Overview
- On Thursday the Iga mayor, Inamori Toshihisa, held an emergency news conference denying any adultery and saying he will consider legal steps against the weekly outlet that reported the story.
- Inamori acknowledged about ten private meetings from December to May at an apartment used by a Tsu city councilor, said there were no overnight stays, called his actions inappropriate, and offered an apology.
- He disputed authorship of LINE messages cited in the reporting and, with his lawyer present, suggested there may have been unauthorized access to his device.
- Separately, Shizuoka police on Thursday referred three additional alleged offenses against former Ito mayor Takubo Maki to prosecutors for a decision on possible indictment.
- The new referrals cover an alleged lie about graduation on an election form, false official documents in a city newsletter, and refusal to comply with a city council inquiry and they add to an ongoing case that already includes charges over a forged diploma.