Two Japanese local government heads expressed their intent to resign over sex scandals. One sent sexually harassing text messages to employees, and the other was found to have gone to a hotel more than 10 times with a married employee.
According to Kyodo News and the Asahi Shimbun on the 26th, Fukui Prefecture Governor Sugimoto is expected to appear before the prefectural assembly that day and announce plans to step down.
This follows allegations that he sent sexually harassing messages to employees. He held a news conference at the prefectural office the previous day and said, "I came to recognize that there were multiple acts that constituted sexual harassment," expressing his intention to resign.
Fukui Prefecture said it received a report last month from an employee who said, "I received an inappropriate message from Governor Sugimoto," and launched an investigation by forming a special investigative committee that includes attorneys.
The committee surveyed about 6,000 employees on whether they were harmed or witnessed anything, and Governor Sugimoto acknowledged during the probe that he sent the messages at issue.
At the briefing the previous day, he said, "During the investigation, I came to recognize that I sent messages that could be perceived as sexual harassment by the reporter or other employees," adding, "I feel a heavy sense of responsibility for having inflicted deep wounds on the other party." However, he did not disclose the specific content of the messages.
If Governor Sugimoto resigns, an election will be held within 50 days. He said he is "not considering" running.
Maebashi Mayor Ogawa also ran into trouble after going to a hotel more than 10 times with a married male senior employee. He submitted a resignation letter to the city council on the 25th.
His improper conduct became known in September, fueling criticism that "it disrupted city governance." The city council was set to submit a no-confidence motion at a meeting on the 27th.
He had apologized, saying, "It was very inappropriate to go to the hotel," while repeatedly claiming, "It was not a relationship between a man and a woman; we went for business discussions or consultations." He also said he would cut his pay by 50% and remain in office.
However, earlier this month the city council sent Mayor Ogawa a letter urging him to resign and pressed that if he did not, it would submit a no-confidence motion. If the resignation is accepted, a mayoral election will be held within 50 days.