Kobe Steel boss Hiroya Kawasaki falls on his sword

Not unexpectedly, the chief executive of Japan's Kobe Steel has left his job.  This was in the aftermath of a data falsification scandal.

Hiroya Kawasaki said he would leave, as the firm released a long-awaited report into the wrongdoing.

Humiliatingly, the report confirmed that staff had changed or made up data on the quality of some of its products before they were shipped.

The report admitted that Kobe Steel had "deep-seated issues" around corporate culture and compliance.

"For over 112 years since its founding, the Kobe Steel group has managed its business and has conducted its business by valuing the trust of its customers," it said.

"The recent loss of such trust is truly regrettable."

Kobe added that the departure of Mr Kawasaki, as well as executive vice president Akira Kaneka, indicated "the company taking to heart the troubles we have caused our customers, suppliers, shareholders and many other people in connection with the misconduct that took place."