Four officials, including the mayor of Tosa Kuroshio City, have been arrested in Japan over allegations of collusion. Police suspect that these individuals were part of a bid-rigging scheme, manipulating the bidding process for public projects to favor certain businesses. The authorities' investigation into the scandal is still ongoing.

Bid-rigging is an issue that deeply concerns Japanese citizens as it involves the misuse of taxpayer money. It not only increases the cost of public projects but also intensifies mistrust in the public administration system. Public officials engaging in such acts can tarnish the public's trust in government.

Similarly to Japan, in countries such as the US and EU, bid-rigging is taken very seriously and is a prosecutable crime. It not only violates honesty in competition but also undermines the quality of public services delivered. Governments in the US and EU also strive for transparency during the bidding process to prevent any potential unethical activities.