Scandals Mar Universal Studios Japan
OSAKA, Japan (AP Asia) -- The president of Universal Studios Japan apologized Wednesday and said execu-tives — including himself — had been punished with pay cuts after recent scandals raised questions over cor-porate ethics at the Hollywood theme park in Osaka. Akira Sakata acknowledged that his company, USJ Co., served food cooked with expired ingredients and used untreated industrial water in drinking fountains at the park in the western Japanese city. He said pay cuts had been imposed on 19 company officials. "We have been too busy entertaining our guests, whose number exceeded ... our expectations," Sakata told a news con-ference. "But our organizational immaturity has triggered the latest series of scandals, and we deeply regret what happened as a result." Sakata and Vice President Daniel Jensen will have their pay cut by 20% for three months and senior manager Mikio Ando by 15% for three months. Ten board members face a 10% pay cut for one month, and six others, including the general manager, have been suspended. To prevent a repeat of the mistakes, Sakata said the company would improve its organization, information disclosure and safety controls, and it submitted a plan for doing so to the regional government.
OSAKA, Japan (AP Asia) -- The president of Universal Studios Japan apologized Wednesday and said execu-tives — including himself — had been punished with pay cuts after recent scandals raised questions over cor-porate ethics at the Hollywood theme park in Osaka. Akira Sakata acknowledged that his company, USJ Co., served food cooked with expired ingredients and used untreated industrial water in drinking fountains at the park in the western Japanese city. He said pay cuts had been imposed on 19 company officials. "We have been too busy entertaining our guests, whose number exceeded ... our expectations," Sakata told a news con-ference. "But our organizational immaturity has triggered the latest series of scandals, and we deeply regret what happened as a result." Sakata and Vice President Daniel Jensen will have their pay cut by 20% for three months and senior manager Mikio Ando by 15% for three months. Ten board members face a 10% pay cut for one month, and six others, including the general manager, have been suspended. To prevent a repeat of the mistakes, Sakata said the company would improve its organization, information disclosure and safety controls, and it submitted a plan for doing so to the regional government.