Let's Japan.org Debunking Eikaiwa and Ramblings in Japan

In this ZAKZAK article, Sahashi gives an interview to the Shuukan Diamond and puts his detractors on notice that he is planning on striking back.

The former Nova president comes out of hiding to declare war

Defiant interview in business magazine

In an interview with the business magazine Shuukan Diamond that hits the newsstand this week, the former head of failed English conversation school Nova, Nozomu Sahashi, strikes back at the trustee's allegations that he used the company for his own benefit demonstrated by his opulent office and high remuneration, saying that he has no choice but to go on the counterattack. Although he is still in hiding, he says he has plenty to say.

Part of the interview can be read online at the Shuukan Diamond's website.

In the interview, Sahashi says of his responsibility in contributing to Nova's collapse: "It is crystal clear that I was working under the basic premise to restructure the company so as not to inconvenience anyone."

Sahashi sought to restructure the company himself when business took a turn for the worse following the METI raid in February, but the trustees found this course of action questionable due to Sahashi's murky sales of shares of a subsidiary company, suggesting that his actions may construe "an aggravated breach of trust."

Sahashi completely denies the allegation, explaining that he never intended to line his own pockets by taking advantage of his position. He offers this apology to the student and employees: "As the one responsible, I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused."

Since the trustees took over, they revealed an opulent office that looks like it belongs in a love hotel, and the more than ¥300 million Sahashi received in remuneration while the company was in the red to show how he used Nova for his own benefit. The trustees repeatedly called Sahashi to ask for an explanation but were unable to contact him.

Sahashi appeared to be preparing to be going on the "counteroffensive" when he filed a petition with the Osaka District Court through his lawyers saying that the office was a "model room" and that he "received ¥100 million in remuneration at most."

He also denied the claim that he profited from the sales of Ginganet videophone systems for Nova's ocha no ma ryuugaku lessons, saying that there was never any intention to reap any profits.

Sahashi also had words for the executives who ousted him from power and the trustees: "It's odd that there was a slew of stories one after the other. [...] I have no choice but to fight back."

A Nova executive gave a measured response, "My impression is that these are superficial excuses. They are nothing more than the "shallow thinking of a monkey." Sahashi's lawyer suggests, "He was shocked at the beating he took in the media," which makes one wonder what kind of counteroffensive Sahashi has in the works.

ZAKZAK 2007/11/10

Original article

ＮＯＶＡ前社長、雲隠れ一変“サルの浅知恵”宣戦布告

経済誌のインタービューで激白

経営破綻（はたん）した英会話学校最大手、ＮＯＶＡ（統括本部・大阪市）の猿橋望前社長（５６）が１２日発売の経済誌「週刊ダイヤモンド」のインタビューに応じ、保全管理人らが猿橋氏の豪華社長室や高額報酬などを「会社の私物化」と批判していることに対し、「ここまでやられたら反撃せざるを得ない」と“宣戦布告”していることがわかった。雲隠れを続ける猿橋氏だが、まだ「いっぱいしゃべれーる」ようだ。

インタビューは、同誌の公式ホームページでも一部が公開されている。

それによると、猿橋氏は経営破綻を招いた責任について、「誰にも迷惑がかからないように会社を再建するという大前提で動いており、そこに一点の曇りもありません」と強調している。

今年２月の経済産業省による立ち入り調査以来悪化したＮＯＶＡの自力再建を目指したが、保全管理人はこの過程で猿橋氏が関連会社の株売却などで不透明な取引を行なった形跡があり、「特別背任にあたる可能性もある」と指摘している。

この点についても猿橋氏は完全否定し、私腹を肥やす意図はなかった旨を説明。生徒や従業員に「結果責任として多大な迷惑を皆さんにおかけしてしまい、本当に申し訳ないと思っています」と謝罪した。

保全管理人は就任以来、「猿橋氏による会社私物化の一端」として、ラブホテルのような豪華社長室や赤字の年に３億円を超える多額の報酬を受け取っていたことなどを暴露した。説明を求めようと、猿橋氏に何度も電話したが連絡は取れないままだ。

猿橋氏も“反撃”の準備をしていたようで、今月５日に代理人の弁護士を通じて大阪地裁に提出した上申書では「社長室はモデルルーム。報酬も１億円程度しかなかった」と反論していた。

「お茶の間留学」で使用するテレビ機器を販売するギンガネット社との取引で利益を得ていたとされる点について、「そこで利益を上げようなどという発想はまったくない」と否定した。

逆にクーデターで社長の座を追われた現経営陣や保全管理人に対しては、「ここまでいろんな話が矢継ぎ早に出るのはおかしい。（中略）ここまでやられたら反撃するしかありません」と闘志をむき出しにした。

ＮＯＶＡ幹部は「表面的な言い訳に終始している印象。しょせん『サルの浅知恵』にすぎない」と当面は静観の構えだが、「一連のバッシング報道で大きなショックを受けた」（代理人の弁護士）という猿橋氏がどんな反撃を仕掛けてくるのだろうか。

ZAKZAK 2007/11/10