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Osaka Ishin no Kai (Osaka Restoration Party) plans to dismiss assembly member Kei Yamamoto for inappropriate behavior after it was learned that he had been sending intimidating messages to school children via the smartphone app Line.
The party is affiliated with Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), which was founded by Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto.
The trouble started when Yamamoto, 34, met a group of junior high school girls at a school festival last October, NTV reported Wednesday. He joined the girls' chat group and invited them to an afternoon tea party, but no one accepted his invitation. After that, the girls removed his name from the chat group list.
According to the local board of education, some of the girls notified their parents and school officials when they started receiving messages on Line from Yamamoto, in which he wrote "I will never forgive you for this," and "I know who you all are and I can discuss your behavior with your school principal."
After the complaints surfaced, Ishin no Kai decided on Monday to dismiss Yamamoto.
However, Yamamoto has expressed dissatisfaction with the punishment and appeared before the media on Monday afternoon, with his head shaven as an act of contrition, NTV reported. He said that he had asked for the case to be re-examined.
Party officials said they will consider Yamamoto's appeal. He is scheduled to hold a press conference in Osaka on Thursday.
© Japan Today
25 Comments
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Wakarimasen
What a guy!
turbotsat
Removal from the list does not mean he could not see his old copies of the list or could not see their accounts outside the list.
Shaving head not enough! Needs a Mike Tyson tattoo applied to head as well!
therougou
They removed him from the chat list...
This guy should be arrested, not just "in hot water".
WilliB
"I know who you all are and I can discuss your behavior with your school principal.”
Yeah, by all means, lets discuss their behaviour (which was entirey proper) with the school principal. And his. What a guy.
smithinjapan
Burning Bush: I don't know the ins and outs of those apps very well, but I think while you can simply remove someone from your chat list, you also need to block them completely or you can still get messages as they will have you on THEIR chat list.
In any case, I'm not sure what this guy is hoping for, given that there is flat out proof he has abused his power as an assemblyman, and who the hell cares if he shaved his head unless he's going to quit and join the priesthood on top of it? The party should have thrown his appeal out the second Yamamoto uttered it. Dissatisfied with your punishment? don't do the crime.
Speed
Doesn't have any game. "Tea Party"?? Threatens JHS girls for not coming to it. What a loser.
Kapuna
The party will consider his appeal? Are they also out of their minds? 34 years old and wants to have a tea party with teen aged girls? What possibly could go wrong?
lostrune2
He's just pissed he couldn't fish for enjo kosai.
Jeff Ogrisseg
It's this clown's head, not the case, that needs to be re-examined. Hand him over to the parents.
Sensato
His predatory behavior bears all the hallmarks of a pedophile. Then to top it off, he expresses dissatisfaction with his punishment. Shameless.
And still to think, Nippon Ishin no Kai party officials expressed their willingness to "consider Yamamoto's appeal."
Tessa
What a creepy, creepy man! Those girls were very sensible to cut him off like that.
Rik314
Over the years of very public political faux pas, long term residents are probably not surprised at this moron. Public office here does attract some wing nuts. And sons of wing nuts. (IS there a wing nut gene?) Ironically the depth of this one's 'out-of-touchness' is the 'do'. That he shaved his head as an act of contrition. Like he missed a bunt sign on an important play or something. That 'old school' thinking meets LINE = disaster. Jeff Ogrisseg - "hand him over to the parents"??! Hand him over to the GIRLS - こわい こわい!
toshiko
He joined the girls' chat group and invited them to an afternoon tea party, but no one accepted his invitation.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
At this point he should realize he is not cute. Shaving his head? To become further uglier? Appeals will be considered and additional punishment will be added. Ishin-no-kai members have to protect their teenage daughters and grand daughters from any pervert members.
Disillusioned
Why would a man in his mid-30's invite a group of junior high school girls to his apartment? He's a weirdo and should be under investigation for fraternising with young teenage girls. Tea party? Yeah, right!
Tahoochi
What a creep! Five-star diddler in the making if you ask me.
C Harald Hansen
Agreed, he was setting up to groom those girls for something. Guess there's no point in describing what.
pablo944
Smart girls vs creepy pedo. Phew, I'm glad of the outcome, but he needs to be monitored from now on. He will try similar things again and maybe the girls won't be so smart.
Fouxdefa
Creepy oyaji! He should be ashamed of himself, going after kids.
toshiko
“I will never forgive you for this,” and “I know who you all are and I can discuss your behavior with your school principal.”
................................................................................................................
Isn't this threat considered criminal action?
Ishin-no-kai needs to distant with this one, Otherwise, its nickname will be Osako Chikan-no-Kai.
squeeks
Wait, why was he inviting junior high girls over in a chat room for tea in the first place? That just screams creepy.
Cos
He got their contact from the school ? Already creepy at that point.
Bad2Dbone
eh?? no photo of Yamamoto shaved head
Sensato
@Bad2Dbone
Here is the photo: http://jto.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/n-ishin-a-20140813.jpg