A senior official at a Japanese local government was hit with heavy discipline after attending an online news conference in a bathrobe from a love hotel. The official was reportedly with a woman who was not the spouse at the time.
According to Japanese media including FNN on the 17th, Ono Takahiro, 55, director for corporate attraction promotion in the Industry and Labor Department of Akita Prefecture, attended an online news conference on the 6th. The briefing was held regarding the construction of a 500-megawatt (MW) data center to be funded by a U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) corporation and sovereign wealth funds from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Once completed, the data center was expected to be the largest in Japan.
Ono, who is in charge of attracting the data center, appeared on screen wearing a bathrobe. He was also seen smoking during the briefing. He laughed loudly while talking with someone nearby.
After criticism mounted, the official apologized, saying, "I am very sorry." The official noted that the official had not been feeling well and was resting at home, responded to the interview in pajamas, and had unconsciously smoked a cigarette.
However, as Akita Prefecture investigated the facts, the explanation was found to be false. The place where Ono was at the time was not a private home but a love hotel, and the person accompanying Ono was also found to be another woman, not the spouse.
Akita Prefecture handed Ono a six-month suspension and a two-grade demotion. Akita Prefecture said, "We sincerely and deeply apologize for causing significant trouble and discomfort to citizens and members of the media," and added it would work to prevent a recurrence and improve its organizational management system.