegally sold to Meat Hope frozen korokkes that were intended to be thrown out. Which in turn brought in somewhere between 200,000 to 300,000 yen in illegal profits. It was said that these earnings were used for the purpose of strengthening ties within the company and were not recorded in the company's profits. Because of this scandal, the parent company KaTOkichi dismissed Hokkaido KaTOkichi's plant manager.
** {{citation needed span|date=April 2019|Furthermore, the founder of KaTOkichi, Katou Yoshikazu, stepped down from the board of the [[Japan Business Federation]] and other public offices outside of the company.}}
* [[Japanese Consumers' Co-operative Union]] - Pork was mixed into 23 products designated as beef{{Cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/070627/TKY200706220455.html |title=Pork Detected in Each Companies' Products - Ground Beef Fraud|newspaper=[[Asahi Shimbun]] |date=2007-06-23}}.
* [[Japan Tobacco]] - Voluntary recall of a total of 6 kinds of frozen korokke that used ground beef{{Cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/070627/TKY200706220360.html |title=Japan Tobacco, Voluntary Recall of Frozen Foods - Ground Beef Fraud|newspaper=[[Asahi Shimbun]] |date=2007-06-22}}.
* [[Mister Donut]] - Due to the buying of bacon from Meat Hope, they stopped selling soup{{Cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/070627/TKY200707120307.html |title=Mister Donut Will Stop Selling Soup - Ingredients from Meat Hope - Ground Beef Fraud|newspaper=[[Asahi Shimbun]] |date=2007-07-12}}.
* [[AEON (company)|AEON]] - Sales of the ready-made beef korokke suspended{{Cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/070627/TKY200707060400.html |title=AEON's Beef Korokke Also Has Pork Mixed In - Ground Beef Fraud|newspaper=[[Asahi Shimbun]] |date=2007-07-06}}.
* The city of Tomakomai's public elementary and junior high school lunches - Brazilian made poultry was fraudulently labeled as Japanese made{{Cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/070627/TKY200706210408.html |title=School Lunch Poultry, Brazilian Meat Fraudulently Labeled as Domestic Meat - Ground Beef Fraud|newspaper=[[Asahi Shimbun]] |date=2007-06-21}}. Also, bacteria such as salmonella detected in hams and sausages delivered to the lunch center{{Cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/070627/TKY200707110547.html |title=Data Showing Detentions of Meat Containing Bacterium That Could Cause Food Poisoning Altered by Meat Hope - Ground Beef Fraud|newspaper=[[Asahi Shimbun]] |date=2007-06-11}}.
* Additionally, Meat Hope sold 14 tons of ground meat for school lunches in 22 [[Prefectures of Japan|Japanese prefectures]]{{Cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/070627/TKY200708030471.html |title=256 Companies Used Meat Hope's Ground Meat, 22 Prefectures Used Meat Hope's Ground Meat for School Lunches - Ground Beef Fraud|newspaper=[[Asahi Shimbun]] |date=2007-08-03}}.
===Impact on the whistleblower===
All this information came from whistleblowing. Which in turn created a bit of a stir in the then current state of the whistleblower system. Furthermore, Japan passed the Whistleblower Protection Act on April 1, 2006. At about the same time, Akahane resigned from Meat Hope and began revealing what was going on at Meat Hope under his real name.
However, a deep scar remained in the whistleblower Akahane. In 2010, Akahane published "I Will Not Stop Pointing the Finger - The Truth of the Meat Hope Scandal" through the publishing company Nagasaki Shuppan KK. In the book he wrote of the pain he still felt in his heart, "I never thought I would still be feeling it today."{{Cite book|type=Japanese Book|title=告発は終わらない ミートホープ事件の真相|trans-title= I Will Not Stop Pointing the Finger - The Truth of the Meat Hope Scandal |date=2010-02-01|year=|publisher=Nagasaki Shuppan KK|first1=Kiroku|last1=Akahane|first2=Yasuko|last2=Jikumaru|isbn=4860953770|language=ja}}
After the scandal was proven to be true, Akahane was put directly into the public eye by the mass media.{{Cite web|title=The Man "Popular" with the Media, Former Managing Director Akahane|url=http://hoppojournal.sapolog.com/e244456.html|website=Official Blog of the Monthly Magazine "Hoppo Journal"|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|publisher=2008-02-01}} He felt horrible that his family and relatives were being dragged along with him. During the time he was fervently trying to bring to light what had occurred at Meat Hope, the mass media ignored him. However, due to the reporting by Asahi Shimbun which shed light on the scandal, the new media came upon him uninvited. Moreover, without asking or confirming with Akahane, the media would write stories about Akahane's personal life. He said he felt they were "rude in how they caused [him] trouble."
Akahane, who was forced to struggle on alone{{Cite web|title=Kiroku Akahane vs. Koji Harada "A Discussion on Whistleblowing"|url=http://hoppojournal.sapolog.com/e345264.html|website=Official Blog of the Monthly Magazine "Hoppo Journal"|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|publisher=|date=2008-05-06}}, was criticized by a former client who said, "Did he [Akahane] push us meat products while knowing they were fraudulent?" Memories of the scandal and losing contact with his former Meat Hope co-workers is painful for Akahane. Being in the public eye caused him to suffer from sleeplessness and [[Bipolar disorder|bipolar disorder]]. His wife divorced him and his relatives stated they wanted nothing to do with him. He left Tomakomai, where he lived, and lives by himself in his childhood home in [[Nagano Prefecture]].
In 2017, ten years after the scandal, Akahane told [[Yahoo! News]], "If I could go back to that time, I would not blow the whistle on Meat Hope."[https://news.yahoo.co.jp/feature/629 Points of Pride and Regret of Whistleblowers after the Scandals End] Published by Yahoo! News on 2017/6/14(Wednesday) at 10:30 He said, "Whistleblowing ruins a person. You may be turning a blind-eye to what's going on, but if you don't like it, then just keep quiet and just quit. Even if blowing the whistle is to protect other people or to protect the world, if you cannot protect yourself, there is no point." and "Because I spoke up, I became bipolar and I no longer see my family or friends. And because my name was spread around by the mass media, it caused trouble for my siblings." He also expressed his resent when he said, "If the government or the media had just done something when I had reported on Meat Hope anonymously, I wouldn't have had to reveal my name. I wouldn't have gotten a mental disorder. I wouldn't have lost everything."
As to the failure to act sooner by the relevant authorities, Akahane has repeatedly spoken to many sources including Hoppo Journal since the scandal came to light in 2008. He has said, "If the authorities had done something sooner, the business could have been improved. Without sending the company president Mr. Tanaka to prison, without the company going into bankruptcy, and without my losing my job."{{Cite web|title=Meat Hope's Former Managing Director "Attacks" Regulatory Authorities|url=http://hoppojournal.sapolog.com/e345058.html|website=Official Blog of the Monthly Magazine "Hoppo Journal"|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|publisher=|date=2008-01-10}}
Akahane says that he no longer reads his own book. Yasuko Jikumaru, a journalist who helped Akahane write his book, concluded his book by saying, "While he is a whistleblower who brought about definite change in food safety, he feels that the day when everyone praises people like him will probably never come. The day when he finally feels at peace will probably never come."
Similarly to Akahane's situation, a whistleblower from warehouser Nishinomiya Reizo brought light to a scandal involving the warehouser's client company Snow Brand. During the 2001 [[Bovine spongiform encephalopathy|mad cow disease]] outbreak, Snow Brand fraudulently labeled Australian beef as Japanese beef.
==Associated companies==
* Eat-Up Inc. (Est. November 1995. [http://www.eatup.co.jp/ Official Japanese Website])
** Head Office: 1-5-14, Yanagi-cho, Tomakomai, Hokkaido (same address as their Tomakomai branch restaurant)[http://www.tomashin.co.jp/pdf/tbsn/tbsn153.pdf Tomashin Business Exchange Network - Company Introduction - Eat-Up Inc.] [[Tomakomai Shinkin Bank]]
** Eat-Up Inc. manages the [[Yakiniku|yakiniku]] and [[Shabu-shabu|shabu-shabu]] all-you-can-eat Eat-Up restaurant chain (Tomakomai branch{{Cite web|title=Eat-Up Tomakomai branch(Numanohata/yakiniku)|url=https://tabelog.com/hokkaido/A0108/A010802/1009216/|website=[[Tablelog]]|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|publisher=}}, Chitose branch{{Cite web|title=All-You-Can-Eat Restaurant Eat-Up Chitose branch(Osatsu/all-you-can-eat)|url=https://tabelog.com/hokkaido/A0107/A010701/1007633/|website=Tablelog|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|publisher=}}, and Iwamizawa branch{{Cite web|title=Eat-Up Iwamizawa branch(Kamihoromui/Yakiniku)|url=https://tabelog.com/hokkaido/A0107/A010708/1009217/|website=Tablelog|accessdate=2020-06-24|language=ja|publisher=}})
** Eat-Up Inc. was once a consolidated subsidiary of Meat Hope. It is managed by the eldest son of Meat Hope's former president Mr. Tanaka. As of 2020, it is still in operation.{{Cite web|title=Everyone's All-You-Can-Eat Restaurant "Eat-Up"|url=http://www.eatup.co.jp/|website=|accessdate=2020-06-24|publisher=}}
* Barusu Meat Inc. (Est. July 1991)
** Head office: 4-11-26, Tokai-cho, Tomakomai, Hokkaido[https://houjin.j-bdb.com/34300010548255522 Barusu Meat Inc.] National Corporation Databank
** Barusu Meat Inc. was once a consolidated subsidiary of Meat Hope. It was managed by the second son of Meat Hope's former president Mr. Tanaka.
Also, 5 of the 70 former Meat Hope employees got together and started selling "Honest Korokke" in April 2008[http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/national/life_topic/20080306000486 Former Meat Hope Employees Start Fresh with "Honest" Korokke] The Shikoku Shimbun, published 2008-3-6 (in Japanese)[https://www.j-cast.com/2008/03/07017580.html?p=all Former Meat Hope Employees Start "Honest Korokke] J-CAST News、published in 2008-3-7 (in Japanese).
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
== Bibliography ==
; Books
* {{cite book|type=Japanese Book|title=告発は終わらない|trans-title=I Will Not Stop Pointing the Finger|first1=Kiroku|last1=Akahane|first2=Yasuko|last2=Jikumaru|publisher=Nagasaki Shuppan KK|year=2010|isbn=978-4-86095-377-5|language=ja}}
; Magazines
* {{cite magazine |volume= 2008|issue= January|title= 「ミートホープ事件」の真相を追う（3）告発者が実名で苦悩を激白!「私は偽装の片棒を担いだまま終われなかった」動かなかった行政に今も残る憤り|trans-title= Pursuing the Truth of the "Meat Hope Scandal" (3) The whistleblower reveals the suffering he has endured because of revealing his real name! "I couldn't end things with me being just an accomplice." Even now his resentment at the government that did nothing remains|magazine= Hoppo Journal | language=ja}}
* {{cite magazine |volume= 2008|issue= February|title= 「ミートホープ事件」の真相を追う（4）元常務が保健所・農政事務所を直撃!「あなた方は監督責任を果たしたと言えるのか？」内部告発者の闘い、第二幕へ|trans-title= Pursuing the Truth of the "Meat Hope Scandal" (4) The former managing director of Meat Hope attacks the Health and Agriculture Office! "Can you say you really did your job as a watchdog?" The Fight of the Whistleblower, Act 2|magazine= Hoppo Journal|language=ja}}
* {{cite magazine |volume= 2008|issue= March|title= 「ミートホープ事件」の真相を追う（5）開始された公判と元常務の終わりなき告発「田中元社長を裁くなら北海道も国も裁け!」|trans-title= Pursuing the Truth of the "Meat Hope Scandal" (5) The start of the trial and the former managing directors never ending accusations. "If you are going to judge former president Mr. Tanaka, then you must judge Hokkaido and the whole country as well!"|magazine= Hoppo Journal|language=ja}}
* {{cite magazine |volume= 2008|issue= April|title= 「ミートホープ事件」の真相を追う（6）判決直前レポート「求刑懲役6年」の重みと不毛／緊急再録―“食肉偽装”の軌跡／ミートホープ事件の深い闇 元常務が問い続ける所轄庁の監督責任|trans-title= Pursuing the Truth of the "Meat Hope Scandal" (6) A Pre-Sentencing Report On: The importance and fruitlessness of the "6 years prison sentence recommendation" / Urgent Recap - The "Meat Fraud" Case / The Dark Depths of the Meat Hope Scandal - Former managing director continues to question the responsibility to keep watch by the government|magazine= Hoppo Journal|language=ja}}
* {{cite magazine |volume= 2008|issue= May|title= 「ミートホープ事件」の真相を追う（7）田中稔元社長実刑判決で何が変わり、終わったか／渦中の赤羽喜六氏が吐露する「むなしさ」|trans-title= Pursuing the Truth of the "Meat Hope Scandal" (7) With the sentencing of Meat Hope's former president Minoru Tanaka, what changes? Is it really over? / In the midst of his own turmoil, Mr. Kiroku Akahane speaks out. "It was pointless."|magazine= Hoppo Journal|language=ja}}
; Newspaper Articles
* {{Cite news|title=Fraudulent Ground Meat Shipped from Hokkaido Manufacturer Sold by Co-op Stores Nation Wide|newspaper=Asahi Shimbun |date=2007-06-20 |url=http://www.asahi.com/special/070627/TKY200706190696.html |ref=asahi070627}}
*{{Cite news|title=Office of Agriculture Ignored Fraudulent Ground Beef Whistleblower for Over One Year|newspaper=Asahi Shimbun|date=2007-06-21|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/070627/TKY200706210234.html |ref=asahi20070621}}
; Documentary Programs
* {{Cite episode |title= The Man Who Blew the Whistle on 'Food Fraud'|url= https://navicon.jp/news/6151/|network= [[NHK General TV]]|date= 1 December 2009|time= 10:00pm-10:45pm|language=ja |series= A Singular Rebellion}}
* {{Cite episode |title= The Environment and Fraud - 3 Hour Special|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110626084733/http://www.ntv.co.jp/gyoten/oa/|network= [[Nippon TV|Nippon Television Holdings]]|date= 1 June 2011|time= 7:00pm-9:54pm|language=ja |series= The World's Astonishing News!}}
; Government Reports
*{{Cite report|title=Follow-up Survey of Ground Beef and Other Ground Meats in Regards to the Ground Beef Case as well as Future Measures|publisher=[[Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan)|Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries]]|date=2007-09-07 |url=http://www.maff.go.jp/j/press/syouan/hyoji/070907_1.html |language= ja|ref=maff0907}}（[https://web.archive.org/web/20070914045948/http://www.maff.go.jp/j/press/syouan/hyoji/070907_1.html web.archive.org]）
* {{Cite report|title=All Facts Pertaining to "Ground Beef" Case as well as Investigative Report on Plans for Improvement in Future|publisher=Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries|date=2007-07-06|url=http://www.maff.go.jp/j/press/2007/pdf/20070706press_7c.pdf |language= ja|ref=maff20070706}}
* {{Cite report|title= Report Filed by Lower House Member Seiji Osaka in Regards to Questions Related to the Case of Processed Meat Fraud by the Meat Processing Company "Meat Hope Inc."|date=2007-07-08| author=[[Shinzo Abe]]|url=http://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_shitsumon.nsf/html/shitsumon/b166458.htm |language= ja|ref=Shugiin0708}}
* [http://hoppojournal.sapolog.com/tag%E3%83%9F%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%83%97 News articles related to Meat Hope] (in Japanese - Official Blog of the Monthly Magazine "Hoppo Journal"
* [https://news.yahoo.co.jp/feature/629 Points of Pride and Regret of Whistleblowers after the Scandals End] (in Japanese) - Yahoo! News
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[[Category:Companies established in 1976]]
[[category:Companies disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:Food safety scandals]]
[[Category:Corporate crime]]
[[Category:Whistleblowing]]
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I grew up in an international family. My mother is Costa Rican and my father is American. I have lived and worked in Japan for about 10 years. I have worked along with Japanese teachers and foreign teachers. I have a wide array of interests. From international affairs to Japanese politics to video games to education to data analysis, to name a few. In my free time, I have been translating Japanese Wikipedia articles into English.
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