The New York Times reported that Ito’s involvement in Japan’s 64-billion-yen Global Startup Campus Initiative prompted several U.S. and Japanese universities to distance themselves from the project, renewing scrutiny in the wake of Epstein-related revelations.

Chiba Institute of Technology, where Ito has served as president since 2023, issued a statement on Feb 28 affirming that Ito had no knowledge of illegal or improper activities and expressing continued trust in him.

Digital Garage Inc., the fintech company co-founded by Ito, said he would retire as executive officer by the end of March and step down as a board director at the June shareholder meeting.

Ito previously stepped down from a MIT role in 2019 amid related controversies and did not comment on the current decision.

Japan will not renew Ito’s term on a government entrepreneurship committee when it ends this month due to his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, according to Sankei.

The Epstein-related scrutiny intensified after recently released U.S. Justice Department documents revived attention to Ito’s connections and his roles in government and academia in Japan.

Ito’s looming departure from Digital Garage signals broader fallout and shifts within related tech and academic circles.

Sankei cited anonymous sources that Ito’s current term on the government entrepreneurship committee will not be renewed; officials could not comment immediately.

Ito has denied any wrongdoing and previously resigned from MIT’s Media Lab leadership in 2019 amid Epstein-linked funding concerns.

Ito’s involvement with the Global Startup Campus Initiative—intended to create a Tokyo tech hub with leading universities—has been under renewed scrutiny as institutions distance themselves from the project.