Resignation of Tokyo Governor Inose
What did they say about the resignation of Naoki Inose, originally a write, as Governor of Tokyo for his illegal obtaining $500,000 (50 million yen) from an owner of a big hospital group and his son, a national lawmaker, when Inose started his election campaign for the Governorship last year?
Abe says Inose's resignation will have no impact on Olympics
POLITICS DEC. 19, 2013 - 04:30PM JST ( 15 )TOKYO —
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday that Japan remained committed to offering the best Olympic Games in 2020 and that the resignation of Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose would not affect that.
Inose resigned after being caught up in a financial scandal just three months after he helped his city win a bid to host the 2020 Olympic.
“I cannot get in the way of preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, where national pride will be at stake,” Inose told a news conference. “I decided that there is no way but my quitting as Tokyo governor to break the stalemate.”
http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/abe-says-inoses-resignation-will-have-no-impact-on-olympics
Inose calling it quits over money scandal
KYODO
DEC 19, 2013
Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose announced his resignation Thursday after coming under fire for taking ¥50 million in cash from a hospital operator mired in vote-buying allegations involving a Diet member.
Inose, 67, who was instrumental in Tokyo’s successful bid in September to host the 2020 Olympics, made the announcement at a news conference after submitting his letter of resignation to Toshiaki Yoshino, president of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.
Pressure had been mounting on Inose to step down not only from the metropolitan assembly but from the central government and his predecessor, Shintaro Ishihara. Inose was elected governor Dec. 16 last year.
The medical group, Tokushukai, the largest operator of medical facilities in the nation, is at the center of an election violation case involving Lower House member Takeshi Tokuda, the son of Tokushukai founder Torao Tokuda.
A special election to choose Inose’s successor will take place within 50 days after the assembly president notifies the election board the assembly has accepted the resignation.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/12/19/national/tokyo-governor-announces-resignation-over-money-scandal/
Tokyo governor resigns over money scandal
English.news.cn 2013-12-19 10:20:50
TOKYO, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose announced his resignation on Thursday over his receiving of 50 million yen ( about 479,450 U.S. dollars) from hospital operator Tokushukai.
Inose, who was elected on Dec. 16 last year, made the announcement at a press conference after submitting a letter of resignation to Toshiaki Yoshino, president of the Tokyo metropolitan assembly.
The assembly is arranging for an extraordinary session next Tuesday to officially approve the governor's resignation and the next poll will likely be held on Feb. 2 or 9.
Inose apologized to the citizens of Tokyo and Japan, promising his resignation wound not influence Tokyo's preparation for the 2020 Olympic and Paraolympic Games.
Inose has said he borrowed the 50 million yen as a personal loan from House of Representatives member Takeshi Tokuda, the son of Tokushukai founder on Nov. 20 last year, and repaid it on Sept. 25, shortly after prosecutors raided the Tokushukai group on suspicion of election violations involving Tokuda.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-12/19/c_132980077.htm
Governor Inose, The Face of Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic Bid, Resigns Over Loan Scandal
Writer-turned-politician steps down after unreported $480,000 “personal” loan called into question.
By J.T. Quigley
December 19, 2013
Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose announced his resignation at a press conference Thursday morning following a loan scandal that tarnished the politician who just months ago helped his city secure the 2020 Olympic games.
His fall from grace follows the revelation of a 50 million yen ($480,000) “personal” loan from hospital conglomerate Tokushukai – an organization that is currently embroiled in an election-rigging scandal involving Takeshi Tokuda, a member of Japan’s House of Representatives and son of Tokushukai’s founder.
“I made efforts to fulfill my responsibility to explain [the money in question] to the public at Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly meetings and press conferences, but I couldn’t dispel their suspicion,” Inose told members of the press who had gathered at the Tokyo metropolitan government office in anticipation of his resignation.
“I would never want to hold up the administration of Tokyo and preparations for the Olympic Games due to my personal issues. I came to the decision that I had to quit. I’m very sorry and I want to apologize,” he added.
Inose, an award-winning nonfiction writer before entering politics, garnered national acclaim for his musings on Japan’s World War II defeat and the life of nationalist author, playwright and director Yukio Mishima. He was elected governor in a landslide win last December.
http://thediplomat.com/2013/12/governor-inose-the-face-of-tokyos-2020-olympic-bid-resigns-over-loan-scandal/
19 December 2013 Last updated at 03:30 GMT
Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose resigns over money scandal
The governor of Japan's capital, Tokyo, has resigned after admitting he received money from a scandal-hit hospital chain ahead of an election.
Naoki Inose described the 50m yen ($500,000; £300,000) payment as a personal loan from operator Tokushukai.
He said he would resign to avoid affecting preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Mr Inose was elected leader of one of the world's biggest cities in December last year.
He was considered key in securing Tokyo's bid to hold the 2020 Olympics.
'Lack of virtue'
Mr Inose said he had paid back the loan from Tokushukai.
Announcing his resignation, he said: "I shouldn't be delaying government operations or stalling preparations for the Olympics and Paralympics any longer."
"I intended to fulfil my duty of explaining to the city assembly, people of Tokyo and people of the nation, but regrettably I could not clear doubts over me. It's solely because of my lack of virtue."
He added: "The only solution is for me to step down as governor."Mr. Naoki Inose was born in a mountainous prefecture called Nagano (old name is Shinsyu). He graduated from Shinsyu University after having joined anti-Vietnam War movement and other leftist student activities in 1960s. But he succeeded as a writer to become conservative. He was picked up as one of main civilians as a member of a governmental rationalization committee of state-run transportation businesses by then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in 2000s.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25443452
Probably, as ex-PM Koizumi and ex-Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara were rather close to each other, Inose was appointed to Vice-Governor of Tokyo by then Governor Mr. Ishihara several years ago.
This was the biggest news in Japan today: Resignation of Tokyo Governor Inose.
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Tokyo Prefecture Office Bldg, Shinjuku, Tokyo
