Honda's executive vice president resigned on Monday over "an allegation of inappropriate conduct", the Japanese automaker said.
The incident occurred "during a social gathering outside of work hours", Honda said in a statement without specifying what accusations were made against Shinji Aoyama, who is also the company's director.
"It is deeply regrettable that an individual positioned as a leader in the management of the company, and who is expected to set an example for the respect of human rights... has become the subject of an allegation of conduct contrary to these principles," the company statement said.
Honda declined to reveal details of Aoyama's conduct, citing privacy concerns for the victim, Kyodo news agency reported.
The firm's audit committee had investigated the incident and presented a disciplinary action plan to the board of directors, who were "scheduled to make a decision".
However, Aoyama submitted his resignation letter before the board had made any move, the statement said.
"The Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is appropriate for Mr. Aoyama to resign from his position," it said.
Honda President Toshihiro Mibe will voluntarily return 20 percent of his monthly compensation for two months due to "the seriousness of this matter", the company said.
"The company sincerely apologises for any discomfort caused by such conduct, and for the significant disturbance and concern it has caused to all stakeholders."
© 2025 AFP
18 Comments
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Newgirlintown
The company sincerely apologises for any discomfort caused by such conduct, and for the significant disturbance and concern it has caused to all stakeholders BUT NOT TO THE VICTIM.
quercetum
A little discomfort?! My throat was feeling some of that this morning.
Legrande
Sounds like the inappropriate conduct could have been pretty serious and unambiguous.
BertieWooster
So what did he do????
owzer
Public apologies are done publicly. What reason do you have to believe that a private apology was not made to the individual who likely does not want publicity?
Mr Kipling
Honda executive resigns over having his 'inappropriate conduct' found out.
Fixed it.
Michael Machida
"The company sincerely apologies for any discomfort caused by such conduct, and for the significant disturbance and concern it has caused to all stakeholders."
... Meanwhile. Victim?
Fighto!
Wearing tennis shoes with a suit? This guy is a weirdo AND a creep.
He's probably been acting up at drinking parties for decades.
WoodyLee
Only a Woman can or could bring this Caliber Down.
quercetum
Well the Chinese say there are three hurdles that you have to clear: women, money, and power. It's usually one of these that'll bring you down: lust, greed and pride.
Cephus
WoodyLee,
"Only a Woman can or could bring this Caliber Down."
Not surprising to hear that, they have brought down Kings before. As intelligent, beautiful, kind hearted they might be, only Lucifer and a woman can steal a man's soul.
owzer
Please post photos of your fashion.
Speed
Gee, I wonder what happened.
ILoveDownvotes
There's plenty of image hosting sites on the internet, but I don't think this is the point here.
I was also surprised why you'd draw such a conclusion from the guys choice of attire.
ILoveDownvotes
@Speed: apart from the obvious, I thought that he may have assaulted some guy, but I'm pretty sure it's the obvious one as always after all.
quercetum
[img]https://www.stylerave.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/suits-and-sneakers-e1477425834770.jpg[/img]
Mixing business suits with sports footwear gradually catching on
About three decades ago, newspapers reported the closing of the final shoeshine concession at Narita International Airport. Demand had been drying up, the reporter wrote, because more Japanese -- following a worldwide trend -- were wearing casual footwear when they went abroad.
Now Nikkan Gendai (May 8) follows another emerging trend, the combining of sneakers -- used to mean casual sports or athletic shoes -- with conventional business attire.
"I noticed that young staff at our company wear sneakers when they go out to make customer calls," a 44-year-old acquaintance told the reporter. "They justify it by saying 'They're more comfortable when walking.' I guess I'm a bit old fashioned, but..." He left the sentence uncompleted but it was easy to see he doesn't approve.
Last February during a festival for supporters of the Vissel Kobe J.League soccer team, two Spanish players, Andres Iniesta and David Villa, appeared wearing business suits with sports shoes on their feet, which set off a debate over whether this was a lapse in social manners.
To people in North America and Europe, of course, combining such footwear with business suits has already become an established practice.
"The wearing of sneakers with business suits first appeared among businessmen in New York during the 1990s," says fashion critic Yoshifumi Tsujimoto. "It became fashionable along with other 'crossover' styles, like wearing blue jeans with a blazer or sports coat, or suits made of denim fabric, all of which proposed a challenge to the status quo.
"Up to about 10 years ago, the wearing of leather footwear was still regarded as obligatory in many European countries, particularly the UK and Italy," Tsujimoto continued. "But now it's become common to see business suits combined with athletic shoes."
The use of rubber in shoes dates back about 150 years, having first appeared around the mid-19th century. Prior to that, leather was the most commonly used material. (Unless you want to count wooden clogs.)
"Initially people of the time looked upon the dropping of pocket watches in favor of timepieces worn on the wrist, or use of a belt around the waist instead of suspenders, as violations of the dress code," Tsujimoto added. And even now some look upon with disfavor when they see young salarymen wearing bulky Casio G-Shock watches on their wrists, or back packs combined with business suits.
To better accommodate the wearing of coats with a back pack, a style called ankon (short for the English "unconstruction"), which removes shoulder padding, has become more popular of late.
Tsujimoto says most Japanese still draw the line at deviations from the conventional when it comes to weddings and other kinds of formal events, but believes that a trend toward more casual dress accurately reflects "the style of the times."
"Up to the first 30 years of the 20th century, Western clothing styles were largely a continuation from what had been put in place in the 19th century," he remarked. "Things gradually began to become more casual after World War 2. When it comes to both clothing and social manners, I'd say we're in a period of transition now, and I suppose over the next 10 to 20 years we'll see major changes."
At some point in the new Reiwa era, the writer supposes, people will look back on the days when wearing of business suits with leather shoes was seen as obligatory, and ridicule it as a quaint old custom.
© Japan Today
USNinJapan2
Fighto!
His attire is completely irrelevant to the story, but it's a little concerning that you think he's wearing a suit in this photo...
Mr Kipling
He wore brown shoes with a black suit, held his knife in the left hand and then proceeded to put jam on a scone BEFORE the cream!
Obviously there is no place in a boardroom or anywhere else in civilized society.