The Osaka District Court recently sentenced the president of Nova, Nozomu Sahashi, three and a half years in prison for skimming the Fund’s employees. Sahashi had the funds in 2007 during the last days of Nova, he was just a step ahead of the bankruptcy of giant foreign language school in October.
Prosecutor had five years sentence, and many were surprised that the judge himself requested such a heavy penalty. Sahashi will undoubtedly appeal and the appeal process will take some time. Some Japanese businessmen sentenced to prison terms ever. Nova, Japan was the largest foreign-language channel of the school, and employs more foreigners than any other company in Japan.
The Nova Group was founded in August 1981. Nozomu Sahashi opened the first classroom in New Shinsaibashi, Osaka, with two high school students from Sweden and Canada. Sahashi had met a friend who was studying abroad in Paris. Later, about 20 years, the peak points, calculated just before New half a million students, 50% of the total market share, revenue and market share of 66%, calculated on the number of students.
Nova high figures were due to their advertising very aggressively and extensively in newspapers and on television and billboards everywhere. Many classrooms Nova were in visible locations near train stations, important places to do business in Japan. Nova Scotia, pink rabbit “used as a kind of enterprise and rabbits often appeared in television commercials. Children love rabbits and its popularity soared high. Nova Nova pink bunny imported goods, sales of only about two million dollars during the first two weeks.
A particularly ugly business Nova has shown always pulled the rabbit ears. JSPCA rights of animal advocates have protested and the pink bunny Nova began to be less. New term “study abroad in the vicinity of the station through advertising. New advertising promised foreign teachers, smaller classes and dates convenient for students. Not to mention the poor rabbit, Nova has been very successful in their marketing and development.
The education and services, however, were another story. Part of the commercial success of New is based on sets consisting of students to purchase tickets for the class. Nova was not so expensive if all students use their cards and used all Nova provided free, including free chat time with their teachers. However, many students may not use their tickets, and it has expired. In 1997, Nova found 18 students in the courtyard. Students said they were able, they wanted classes, classes that New advertising that is promised in its follow-up unable to buy all the tickets were reserved for use. Agreement to reimburse the students, called Nova, the episode as a misunderstanding.
New court time and losses due to their policy, legal sanctions and government quickly snowballed. The Supreme Court has said that Japan in 2007, the Nova cancellation policies are illegal. Only a few months, a Japanese ministry ordered Nova to suspend part of the business by false advertising Nova. Nova was able to loss of the company into bankruptcy in October. Nova Liabilities were approximately 43.9 billion yen and thousands of unpaid workers, including the Japanese staff and staff from around the world.
Sahashi prison is a small part of this debacle Nova. Many of Nova employees have given up hope of being paid. And the collapse of Nova is an episode in language education issues in Japan. The Japanese government aims to improve the teaching of English communication in schools. When students have learned in school, will also reduce the demand for courses are paid by businesses. As always, however, radical reform is difficult. The school is making improvements in small steps. Major industries such as problems of Nova are eventually treated, but the solution to the problems of Japan in language teaching in both universities and business schools will take decades to resolve.
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