Editor’s Note (from Inclusive Solutions LLC):Inclusive Solutions LLC is a Tokyo-based data and IT consulting firm specializing in IR communication, governance advisory, and digital compliance consulting.
Although our publications are primarily in Japanese, this article has been written in English to inform and alert overseas investors and governance experts about ongoing concerns related to PERSOL Career’s “HiPro” division. The purpose of this piece is to raise international awareness of governance and compliance risks emerging within Japan’s HR industry.
abstract
early 2025, Japanese HR giant PERSOL Career Co., Ltd. faced a major scandal in its HiPro Tech division, involving allegations of fabricated documents, unauthorized legal practices, and abrupt disappearances of key managers.
This case—first reported by Inclusive Solutions LLC, a Tokyo-based consultancy specializing in IR communication, governance advisory, and data-driven compliance solutions—has since raised serious questions about corporate governance, compliance, and accountability at PERSOL Holdings (TSE: 2181).
In Japan, the incident has become widely known as the “HiPro Scandal” (or HiPro問題 in Japanese), a term now frequently cited in discussions of corporate ethics and governance failures.
Background of the HiPro Issue
Division involved:
HiPro Tech, Talent Sharing Business Unit.
Key individuals:
Teppei Nomura, former division head, missing since May 2025.
Ryusei Azuma, assistant manager, allegedly involved in document falsification.
Nature of allegations:
• Unauthorized provision of legal services (“hiben” issue under Japanese law).
• Fabrication of internal project documents for major enterprise clients.
• Sudden disappearance of managers during ongoing projects, leaving clients exposed.
Media Silence and Information Transparency
While the corporate irregularities themselves are serious, an equally notable aspect of the HiPro scandal lies in how it has been—or has not been—reported in Japan.
In fact, a simple Google search in Japanese returns numerous independent disclosures, whistleblower posts, and analytical reports referring to what is now widely known as the “HiPro Scandal” (or HiPro Mondai in Japanese). The term has become a common reference point in discussions of corporate ethics and governance failures.
Yet, despite this flood of online information, major domestic media outlets—including Nikkei—have remained silent. No television network or national newspaper has provided formal coverage of the case. As a result, Inclusive Solutions currently stands as one of the few verifiable and accountable sources documenting the scandal, making this not only a governance test for PERSOL, but also a reflection of Japan’s broader challenges in press freedom and institutional transparency.
Governance & Compliance Concerns
• PERSOL Holdings’ official Internal Control Report signed by CEO Takao Wada has not addressed the HiPro scandal explicitly.
• No official press conference or statement of responsibility has been issued.
• Legal advisors (including the company’s CLO, Naho Kan) have remained silent, raising concerns of “strategic denial” rather than transparency.
Investor Implications
• Reputational risk: Search engines now associate keywords like “PERSOL shareholder meeting” and “PERSOL HiPro problem” with governance scandals.
• ESG risk: The case highlights weaknesses in Japan’s HR sector governance, potentially impacting sustainability ratings.
• Strategic risk: Failure to address the scandal may erode client trust in PERSOL’s “Career Ownership” brand message.
Finally
The “HiPro scandal” is no longer a local HR mishap but a test case for Japan’s corporate governance. For international investors and observers, the key question is whether PERSOL Holdings can demonstrate accountability—or whether silence will deepen reputational damage.
About Inclusive Solutions LLC
Inclusive Solutions is an IT and data consulting firm founded in 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. The company supports organizations in DX, data pipeline development, and compliance-related advisory.
It is currently the only independent organization that has uncovered and reported on the HiPro scandal at PERSOL Career, while also acting as a shareholder of PERSOL Holdings. Inclusive Solutions is committed to promoting stronger corporate governance and transparency within PERSOL and Japan’s HR industry as a whole.
We have published multiple in-depth articles in Japanese covering the HiPro scandal:
Inclusive Solutions LLC supports organizational management grounded in transparency, public interest, and ethics through the power of data and systems.
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