"'This Place Is Reservation-Only' Refusal Met with 'I'm a Governor'... Japanese Politician's Power Abuse Controversy"

Controversy Over Saito, Hyogo Governor's Abuse of Power Spreads
Employee Who Reported Misconduct Disciplined... Took Own Life
About 70 Officials Claim "Abuse of Power"... Refuse to Resign

The Hyogo Prefectural Governor in Japan, embroiled in a power abuse controversy, faced calls for resignation from the local assembly, but the governor did not accept the demand. On the 10th, NHK reported, "Amid the power abuse controversy involving Motohiko Saito, Governor of Hyogo Prefecture, the Japan Innovation Party, the second-largest party in the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has decided to demand the governor's resignation."

Motohiko Saito, Governor of Hyogo Prefecture. [Image source: Screenshot from Hyogo Prefecture official website]

Governor Motohiko Saito, in March, instructed to "find the whistleblower" after a former Hyogo prefectural director sent documents summarizing allegations of misconduct and power abuse by the governor to some media outlets. Subsequently, the governor disciplined the director who compiled the documents detailing the power abuse allegations. The director who was disciplined at that time later took their own life, asking for the governor's corruption to be revealed.

Following this incident, an internal whistleblower survey on the governor's power abuse allegations was conducted among Hyogo Prefectural Office employees, revealing various cases of power abuse committed by Governor Saito, sparking controversy. Notably, when he wanted to dine at a hotel he visited for a meeting but was refused entry due to the reservation-only policy, he became enraged, saying, "I am the governor." This incident drew public criticism. He not only demanded "special treatment" by leveraging his position as the current governor but also created an atmosphere of intimidation when his demands were not met.

Additionally, it was reported that during inspections of facilities within the prefecture, he used the accessible restroom equipped with mirrors and sinks, stating that he could not check his attire in the regular restroom. There were also testimonies that he requested souvenirs at every business trip location. Furthermore, it was found that about 70 prefectural employees responded that they had witnessed Governor Saito's power abuse.

The Japan Innovation Party, along with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), endorsed Governor Saito in the 2021 election. The LDP, the largest force in the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, plans to officially demand his resignation on the 12th, and other parties such as Komeito and the Communist Party have also expressed their intention to support this. However, even if all parties in the current assembly demand his resignation, the assembly's demand does not have legal binding force. Governor Saito responded to the resignation demand by saying, "I will seriously reflect on what I need to reflect on, but I will firmly proceed with the budgets and projects that need to be carried out."