Zozo Chief Executive Yusaku Maezawa poses for the media prior to his news conference in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018. The Japanese online retail tycoon who plans to travel to the moon on the SpaceX rocket says he respects and trusts Elon Musk as a fellow entrepreneur, despite his recent troubles. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Japanese tycoon going on SpaceX rocket says he trusts Musk

October 09, 2018 - 12:34 am

The Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — The Japanese online retail tycoon who plans to travel to the moon on the SpaceX rocket says he respects and trusts Elon Musk as a fellow entrepreneur, despite his recent troubles.

Zozo Chief Executive Yusaku Maezawa told reporters Tuesday that he was impressed by Musk's relationship with employees of Tesla and SpaceX, but people need to be careful what they tweet.

Musk's tweet in August that declared he had secured financing for a Tesla buyout got him in trouble with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Under a settlement, Tesla and Musk each must pay a $20 million penalty. Musk also stepped down as Tesla's chairman.

Maezawa is set to be a passenger on Musk's Space X, the first-ever private commercial space trip, scheduled for blastoff in 2023.

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