Citizens Voice Frustration Over Mayor Takubo’s Diploma Scandal

The unusual victory in the mayoral election

Makoto Takubo (55), mayor of Ito City in Shizuoka Prefecture, has come under scrutiny for falsifying her academic credentials. The city hall has reportedly received over 7,000 complaints via phone and email regarding the issue. Although Takubo initially announced her intention to resign when the scandal broke, she abruptly reversed her decision at a press conference at the end of July, prolonging the administrative turmoil.

Amid demands for her early resignation from local business leaders and the unanimous passage of a no-confidence resolution by the city council on September 1, Takubo has actively used social media to address public opinion. On August 16, she posted messages suggesting conspiracy theories, writing that the full details of the controversy were finally becoming clear and that she would clarify its purpose based on the facts.

“A mere month after taking office, the issue of falsified academic credentials came to light. It’s understandable that Mayor Takubo might suspect that those who opposed her campaign promises—such as halting the new library construction and canceling the mega-solar project—were behind the leaks,” said a local business community source.

Despite stating in a July 2 press conference that she had been expelled, Takubo has given inconsistent answers during the city council’s investigative committee sessions. Residents are uncertain about what is actually happening in Ito City, and there is growing concern over her handling of the situation.

“When she ran in the mayoral election this May, Mayor Takubo had no major supporting organizations or party backing. Paradoxically, this allowed her to garner support from residents increasingly distrustful of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, and she managed to ‘win’ without a large-scale campaign. In Ito City, where mayors from LDP-Komeito factions have held office for over 30 years and the council is 60% LDP-Komeito, this was an extremely unusual outcome. It also reflects the residents’ dissatisfaction with the previous city administration,” said a city council source.

Her election, independent of major party influence, has left a significant mark. The mayor’s attempts to push her policies, backed by citizen support, have begun creating friction with the city council. Conflicts over stopping the new library project and canceling the mega-solar installation illustrate this divide.

A council member commented: “She is extremely stubborn and has almost no advisors to consult, which makes her appear even more inflexible. Frankly, her actions and responses are inept in many ways. Despite claiming she has her graduation certificate, she still refuses to release it publicly. Yet, the situation where everyone seems to be throwing stones at her feels somewhat unfair. Her administrative capabilities as mayor remain largely unclear.”

“‘It would be the same no matter who became mayor.’”

Ito City is surrounded by the sea and mountains, making it rich in tourist resources. Visitors to the town are often seen enjoying swimming or outdoor activities. However, the downtown shopping district is desolate and lacks vitality. Some locals even self-deprecatingly say, “Atami, right next door, has revived as a tourist destination through public-private cooperation. It’s a big difference from Ito.”

Even finding a place to eat is difficult; except for a few large facilities, restaurants are sparse. From the perspective of tourism infrastructure, including parking and other amenities, it is fair to say the city faces significant challenges. A local shop employee sighed and said:

“It feels like the political focus is just on large roadside stations thriving. Despite having abundant tourist resources, the city hasn’t capitalized on them, and inbound tourism benefits are minimal. Few shops stay open late, so those that do are always crowded. Both tourists and locals are inconvenienced.”

Ito City is one of the municipalities in Shizuoka Prefecture with the lowest incomes and has long had the highest welfare dependency rate in the prefecture. An elderly resident who has lived in Ito for a long time told the reporter:

“In the end, it would be the same no matter who became mayor. I had expectations for Mayor Takubo, but lies and evasion are unacceptable. There’s no sense that politics can change our lives in this area.”

The desire for fundamental change among ordinary citizens, reflected in voting behavior, mirrors trends in recent national elections. There is a wide gap between politics and citizen sentiment.

“From the citizens, you can sense a near resignation that our lives won’t change no matter who is in office. Even now, political fundraising parties targeting specific industries still occur in this old-fashioned region. Then suddenly, Mayor Takubo, with no party affiliation, appeared. Beneath it all, residents’ frustration with politics was deep-rooted.

There’s a strong opinion that instead of spending 4 billion yen of taxpayers’ money on an extravagant library, investment should go into tourism and inbound initiatives to benefit the region.”

When asked about the current situation after the controversy, a shop employee responded:

“After the long-term LDP administration ended and Mayor Takubo took office, we finally had some hope for change, but Ito has now gained notoriety in a negative sense. I also feel uncomfortable with the extreme opposition that attacks the mayor unilaterally. In any case, one thing can be said about this series of events: citizens’ feelings have been left behind. It’s only a nuisance, so we hope for a quick resolution.”

The citizens of Ito hope for a return to healthy, functional city governance as soon as possible.