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The Mainichi
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Outgoing mayor in Japan's Shizuoka Pref. apologizes over suspected fake academic record
ITO, Shizuoka -- Amid the controversy over falsely claiming to have graduated from Toyo University, the mayor of Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, apologized to executives and other employees of the municipal government July 8, a day after announcing her intention to resign. Mayor Maki Takubo, who was actually expelled from the university, also issued an apology to residents on the city's website. Following the scandal, some tour agents have apparently canceled tours to the hot spring resort city. In a brief apology during a policy meeting with city executives on the afternoon of July 8, Takubo stated, "I caused inconvenience for a personal reason." Later that evening, she apologized in front of about 100 staff members gathered in the city hall's large conference room. Following the policy meeting, Tsuyoshi Chikamochi, head of the city's planning department, told reporters, "We want to resolve divisions and confusion in the city as soon as possible. We have received cancellations from tourist agents saying they don't want to visit Ito." During a press conference on the night of July 7, Takubo admitted to approving the description of her university graduation in the city's public relations magazine. However, she reiterated her claim, stating, "I believed I had graduated until June 28 (when it was confirmed I was expelled)." Regarding the "graduation certificate" Takubo presented when requested by the city assembly speaker and vice speaker, and which she plans to submit to the Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors Office, the mayor claimed, "I believe it is genuine. My memory is vague as to how I obtained it." Her attorney who attended the press conference said of the "graduation certificate" and other documents, "We cannot easily disclose crucial evidence that may become subject to investigation (by law enforcement)" on the grounds that the mayor is facing a criminal complaint by citizens over an alleged violation of the Public Offices Election Act. Hiromichi Nakajima, speaker of the assembly, which passed a resolution urging the mayor to step down, described Takubo's resignation announcement as "a prudent decision." Takubo plans to submit a letter of explanation to prosecutors within two weeks and will resign promptly thereafter. According to the Public Offices Election Act, a mayoral election will be held within 50 days of her resignation. (Japanese original by Koji Wakai, Ito Local Bureau)
Japan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Scandal-hit mayor in Shizuoka to resign and seek reelection
Maki Takubo, the mayor of the city of Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, said Monday that she will resign over allegations that she lied about her academic record, and that she will then seek reelection. At a news conference, Takubo, 55, reiterated that her expulsion from Toyo University has been confirmed by the university, from which she had initially claimed to have graduated. Takubo said she will allow prosecutors to investigate what she claimed to be her diploma and a yearbook, adding that she will then leave office after submitting the items to prosecutors within 10 to 14 days. "Even if I say that (the diploma) is real, it would just be words without solid proof, so I think it would be good to ask prosecutors to draw a conclusion," she said. Earlier on Monday, the Ito city assembly unanimously adopted a resolution urging Takubo to resign. It also unanimously decided to set up a special committee under the local autonomy law to investigate the scandal. Takubo, a former city assembly member, was first elected mayor in May. On Wednesday, she admitted that she did not graduate from Toyo University but was actually expelled.
7 days ago
- Politics
Shizuoka City's Mayor Urged to Resign over Academic Record Scandal
News from Japan Jul 7, 2025 17:59 (JST) Ito, Shizuoka Pref., July 7 (Jiji Press)--The city assembly of Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on Monday unanimously adopted a nonbinding resolution urging Mayor Maki Takubo to resign over allegations that she lied about her academic record. The assembly also unanimously decided to set up a special committee under the local autonomy law to investigate the scandal. "I take the decision seriously," Takubo told reporters after a plenary meeting of the assembly, adding that she will hold a press conference later on Monday. Takubo had claimed to have graduated from Toyo University, but on Wednesday, she admitted that she was actually expelled from the university. "We want (Takubo) to decide what to do based on the resolution," the assembly's speaker, Hiromichi Nakajima, told reporters separately. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Asahi Shimbun
7 days ago
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Ito assembly asks mayor to resign for false education claim
ITO, Shizuoka Prefecture—Less than two months after being elected, Ito Mayor Maki Takubo has been asked to resign for claiming to have graduated from Toyo University in Tokyo—when she had actually been expelled. The Ito municipal assembly on July 7 unanimously passed two resolutions: one recommending that Takubo step down, the other calling for establishing a special investigative committee to look into the allegations that she falsified information about her background intentionally. Prior to the vote, an assembly member said that Takubo had ridiculed the citizens of Ito with her actions. No assembly member spoke against the two resolutions. After the assembly session, Takubo met with reporters and said she would hold a news conference that evening to announce her plans. Takubo was elected mayor on May 25, unseating the incumbent candidate. While the resolution calling on Takubo to resign is not binding, the special investigative committee is expected to look into the city newsletter issued in July in which Takubo is described as a Toyo graduate. Takubo later explained that she had mistakenly believed that she received her degree. Municipal assembly members will investigate whether Takubo intentionally falsified her academic credentials. Meanwhile, Ito residents are also planning to submit a criminal complaint alleging that Takubo violated the Public Offices Election Law by submitting a document that contained false information about her background to media organizations before the election. At a July 2 news conference, Takubo said she had been expelled from Toyo, but also claimed she did not violate the Public Offices Election Law. Municipal assembly members criticized her response as being irresponsible and only trying to save her position. Soon after the mayoral election, anonymous letters were sent to all 19 municipal assembly members raising doubts about Takubo's educational background. At the June 25 assembly plenary session, one member who obtained a copy of the graduation yearbook for Toyo said Takubo's name could not be found in it. However, Takubo did not reveal that she had not actually graduated until the news conference a week later.
The Mainichi
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Mayor in Japan's Shizuoka Pref. faces call for resignation over faked academic record
ITO, Shizuoka -- A city council committee here unanimously decided on July 4 to submit a resolution to the assembly urging Mayor Maki Takubo to resign over revelations she falsely claimed to have graduated from Toyo University when she had in fact been expelled. The steering committee will also present a resolution calling for a special investigative committee to be established under Japan's Local Autonomy Act. Both proposals will be presented and are expected to be passed at an Ito Municipal Assembly plenary session July 7. The resignation resolution criticized Mayor Takubo, 55, for repeatedly deflecting questions or refusing to respond when confronted about her academic background by the city assembly. The text stated, "This goes beyond merely lacking sincerity, and is even despicable." Takubo was first elected in May this year. An official city bulletin introducing the new mayor listed her as a graduate of Toyo University's Department of Law. City Assembly Speaker Hiromichi Nakajima urged the mayor to step down in remarks to reporters, saying, "I hope she resigns quickly to prevent further confusion for Ito." According to city officials, after reports emerged July 2 confirming the mayor had been expelled and had falsely claimed to have graduated, the city received over 200 telephone calls regarding the case that day alone, followed by more than 350 calls the next day. The city also received about 250 emails across both days, almost all of them demanding the mayor's resignation. In addition, a local business operator announced plans to file a criminal complaint early next week, alleging a possible violation of the Public Offices Election Act due to Takubo's false educational claims during the mayoral race. Takubo did not come to the city hall on July 4 and canceled a planned appearance that day in a meeting of mayors from eastern Shizuoka Prefecture to avoid causing confusion. The mayor is also due to skip the Matsukawa tub race, a local event scheduled for July 6. (Japanese original by Koji Wakai, Ito Local Bureau)
