Two Olympus whistle-blowers to publish books about experiences

Two individuals who blew the whistle on Olympus Corp.'s shady business dealings will publish books in April describing their experiences.

One is Michael Woodford, the British president who was dramatically ousted last October. The other is Masaharu Hamada, 51, an employee who won a Tokyo High Court ruling against Olympus for transferring him from a sales position after he ratted out his boss.

Woodford became president of Olympus in April 2011.

He quickly became suspicious of huge payments to outside companies and tried to hold then chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa accountable.

Instead, Woodford was booted out on Oct. 14.

Since then he has frequently talked to the media and investigators in a number of countries.

His book, titled "Kainin" (Dismissal), will be published by Hayakawa Publishing Corp.

In the book, Woodford explains why Kikukawa chose him as company president and what led him to blow the whistle on Olympus after a 30-year career there. He also vents his anger toward the company's main creditor banks.

Woodford plans to visit Japan in time for an extraordinary meeting of Olympus shareholders scheduled for April 20.

The book serves as a guide to how Woodford would revamp the company if he was allowed.

Hamada's book will be titled "Olympus no Yami to Tatakai Tsuzukete" (Continuing to fight the dark side of Olympus). It will be published by Kobunsha Co.

In 2007, when Hamada headed a sales team, he informed the internal complaint department at Olympus about what he considered was an insincere response by his superior toward a client. Immediately after the complaint was made, Hamada found himself transferred to a another department.

"When I made the complaint about what I thought was wrong, I was isolated by the entire organization," Hamada said. "I want to lay bare the difficulties and reality involved in the process of restoring my rights. I hope readers will feel the courage about what even a single salaried employee can do."

After the Tokyo High Court ruled in Hamada's favor last August, Olympus appealed the ruling under Woodford's name as company representative.

Woodford has not commented on Hamada's court case until now. The two said they have not been in contact about their respective books.