Ito Mayor Maki Takubo Resigns Amid Academic Fraud Allegations

Maki Takubo, the mayor of Ito in Shizuoka Prefecture, has declared her resignation on July 7 after significant public and governmental backlash concerning allegations of falsifying her educational qualifications. Takubo was elected only in May and has now confirmed that she plans to contest in the upcoming mayoral election for the position she is vacating.

The scandal emerged from statements made in a city newsletter claiming that Takubo possessed a bachelor’s degree in law from Toyo University in Tokyo. However, it was revealed that she had actually been expelled from the university, contradicting her claims. The pressure on her to resign intensified following a municipal assembly session earlier the same day, where assembly members unanimously passed resolutions calling for her resignation and the formation of a special investigative committee to look into the falsification allegations.

The situation escalated last week when Takubo publicly acknowledged her expulsion from Toyo University. While she admitted her acceptance of the newsletter’s details prior to its release, she maintained that she thought she had graduated until confirming her expulsion in late June. Reports indicate that she has shown what she asserted was her diploma to various officials demanding verification of her academic credentials.

During a press conference on July 7, Takubo stated her commitment to providing the relevant documents, including a yearbook and a certificate of enrollment, to the Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors Office for further investigation. She expressed her desire to remain in her position while the legal proceedings take their course.

The scandal has incited considerable public discontent, evident from the approximately 900 phone calls and 100 emails, mostly complaints against her, received by the city's public relations office since her admission of expulsion. This surge in complaints has led to disruptions in city services and prompted criticism from within the municipal workforce. The head of the workers’ union presented a formal request to Takubo, demanding clarity regarding her actions and accountability to restore public confidence and staff morale.

Even those assembly members who once supported her have criticized her actions, highlighting her disregard for public expectations and accusing her of failing to uphold her campaign promises that centered on transparency and integrity in governance. Notably, there was unanimous support among assembly members for the resolutions addressing her resignation.