CHIBA (TR) – The Chiba Institute of Technology has said that there is “no problem” with Japanese entrepreneur Joi Ito, 59, serving as president despite the emergence of numerous emails between him and American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, reports ITmedia News (Feb. 12).
On January 30, the U.S. Department of Justice released 3 million pages of documents on Epstein, who committed suicide under mysterious circumstances after being indicted on charges including sex trafficking. Among them were numerous emails with Ito.
Regarding Ito, the institute said, “When he became president in 2023, we conducted a thorough background check, including the third-party investigation report on the MIT incident. We believe there is no problem.”
“Never seen criminal activity”
ITmedia News asked Ito if he had ever visited Little St. James Island. Owned by Epstein, it was reportedly a key location for the sexual abuse and trafficking of young women and underage girls.
“I checked, but I have never seen any criminal or illegal activity,” Ito said in neither clearly denying nor confirming.
The correspondence in the files include what are believed to be code words. When Ito was asked about expression “Japan/dogs” in an email exchange with Epstein in September 2013, he said, “It’s definitely not problematic. There’s evidence.”
The university has no plans to issue a statement on the matter, according to IT Media.
Resigned from MIT
In 2011, Ito became the director of the MIT Media Lab. Shortly after Epstein’s suicide in 2019, it was revealed that Ito had received a large donation from him, which led to his resignation.
After returning to Japan, Ito served as director of the Chiba Institute of Technology’s Center for Transformation. He became president in July 2023.
