Latest news with #ToyoUniversity
17 hours ago
- Politics
Scandal-Hit Mayor of Shizuoka City Withdraws Resignation
News from Japan Society Jul 31, 2025 21:18 (JST) Ito, Shizuoka Pref., July 31 (Jiji Press)--Maki Takubo, mayor of the central Japan city of Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Thursday withdrew her resignation over allegations that she had lied about her academic record. At an extraordinary press conference in the evening, Takubo said she intends to remain in office. Takubo, who was first elected mayor in May, has already admitted that she was expelled from Toyo University, from which she had initially claimed to have graduated. On July 7, she announced her resignation and her intention to run in a fresh mayoral election. The Ito city assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution urging Takubo to step down. It has also set up a special investigation committee under the local autonomy law, but the mayor has refused to attend the committee's hearing. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Tokyo Weekender
2 days ago
- Politics
- Tokyo Weekender
Disgraced Ito City Mayor Yet To Resign After False University Claims Revealed
Earlier this month, a city council committee in Shizuoka Prefecture submitted a resolution urging Ito city mayor Maki Takubo to resign after it was revealed she falsely claimed that she graduated from Toyo University. She had, in fact, had been expelled. Following the news, Takubo, who was only elected in May, said she planned to quit before the end of July. She added that she intended to run for reelection. Maki Takubo To 'Properly Sort Out the Facts' on July 31 In her most recent press conference on Monday, however, Takubo failed to confirm whether she would be resigning. 'Regarding my future, I will hold another press conference on July 31. I will then properly sort out the facts and make an announcement,' said the Ito city mayor. Unsurprisingly, reporters questioned whether she would be submitting her resignation at said press conference. Takubo was evasive in her response, stating that the matter would be discussed on Thursday. The lack of clarity in her statement has led to speculation that she may be planning to continue as mayor of the hot spring resort city. Given what's happened, though, that still seems unlikely. The resolution calling for her to resign was unanimously passed by the Ito municipal assembly. The assembly also called for the establishment of a special investigative committee to look into allegations that Takubo intentionally falsified information about her background. In an Ito city public relations magazine, she was called a Toyo University graduate. Takubo admitted she approved this description, but claimed that prior to June 28, she believed she had graduated. She allegedly showed the city assembly speaker what she said was a diploma. Takubo Declines Summons From Investigative Committee At a press conference on July 7, Takubo insisted that she would submit the diploma, along with her yearbook and an enrollment certificate, to the Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors' office. However, according to reports, she has yet to provide these documents. Last week, Takubo also declined a summons from the investigative committee. It plans to summon her again. If she refuses to appear, the committee may file a criminal accusation. Since July 2, Ito's city public relations office has reportedly received more than 1,800 complaints about Mayor Takubo . A local business operator also filed a criminal complaint against her f or allegedly violating the Public Offices Election Act over the issue of false academic credentials. The person was reportedly contacted by the police on July 28 to confirm that the complaint had been received. Related Posts Togo Mayor Resigns After Calling Employee Dumber Than a Pigeon Shinkansen Delayed After Angry Man Throws Cup Noodles At It The World's First AI Mayor Is Here
The Mainichi
09-07-2025
- 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
08-07-2025
- 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.
07-07-2025
- 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
