Tomiko Kinoshita, a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly member who ran away from the city, spoke about her true feelings at the apology conference.

She was wearing a red dress with an open bust and two large rings on her left hand.

On November 9, she arrived at the office for the first time since her re-election to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. She told the press, “I apologize for my behavior. I will not reacquire my license and I will not drive. I have also disposed of the car at the time of the accident,” he apologized.

“Mr. Kinoshita’s accident occurred shortly after 7:00 a.m. on July 2. At an intersection in Takashimadaira, Tokyo, Mr. Kinoshita’s car was not moving fast enough, so the following car honked its horn. Suddenly, Mr. Kinoshita backed up his car and collided with the following car. He fled the scene at high speed.

The man driving the following car and the wife of the passenger sustained minor injuries, but they were able to catch up with Mr. Kinoshita’s car about 200 meters away, according to media reports. Mr. Kinoshita’s driver’s license was suspended.

After the accident, Mr. Kinoshita made comments such as “It was not a serious accident” and “My license was suspended around February, but I mistakenly thought that the suspension period had ended on the day of the accident. The Metropolitan Police Department sent Mr. Kinoshita to the prosecutor’s office in September on suspicion of violating the Automobile Accident Compensation Act and the Road Traffic Act. When the police analyzed security cameras, they found that Mr. Kinoshita had driven without a license six other times between May and June.

“After the accident, Mr. Kinoshita did not appear at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office and went into hiding. In July and September, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly decided to expel him from the Tokyo Citizens First Association, to which he belonged. The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly voted to recommend his resignation twice, in July and September. The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly voted twice in July and September to recommend his resignation, and three summonses were issued in the name of the vice chairperson, but Mr. Kinoshita only posted an apology on his official website and did not directly explain his actions.

“Some people want him to continue.

Four months have passed since the accident. Four months after the accident, Mr. Kinoshita finally made an appearance and was interviewed by the press for about ten minutes, although he did not say much, citing the “ongoing investigation”.

Why did he not respond to the subpoena?

“Before the accident, I was in poor health due to insomnia and stress from a period of campaigning. After the accident, the situation became even more difficult, and there were days when I could not sleep well or eat food.

What did you think about the recommendation to resign?

“I take it very seriously. I take it very seriously, but it is also true that there are people who would like me to continue. It is a tough road to regain the lost trust, but I would like to respond to it through my activities as a member of the Diet.

Mr. Kinoshita denied that he had resigned from the Diet. He reported that he had donated about 1.92 million yen in councilor’s remuneration for the three months since July after the accident to NPOs and other organizations. He said that he would return about 1.5 million yen in political activity expenses to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. While expressing remorse for his actions, there was also a scene at the press conference where he appealed for his achievements. This is what Mr. Kinoshita had to say.

He said, “For me, my first term was a valuable four years. I have listened to those who are in a particularly vulnerable position and have made efforts to solve many issues. The new coronavirus disaster, including the issue of women, has given me an even stronger voice, and I have felt firsthand the importance of resolving these issues. We have responded to about 2,000 voices to help resolve the issues.”

There is a great deal of opposition among Tokyo assembly members to Mr. Kinoshita’s continuing his activities as an assemblyman. Is it possible to ask him to resign?

“It would be difficult. Under the Local Government Act, a resolution to recommend resignation is a disciplinary measure for problematic behavior in the assembly. Mr. Kinoshita’s accident was a private matter. It is not legally binding.

Mr. Shigeki Miyake, Speaker of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, who met with Mr. Kinoshita, expressed his dissatisfaction to the press.

“I told him that he should resign, but he said, ‘I won’t resign. I asked him what he thought about taking responsibility as a public figure, but he said, ‘I want to work as a member of the Diet and give it back.

Mr. Kinoshita, wearing a flashy red dress, announced that he would continue his activities as a member of the Diet, and if he remains in office until December 1, he will receive an end-of-term allowance of about 2.04 million yen.