The most unbelievable account of how Carlos Ghosn escaped Japan on Dec. 30, 2019 -- that he was smuggled out of the country in a large musical instrument box after a band visited his Tokyo home on Christmas -- is true.
The tool in this fantastic escape was a large Yamaha musical case built to protect a double bass, the largest bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra. A double bass stands around 180 cm (6 feet) from scroll to endpin. Ghosn is 172 cm tall.
Ghosn was the imprisoned former chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. He was flown out of Osaka, Japan in a private jet that landed in Istanbul, Turkey. He then took another private jet for Lebanon where he was was warmly welcomed by Lebanese president Michel Aoun upon his arrival on the same day.
News stories confirm Ghosn, 65, was still inside the Yamaha music case when he was smuggled out of Japan. It said the case was so large inspectors at Osaka's Kansai International Airport were unable to scan all of it. Because of this failure, Ghosn was able to spirit himself out Japan and into Lebanon.
TheWall Street Journal obtained a photo of the bass case used by Ghosn to sneak out of Japan. The case has holes drilled in the bottom so Ghosn could breathe.
The news Ghosn used one of its huge music cases to escape dismayed Yamaha. The company issued a public statement warning people "about climbing inside musical instrument cases." Yamaha is strongly against it and said it doesn't want fugitives all over the world sneaking through airport security inside its music cases.
"We won't mention the reason, but there have been many tweets about climbing inside large musical instrument cases," tweeted Yamaha. "A warning after any unfortunate accident would be too late, so we ask everyone not to try it."
Last week, Ghosn held a press conference in Beirut to blast Japan and its twisted justice system. He accused Japanese authorities of "injustice and political persecution."
Lebanese authorities have refused requests from Interpol to extradite Ghosn, who faces charges of financial wrongdoing and misappropriation of funds. Ghosn has a personal net worth of some $150 million.
