Toy maker Takara Co. has suspended shipments of a board game with a mergers and acquisitions theme inspired by Livedoor Co. founder and entrepreneur Takafumi Horie.
The Game of Life M&A became an instant hit and has sold 100,000 units since it was launched in late September.
But Takara said it has stopped sales and production of the game "in view of the big influence" of the recent allegations made against the Livedoor group and Horie, who was arrested with his key aides in January over suspected securities law violations but has not yet been charged.
The game was designed mainly for students and businesspeople interested in learning about M&A deals and stock investment, Takara said when it was launching the game last year.
Horie was among the entrepreneurs who helped develop the game.
The original idea for the game was not wrong, but since the Livedoor group is being investigated, the product is no longer appropriate to market, the toy maker said.
Livedoor had been hugely successful with its rapid expansion via M&As, but the leaks and allegations have devastated its stock price and reputation, and police remain intent on keeping Horie and his colleagues in detention, though no formal charges have been made against them since their arrest.
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