Kinuko Iwamoto, Former Chancellor of Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Arrested in Shinjuku Ward Over ¥120 Million Fraud

Jan 13, 2025, 07:55 AM

Kinuko Iwamoto, the former chancellor of Tokyo Women’s Medical University, has been arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of illicitly having the university disburse about ¥120 million in connection with the construction of new campus buildings in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo. The funds were allegedly paid to a first-class registered architect as consulting fees, despite the architect not providing any services. The university has faced multiple scandals, including irregular salary payments and illicit receipt of donations linked to the alumni association. In response to Iwamoto's arrest, the university held an emergency press conference in Shinjuku Ward where the current chancellor, Haruhiko Shimizu, apologized deeply for the incident and promised to work on organizational reform and restoring trust. The arrest follows a series of investigations, including a search of the university's headquarters and Iwamoto's residence last year, which led to the establishment of a third-party panel that criticized Iwamoto's financial management.