Record Taisho committee member found dead amid bribery scandal

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15 December 2005:

YOKOHAMA -- A music critic tied to a bribery scandal over the prestigious "Record Taisho" awards mysteriously went missing the night before his home caught fire, police said.

Music critic Takeshi Akojima, 65, is head of the screening committee for a major music award known as the Record Taisho.

Akojima left his home in Yokohama's Totsuka-ku on the morning of Dec. 12 and attended a party that night. No one has seen or heard from his since.

A fire broke out at his home early on the morning of Dec. 13, destroying the structure.

No relatives were at home at the time of the fire.

Record Taisho's grand prix and other prizes are announced on New Year's Eve. A document that claims that head of the award's screening committee had asked people in the music industry for bribes over this year's awards had recently been circulated, according to reports in weekly magazines such as the Sunday Mainichi.

Police are investigating whether the man's disappearance is related to the document's circulation.

Music critic tied to bribery scandal goes missing before home catches fire

17 December 2005:

Dental records have confirmed that the body found in a gutted home here belonged to prominent music critic Takeshi Akojima, police said.

Akojima headed the screening committee for the prestigious "Record Taisho" award, Japanese pop music's most prestigious award.

However, he died under a cloud amid suggestions in weekly magazines that he sought bribes related to this year's awards.

Police said that 65-year-old Akojima had been reported missing on the night of Dec. 12. His house burned down in the early hours of the following morning in a blaze.

Police have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

Body in gutted home confirmed as music critic's