An investigation by Nikkei has revealed that a Chinese organization likely used a company registered in Nagoya, Japan, named Firsky KK, as a base to facilitate the shipment of fentanyl chemicals to the United States. U.S. court documents indicate that the Nagoya-based company directed shipments, with key figures in the group issuing instructions from Japan until at least July 2024. Nagoya is suspected to be an underground hub connecting fentanyl supply chains spanning China, Mexico, the U.S., and Japan. The fentanyl crisis has led to a severe drug epidemic in the U.S., with approximately 110,000 deaths reported in 2023. Despite these findings, Japan's Finance Ministry reported no fentanyl seizures at its borders over the past six years through 2024 and only four cases of illegal fentanyl imports between 2010 and 2018. The investigation highlights concerns about Japan's potential role as a transit point in the fentanyl supply chain, which could impact Japan-U.S. relations amid the ongoing opioid crisis.