<figure id="attachment_458066" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458066" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="8fe5584d"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/42b8c4b55a868c2fa23a5f2466f22a6b.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458066" class="wp-caption-text">Former Ito Mayor Maki Takubo, whose home was raided for seven hours</figcaption></figure>
<h2><span class="strongInContent"> He showed his diploma to the chairperson for 19.2 seconds.</span></h2>
<p> It seems there is no backing down now.</p>
<p> On February 14, Shizuoka Prefectural Police conducted a seven-hour raid on the home of Maki Takubo, 56, the former mayor of Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and confiscated five cardboard boxes worth of materials.</p>
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<p> The police have accepted criminal charges for six charges and eight incidents, including violation of the Public Offices Election Law and the use of forged private documents, etc., for having false academic records published in the press during the mayoral election in May &#8217;25.</p>
<p> The day before this, the police requested the submission of a document that is said to be a &#8220;diploma from Toyo University,&#8221; which is the key to this case, but the attorney for the mayor said, &#8220;There is no intention to destroy evidence.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> However, the lawyer for the accused claimed that he had no intention of destroying the evidence and that he could not give the documents to the police during the investigation stage because he kept them in his office.</span></p>
<p> The attorney argued that he had no intention of destroying evidence and that he kept the documents in his office and could not hand them over at the investigative stage.</p>
<p> A news desk of an information program spoke up.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> At the initial press conference, he was cavalier, saying that he had been expelled from the university and that he had not graduated. He probably didn&#8217;t think it would be a big deal at the time. He made such wild claims as &#8220;I showed my diploma to the chairperson for 19.2 seconds. His behavior was hilarious and received national media coverage because of the good ratings.</span></p>
<p> He lost his post after two votes of no confidence from the city council. He lost his post after being voted out of office twice by the city council, and was easily defeated in a runoff election held in December of last year.</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> The police have a hard time dealing with local government leaders, but since he lost the election, he has been treated as an ordinary person, and I think the police have started to take him seriously,&#8221; said the information desk of the same TV program.</span></p>
<p> Akira Ogawa, 43, of Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, who was also a &#8220;disturbed mayor,&#8221; won a re-election and became mayor again, despite the revelation that he had been going to hotels with a subordinate staff member. Governor Motohiko Saito of Hyogo Prefecture, 48, was also reelected despite being accused of various crimes.</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Legal Experts Speak on the Possibility of Arrest and Prosecution"></div>
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<figure id="attachment_458057" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458057" style="width: 2000px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="bc5c4251"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/7fa0f12cb2c305a0f11959cf0a1fbdde.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458057" class="wp-caption-text">Unlike Mayor Takubo, Mayor Akira Ogawa of Maebashi won the runoff election with flying colors</figcaption></figure>
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<h2><span class="strongInContent"> Possibility of being accused of destroying evidence</span></h2>
<p> Mr. Takubo, who became an &#8220;ordinary person&#8221; after losing the election, has been accused of several criminal offenses, but he denies that any of them were crimes. On the other hand, how is it possible for him to give his &#8220;diploma,&#8221; which is an important piece of evidence, to his lawyer and then refuse to submit it?</p>
<p> We interviewed Kenta Morimi, an attorney at Morimi Law Office.</p>
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<p> Q. Mr. Takubo has been charged under the Public Offices Election Law and other laws, but what crime is he most likely to be arrested for?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> A: &#8220;Arrests are made when there is a fear of destruction of evidence or escape, so in this case there is not a high possibility that he will be taken into custody on any of the charges. If I had to guess, I would say the charge of forgery of private documents, which could lead to the destruction of evidence.</span></p>
<p> Q: If Mr. Takubo is indicted, is his lawyer obligated to submit his diploma?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> A: If Mr. Takubo is indicted, do his lawyers have an obligation to submit the diploma? However, if what Mr. Takubo says is true and he wants to protect himself, he should submit the diploma to remove the suspicion that has been placed on him.</span></p>
<p> Q: Can a lawyer be charged with a crime if he conceals key evidence such as a diploma?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> A: In criminal law, it is possible to be charged with destruction of evidence, but it is not very likely.</span></p>
<p> Q: If the diploma cannot be verified and evidence of forgery of private documents cannot be found, will the prosecutor prosecute?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> A: &#8220;If there is no evidence, the prosecutor is not likely to prosecute. The prosecutors will not challenge a losing battle themselves. However, there were reports of a raid on Mr. Takubo&#8217;s home, so if there is evidence, the prosecutors may try to indict him.</span></p>
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<p> The police would lose all credibility if they searched the house but found &#8220;nothing&#8221; and &#8220;no evidence&#8221; to prosecute. There is no doubt that the police are serious about &#8220;bringing up&#8221; Mr. Takubo.</p>


 Kyodo

 Maki Takubo, the former mayor of Ito City, is now an "ordinary person" after losing a re-election in December. A forced search of her home resulted in the seizure of five cardboard boxes worth of materials. ......

Former Ito City Official Maki Takubo &#8220;Forced&#8221; House Search After &#8220;Refusing to Submit Evidence,&#8221; Expert Reveals &#8220;Possibility of Arrest and Indictment

Former Ito City Official Maki Takubo “Forced” House Search After “Refusing to Submit Evidence,” Expert Reveals “Possibility of Arrest and Indictment

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