Governor Kuroiwa, who was reportedly involved in a red-faced e-mail affair, “swam his eyes when directly confronted by this magazine” in anguish.

There may be people who think, ‘If that had been the case, I would not have voted (before the deadline). We have no choice but to regain their trust from now on.”

Despite winning his fourth election on April 9, all that came out of the mouth of Yuji Kuroiwa, 68, governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, was a speech of remorse.

Immediately after his election, Kuroiwa told his supporters gathered there that he had allegedly had an affair, as reported in the April 13 issue of Shukan Bunshun (April 13). The magazine reportedly sent to the other woman <Nama before the live broadcast~! Nyurunyuru~!” and other red-faced e-mails. The relationship with the woman had been going on for about 11 years since the fall of 2000, when Mr. Kuroiwa was an anchor at Fuji Television.

On April 6, the same day the magazine was released, Mr. Kuroiwa held a press conference and tearfully apologized for his relationship with the woman. However, true to his word, many of the voters who cast their ballots before the deadline must have learned of the scandal after casting their votes for Mr. Kuroiwa. Mr. Kuroiwa won the election this time by an overwhelming margin, but if the affair had been reported 10 days earlier, the result might have been different.

Refusing a request for a gut-punch

Mr. Kuroiwa must have deeply regretted his decision. At a press conference immediately after his election, he apologized again and bowed his head, saying the following.

It was more than 10 years ago, and I have caused you all great discomfort over a private matter of my own. I have scratched the pride of Kanagawa. We will now start not from zero, but from the negative. I stand here feeling sorry. I want to repay the trust I have lost through my work.”

When his supporters handed him a bouquet of flowers for winning the election, he did not smile or yell “Hooray! When asked by the press to strike a gut-pose, he did not respond at all.

Although he won the fourth election, it is clear that he has lost the trust of the people of the prefecture due to the affair. A loss of centripetal force is inevitable. There were some who said that he should cancel his candidacy in this election. The people of the prefecture will judge his words and actions harshly, and they will demand results from him as governor.

A reporter for this magazine directly interviewed Mr. Kuroiwa when he came out of his office immediately after his election press conference. The reporter asked him, “Thank you for your hard work,” but he only showed an expression of anguish as if his eyes were swimming and gave no answer.

For Governor Kuroiwa, a tumultuous fourth term without a smile is about to begin.