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Tatsuya Hashimoto, the 63-year-old mayor of Awara city in Fukui Prefecture, who has been accused of sexually harassing a married woman, including kissing, hugging and licking her toes, said Monday that he plans on suing the woman and her husband over attempted extortion, local media reported.
Hashimoto revealed his intention at a press conference at Awara City Hall.
According to sources, Hashimoto plans on filing a suit against the woman and her husband in response to the couple’s request for financial compensation for Hashimoto’s alleged sexual assault which partially took place in his office at City Hall in 2013.
Hashimoto first met the woman at an event organized by the city in March 2013. He reportedly kissed her on their way back from the event, while the two were sharing a car. A few months later, Hashimoto invited the woman to meet him in his office, where he repeatedly embraced and kissed her lips and feet, and licked her toes, Japanese media reported.
The woman told her husband what happened and in August, the couple reportedly met with the mayor in person and requested 50 million yen from him in compensation for his actions. The couple are said to have also told Hashimoto that if he didn’t pay, they would leak the case to the media. Hashimoto never paid the money.
The case came to light earlier this month when Hashimoto held a press conference on December 12 during which he admitted to all the accusations against him, but stated that he believed the city hall affair had been consensual.
“There is no excuse for my actions,” Hashimoto told reporters. “There were inappropriate actions on my side and some of these actions took place at City Hall. I deeply regret (these actions) and profoundly apologize.
"I had the feeling that she liked me,” he added.
Despite apologizing to the public and the woman in person and after having sent a handwritten letter to her, the mayor continues to insist that he believes that he never acted against the woman’s will.
“I am still embarrassed; it was a frivolous act. But I thought it was consensual,” the mayor told Fukui Shimbun.
The woman told Fukui Shimbun on Dec 14 she never gave her consent to the mayor and that she was “never fond of him.”
© Japan Today
20 Comments
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nakanoguy01
so this woman couldn't have run away from the mayor's office after he repeatedly kissed her? and she stayed long enough for him to kiss her feet and then lick toes? and why would she even go to his office again after he kissed her in the car? something smells rotten in the state of denmark.
thepersoniamnow
Here’s the problem, you shouldn’t go for extortion if you want to win.
Them demanding a payout is going to hinder their process in the long run as it’s illegal to do so.
dcog9065
What he did was bad and is sexual harassment, but extorting him for 50 million Yen? That's pretty low too
taj
Demanding money for fetish services provided? Threatening to leak to the press if he didn't pay the blackmail? They sound scummier than the mayor.
Rik314
I struggle to comprehend how you can get your toes licked against your will... Creepy mayor perhaps but I would not be surprised if he were set up.
clamenza
The guy is a creep (licking toes, really?) but is well within his rights to sue for extortion
since1981
Kinda strange story. How did he manage to get the opportunity to lick her toes if it weren't consensual? He would have had to forcibly take off her shoes, socks/stockings. Did he force her on the ground/a chair? Did he lay down on the floor? Just having trouble getting my head around it all.
Laguna
Wow - assuming one foot, that's 10 million yen per toe (or 5 million yen if he went for the pair).
Maybe he was set up, but even if, he's a fool. Guys, don't be stupid.
goldorak
Seems hubby's a pretty chill guy. Love I guess ;)
SaikoPhysco
The Mayor admitted to the little affair with this woman... now he needs to prove they were trying to extort money from him. He can probably prove she and her husband went to meet him but after that he would need emails or some record of their conversations. Wish I could follow the court case... might be interesting.
Jonathan Prin
She must have consented.
I don't understand why he regret anything. That shows he is guilty.
Whatever you do when you don't bother anyone is fine, it is called freedom.
When no threat was said to have been done by mayor, then how to prove any harassment.
Asking compensation money does not strike me if the husband believe his wife.
Speaking anatomy, which lips are we talking about ?
quercetum
Sexual Assault
A nomal non-consensual response would have her legs and feet kicking in the air. But then he grabs her by the ankle and forcibly puts her toe in his mouth.
I can see that happening, but it’s more than just harassment, it’s assault.
Dan Lewis
Burning Bush may be on to something. It would be an easy setup.
Still, asking for compensation does not necessarily constitute extortion. I would recommend asking for compensation through the courts.
Yet.. after the first incident, she should have reported it, and avoided any situations allowing further advances by the mayor.
It's hard to know who's at fault here.
Goodlucktoyou
this is why i have a body camera.
Luddite
That's what they all say.
Jalapeno
That's disgusting! Licking toes? Even on the prettiest gal, there's got to be lots of fungus swimming around down there.
Kobe White Bar Owner
Scratched his over blow pride and status so he barks back as if he were not a fault.