The chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it is still too early to talk about industry integration involving Kobe Steel

Sina US Stock News Reuters in Tokyo reported on October 19 that Akio Mimura (Akio Mimura), chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that since the impact of Kobe Steel (5406.T)'s long-standing data falsification practices is still unknown, it is still too early to talk about industry integration involving the company. Akio Mimura worked as an executive at Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal (5401.T).

Akio Mimura said he would like to hear Kobe Steel's own views on the scandal, including its views on the impact of the scandal on management, and then express his opinion on possible industry integration.

“It's still too early to talk about this,” Akio Mimura said.

“It's shameful that this happened... there's no excuse for this. “(Kobe Steel) has crossed a line that manufacturers should not cross,” he said.

Akio Mimura is a very influential figure in Japanese industry and a key figure behind the merger of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Industries.