Police in Hiroshima on Wednesday arrested the 62-year-old mayor of Satte town in Saitama Prefecture on suspicion of assault after he punched a female bar employee.
According to police, Kunio Watanabe, who had come to Hiroshima to take part in Tuesday's ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of the city’s atomic bombing, was in the bar in Naka Ward alone at around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday when the incident occurred. There was one other female employee in the bar at the time.
Watanabe is accused of punching the 20-year-old woman in the face several times. He was quoted by police as saying he was drunk and doesn’t remember punching the woman and can’t understand how he could have done such a thing.
Watanabe was elected mayor in 2011 and is currently serving his second term. He and the woman did not know each other, police said.
© Japan Today
30 Comments
Login to comment
Toshihiro
I was drunk and couldn't remember anything card is overplayed don't you think? While Japanese genetically can't hold down their booze that well, they should at least control themselves
daito_hak
Maybe because you are a douche bag, the most dirty trash that humanity can produce? Think....
Kaerimashita
You can take the mayor out of Saitama but you can't take Saitama out of the mayor.
BlackFlagCitizen
If you can't remember doing something so violent, then maybe it's time you quit drinking altogether because you clearly can't don't know when to quit, nor know how to handle your liquor
Alex Einz
why saitama mayor has anything to do with Hiroshima ceremony... ,public funds wasting? saitama eh.. not surprising.
WilliB
Great job of representing Saitama, and a very peace-oriented attitude...
Kag
I always believe drunkardness removes inhibitions.
What it actually means is that without inhibitions that's how anyone who claims being drunk would act.
Jimizo
Regrettable
kohakuebisu
I wonder if it was the same fist he clenches on his election poster.
Spitfire
Got a few photos of Satte City from being an avid cyclist.In some places,even along Nikko Kaido,the sidewalk is unrideable because of the amount of trash.Good to see this douche is using the city money living it up while his constituency is literally turning to garbage because of the about of rubbish that is dumped there and never cleaned up.
William77
Many Japanese guys around that age 50-60 are extremely arrogant, xenophobe and sexist.
Not a big news if it wouldn’t happen that the guy is a mayor.
Speed
Not very peaceful. What is it about Saitama-jins? They're always in the news.
simon g
Satte or Saitei?
He will resign and that will be considered punishment enough.
blahblah222
Happens all the time in Japan.
And guess what, he will get away with this without any charges or pay any penalties.
My friends who work in the night industry regularly get beaten by their clients. I know 2 girls who died from their injuries, and of course none of the clients got charged.
One of my friends went to the police about a client who regularly stalks and beats her early this year, and the police said she dont have enough evidence and refused to do anything. She had to move and lives in fear as the client now threatens to kill her. She now pays hangure protection fees to protect her from that guy,
Mocheake
Hopefully he'll be the former mayor very soon.
Luddite
Oh, he was drunk. That's alright then.
He's obviously a very violent man if he repeatedly punched her, he should do time for this.
garypen
I keep clicking the "+" button, but unfortunately it allows only one vote.
shogun36
So he was in a bar, at 2:30 am on an early Wednesday morning (a worknight), drunk and punching a female in a city far far away from his jurisdiction?
That sounds about right, for a tax payers elected official in Japan.
Do the hustle
Being so drunk one cannot remember should be part of the offense, not the defense.
nitpickyned
Any evidence of a genetic link there? If so, I'm curious where I can find the information. If not, please don't provide the defense with ammunition.
Strangerland
I don't know if it is genetic or cultural, but overall I find Japanese people very non-aggressive when they drink. If anything it's happy - happy - happy - sleep. Maybe preceded by a puke.
KariHaruka
Generic excuse from a male after they've assaulted a female....
Men who assault women are pathetic scumbags!
blue in green
If you're going to allow drunks in your bar, you better hire a bouncer.
Young girl working shouldn't get the brunt of a drunken bully.
Thunderbird2
What a vile thug... any man hitting a woman, drunk or sober is a total and complete... I'm not allowed to post the word... Seriously, when he has a drink this waste of sperm thinks it's okay to hit a woman?
Is there something lurking just under the surface of Japanese men of a certain age? Barely controlled aggression? You read so many stories of guys battering or even killing women because of an argument, boredom or some other pathetic excuse, not just being drunk.
Dango bong
so much for atomic bomb victims, I have women to punch!
macv
real manly
kurisupisu
How is it that the mayor is drinking at 2.30 in the morning on official business?
That doesn’t seem to set a positive example...
Strangerland
Huh? Why not?
sir_bentley28
He was quoted by police as saying he was drunk and doesn’t remember punching the woman
Ah yes! The ol' excuse makes a return. I just read the title and knew this excuse was included!