Former Ito Mayor Maki Takubo Considers Celebrity Career After Election Loss

At times, tearing up

The Ito mayoral election in Shizuoka, contested by nine candidates, was held on December 14, and former Mayor Maki Takubo (55) was defeated.

Former city councilor and Democratic Party for the People-endorsed candidate Kenya Sugimoto won with 13,522 votes. Takubo received 4,131 votes, placing third.

Takubo had drawn massive criticism after it was revealed that her claim of graduating from Toyo University was false. After being dismissed following two no-confidence votes from the city council, she ran again in this election.

Her trademark was the color purple. During street speeches, she avoided mentioning her academic background, instead emphasizing issues such as mega solar projects and her stance against vested interests. According to a national newspaper reporter who accompanied her:

“She received encouragement from supporters like ‘Do your best,’ and at times, she teared up. Even though this mayoral election was essentially a one-woman sumo, she somehow carried herself like a tragic heroine. She faced the media with a smile, but her eyes did not smile.”

There was also a small commotion on election day, December 14. Initially, she had planned to respond to the media after the results were announced, but even after midnight, she did not appear at her office. About 40 reporters had gathered. Local media organizers tried to confirm with her campaign, but there was no response. It was only after 1 a.m. on December 15 that she finally communicated:

“I cannot respond to today’s media inquiries. I will provide comments later via social media.”

Later, at 4 a.m. on X (formerly Twitter), Takubo posted her post-election statement:

“Even in the midst of such adversity, I can only express gratitude to everyone who believed in and supported me. The bonds formed with everyone during this election campaign will always be my treasure.”

“She said, ‘I couldn’t respond to the media because they swarmed my home,’ as if the reporters were at fault. But it was her own residence that had been registered as the election office. Reporters who waited in the cold were understandably frustrated. Some even said it seemed like she just wanted to take out her frustration on the media,” said the same national newspaper reporter.

After all, academic fraud aside, creating turmoil around her is typical of Takubo.

She has surpassed the minimum level that a political party can support

After the Ito City Council election on October 19, she also promised to respond to media inquiries but quickly left.

Regarding her future, she emphasized that it is undecided. She faces criminal accusations related to the May mayoral election, including violations of the Public Offices Election Act for submitting false credentials claiming she graduated from Toyo University to news organizations, suspicion of falsifying and using false official documents by listing the Toyo University graduation on the city’s public relations magazine after winning, suspicion of using forged private documents with seals by briefly showing the alleged diploma to the council chair and vice-chair, and violations of the Local Autonomy Law for refusing to submit the diploma to the city council’s Hyakujo Committee. With the election concluded, these investigations are likely to intensify.

“However, it’s unclear at this point whether charges will be filed. Being dragged from the mayor’s seat can already be interpreted as having received social punishment,” said a legal professional. Even if acquitted, a return to the public stage is conceivable.

Her actions have been mocked as “Takuboru,” and “Diploma 19.2 seconds” was nominated for the New Word / Buzzword Awards. She has appeared on internet programs, TBS’s Sunday Japon, and Fuji TV’s Mr. Sunday, boosting her notoriety, for better or worse.

A TV network insider told reporters: “There’s a non-zero chance she could carve out a path as a talent. There aren’t many commentators who can speak about local government, so she might unexpectedly fit that role.”

There is also speculation that she might leverage her notoriety to run for national office. Political commentator Harumi Arima told this site:

“It’s quite possible she will run in the next House of Representatives election. The fact that she ran even knowing she would likely lose shows she was eyeing a national election. Had she not run, her political career might have ended. By securing 4,131 votes and placing third despite the headwinds, she has surpassed the minimum level a political party could realistically support. As the saying goes, bad fame beats obscurity, and over time, people will forget her academic fraud. Issues she has advocated for, such as opposing mega solar construction and taking a stance against vested interests, are likely to gain voter support.”

The question now is what topic she will use to stir public attention next.