Ajinomoto, one of the world's leading seasoning manufacturers, has been accused of allegedly failing to report some 150 billion yen ($1.4 billion) in its earnings in a recent tax audit. The accusation, if verified, may severely impact the company as it would mean facing a huge penalty which could seriously affect their profitability. The details about how this omission occurred are yet to be revealed as the investigation is still ongoing. This is one of the largest cases of alleged tax evasion in recent years in Japan.

In Japan, tax evasion is viewed as a serious crime and is often vigorously investigated. Japanese citizens, in general, have high expectations for corporate integrity and tax compliance, making this a significant topic of interest. This news is not just a topic for the business pages, it's a topic of society. This will likely put other companies on alert to the scrutiny of corporate tax reporting.

In the US or EU, significant allegations of tax evasion are also taken seriously, creating controversy and leading to intense investigations. However, the public sentiment and potential damage to a corporation's image might differ slightly. In Western countries, while it can be damaging, it often doesn’t lead to as significant a societal backlash as in Japan.