Former Ito Mayor Maki Takubo Continues Quiet Gardening Life After Indictment Despite Ongoing Legal Proceedings
After all those years of defending himself, he is now in court for forging a diploma and giving false testimony.
Keeping things in a state of confusion
A stately house stands on a small hill in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture. In its spacious grounds stretches a vast garden, making it stand out even among an area known for luxury villas.
On a weekday afternoon in April, shortly after 3 p.m., a woman emerged from the residence in a gray sweatshirt and black pants, wearing blue rubber gloves. For about an hour, she devoted herself to gardening—digging soil with a shovel and planting seedlings, indulging in what she openly calls her hobby.
At a time when citizens are busy struggling with a weak yen, rising prices, and tensions involving Iran, her leisurely soil-tending on a weekday afternoon appeared almost elegant. The woman is Maki Takubo (56), former mayor of Ito City, who has been at the center of public controversy over allegations of academic misrepresentation since last year.
On March 30, Takubo was indicted while out of custody. The charges include forgery and use of a private document bearing a seal, as well as violations of the Local Autonomy Act.
“According to the indictment, there are two alleged offenses. First, between May and June last year, she is accused of forging a University of Toyo graduation certificate and presenting it to the city council speaker and others on June 4. Second, she is accused of giving false testimony at a special investigative committee of the city assembly on August 13 regarding when she learned of her expulsion from the university. Takubo reportedly denies all charges, claiming that no crime was committed,” said a reporter from a national newspaper’s social affairs department.
While she had firmly denied the allegations—dismissing documents accusing her of misconduct as a “fabricated letter”—the indictment states that she even had seals of the University of Toyo president and others made by a contractor, leaving many speechless.
The biggest victims, it is said, are the citizens. The mayor’s academic scandal dominated headlines, causing administrative paralysis. A mayoral election triggered by her resignation cost 37 million yen in public funds, and during that time all budget deliberations and policy decisions came to a halt. After losing in the snap election in December last year, she disappeared from the public eye without fulfilling any accountability, despite leaving the city in turmoil. From what FRIDAY observed, there appear to be no obvious health issues preventing her from speaking out—but…
A sitting member of the Ito City Council lamented:
“As a result of this series of issues, Ito City politics fell into great confusion. Since Ms. Takubo’s resignation, citizens who felt a sense of crisis have become more politically engaged, which is at least a small positive outcome. Now, the new mayor is working to rebuild the city government.”
No intention of remorse!
Maki Takubo’s future is assessed by Wakasa Masaru, a former prosecutor at the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office and attorney, as follows:
“The act of a sitting mayor allegedly forging a graduation certificate from Toyo University is highly malicious, and indictment is only natural. However, the defense side is asserting a right to refuse seizure and has not submitted the document in question to investigators. Whether it is possible to prove forgery without the alleged document will be the key point.”
Wakasa also notes that maintaining a consistent denial may put Takubo in a disadvantageous position.
“Either she believes strongly that she is not guilty despite knowing the elements of the crime are satisfied, or she genuinely believes no crime has been committed. In any case, if she continues to fully deny the allegations and does not submit the allegedly forged documents, it could be interpreted as a lack of remorse, and imprisonment would not be surprising.”
With her first trial approaching, it remains unclear how the former mayor views her responsibility for the turmoil caused in city administration.
When this reporter visited Takubo’s residence, where she was reportedly engaged in gardening, a figure could be seen inside, but there was no response when the intercom was pressed.
After nearly a year of what has been dubbed the “Takubo drama,” the second chapter is about to begin.
From the May 1-8, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”
PHOTO： Ichiro Takatsuka