<figure id="attachment_386437" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3059px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-386437"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="bbe031f1"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/08/e586872fd3ce29eb2fade8ea0e8ee852.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-386437" class="wp-caption-text">Governor Saito continues to deny resignation.</figcaption></figure>
It has been a month since former Hyogo Prefecture official A (60) took his own life after exposing various allegations against Governor Motohiko Saito (46).
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During this period, Governor Saito has entered his fourth year in office but has once again denied any intention to resign. He has expressed his intention to continue as governor until his term ends in July next year, stating &#8220;I received a significant mandate from the voters in the election.”
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However, the four key prefectural officials who supported Governor Saito seem unlikely to stay until the end. As the full-scale investigation by the hundred-member committee looms, they are increasingly distancing themselves. The governor, who had been on loan to Miyagi Prefecture since 2013 as a general affairs bureaucrat, and these officials, who were dispatched from Hyogo Prefecture and had often socialized together in Sendai, were mockingly referred to as the &#8220;Beef Tongue Club.&#8221; The officials in charge of the prefectural administration are starting to distance themselves from the prefecture for various reasons, including health issues, leading Hyogo Prefecture into unprecedented turmoil. 
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The first to withdraw was Deputy Governor Yasutaka Katayama, Saito&#8217;s right-hand man. On July 12, he held a press conference, expressing his deep regret by saying, &#8220;I am truly very disappointed,&#8221; and announced his resignation. He officially stepped down on July 31. A prefectural official revealed:
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&#8220;After announcing his resignation, Katayama continued to come to the office, but he was rarely seen within the main office. Many media outlets were chasing him to hear his side of the story, so he tried to avoid being found and quietly left. There was no formal ceremony on his last day.&#8221;
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Following him, Koichi Kobashi, the prefecture&#8217;s number four official and Director in charge of Youth and Z Generation support, claimed health issues and submitted a request for transfer. In response, the prefecture demoted Kobashi to a department head level in the General Affairs Division. He was also involved in handling the prefecture&#8217;s response after the accusations were made.
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&#8220;It became known from the early release of the July 25 issue of Weekly Bunshun, which featured the article &#8216;Hyogo Prefecture Governor Power Harassment: The &#8216;Seven Coercers&#8217; Who Pushed the Former Bureau Director to Suicide,&#8217; that Kobashi and three other senior officials had engaged in coercive actions against A. Until the early release on July 17, Kobashi continued his duties with an indifferent attitude. However, by that afternoon, he was reportedly pale and did not come to work since July 18. On July 22, he officially submitted his request for demotion.” (As previously mentioned)
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="The reason that drove Mr. A away: ......"></div>
<figure id="attachment_386438" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 935px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-386438"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="7ecd8238"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/08/828ec1e3a57598467659e9a3541a3a4c.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-386438" class="wp-caption-text">In the document where A exposed allegations related to Governor Saito, the name of former Deputy Governor Katayama also appears.</figcaption></figure>
There is a strong belief within the agency that what troubled Mr. A, who chose death, was the &#8220;certain actions&#8221; of the two individuals mentioned above, including Governor Saito. On March 27, the same day Governor Saito condemned Mr. A with terms such as &#8220;utter lies&#8221; and &#8220;unfit for a public servant&#8221; during a press conference, it is believed that the actions and statements of Deputy Governor Katayama and Mr. Kobashi during their interview with Mr. A were what drove him to his breaking point. “From the day of the interview, A’s demeanor clearly changed.” This is revealed by a male acquaintance.
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“The most infuriating aspect for A regarding the governor and the prefecture&#8217;s response was their outright denial of the allegations as baseless and full of lies. Although A admitted to writing the accusation document in the prefecture’s hearing, he never acknowledged it as false. Instead, he pleaded with Deputy Governor Katayama and Director Kobashi to conduct a thorough investigation. Yet, shortly after, during a press conference, Governor Saito labeled him as ‘unfit for a public servant,’ which deeply shocked A. He was left stunned, wondering ‘Why have I devoted myself to Hyogo Prefecture?’”
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Among prefectural employees, Inomoto Tomoaki, the General Affairs Department head, and Harada Koji, the Industry and Labor Department head, have a particularly poor reputation compared to Katayama and Kobashi. Inomoto claimed health issues on July 30 and missed meetings and committees. Harada is under voluntary questioning by the prefectural police for suspected receipt of goods from a company.
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“Inomoto suddenly submitted a medical certificate and complained of health problems. While he spoke with familiar reporters upon coming to work, he did not appear in public settings such as committees. On the other hand, Harada continued to come to work nonchalantly even after the scandal erupted. He was seen drinking normally at a Chamber of Commerce event, and his composed demeanor even caused concern among those around him.” (said a prefectural official)
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A prefectural assembly member, who is outraged, claims that the departure of three of Governor Saito’s closest aides, excluding Mr. Harada, before the full-scale investigation by the committee, can only be attributed to self-preservation.
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&#8220;It is certain that the investigative committee, with its strong investigative capabilities, will intensify its scrutiny of the executives. With the survey results collected and the investigation about to begin in August, it seems they used medical certificates as an excuse to escape.&#8221;
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Another prefectural assembly member continues:
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&#8220;Discontent with Governor Saito&#8217;s administration among the staff is increasing daily, already causing disruptions to their work. In just the first two days of the staff survey, over 3,500 responses were collected—a staggering pace. The executives likely sensed the atmosphere within the prefectural office and realized there was a limit to defending the governor. Their abandonment of ongoing policies and their irresponsibility is also being criticized.&#8221;
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The suffering of the citizens and staff seems likely to continue.
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In the second part of the article<a href="https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/article/386430"> ,”Hyogo Prefecture&#8217;s Embarrassment from Serious Distortion and Unusual Stress Created by Governor Motohiko Saito&#8217;s Reforms&#8221;</a> we will report in detail on the specific stagnation of the Hyogo prefectural government.
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 Afro.

 A month has passed since the suicide of Mr. A, 60, a former prefectural executive who accused Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito, 46, of numerous allegations. Governor Saito entered his fourth year in office during this time, but has again denied resigning.

Limitations in Protecting Governor Saito Amidst Resignations of Close Aides

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