politics

Under-fire mayor resigns after ordering arson

18 Comments
By Toru Yamanaka

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2019 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

18 Comments
Login to comment

He has resigned now ;)=

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why hasn't he resigned yet? A police officer who took a part time job did. Pretty sure incitement to arson is a crime, not just against job regulations.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Didn't they check the land owners, renters before making the road? Or did they just assume compliance. He seems a little too invested in this for it mearly to be a "council" matter.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Its telling that things like crime, poverty, the horrible state of schools (ancient toilets, etc), dangerous air pollution levels and other things don’t drive mayors of Japanese cities to erupt in fits of violent outrage.

But put the tiniest hiccup in front of them building another useless road...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Only a complete fool would hint at arson, especially in Japan....,,!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I watch Japanese news, and this was plastered all over.

Yep, I can confirm from hearing the recording on TV that is what he said. Burn it to the ground. I can also make my own assessment that when he was speaking to the subordinate that he was trying emphasize how bad he wanted the road construction to resume. The subordinate could have easily taken what the Mayor said about the potential arson seriously and acted. Or he could have taken it in a way that the Mayor was very passionate about that building being gone.

It's one those things that you walk away from asking yourself. Was he serious in what he said? Burn it?

Clearly unfit to be Mayor.

Makes you wonder.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Just wondering, Would things be different if he was a non-Japanese working in Japan?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

The guy has offered his resignation, but has remained silent on whether he will run again. He certainly has a mouth on him. It is lucky no-one took his ranting and raving literally.

In his own defense, he explained that a whole new road had been completed seven years ago, except for one building bang in the middle where the tenants refused to negotiate. In the end he had lost it on his staff, he said.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

You go and start a fire today and get arrested! Burn it! No joke! Go and destroy the building now!

More than vigorous and gutsy sounds like a mafia boss. I don't think those are the leaders Japan needs.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The mayor didn’t mean it when he said to burn down the building

Try to pull that one on j-cops when they arrest you on suspicion of anything.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Only in Japan would this guy not be arrested and Simply allowed to "resign".

5 ( +6 / -1 )

"It's clear that I lacked quality as a leader."

And as a human...

The mayor didn’t mean it when he said to burn down the building...

How do you know this? It's not written in the article. The words "Make them evict! You go and start a fire today and get arrested! Burn it! No joke! Go and destroy the building now!" are not difficult to interpret.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Wow!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

JJ Jetplane,

It doesn’t constitute a crime. The mayor didn’t mean it when he said to burn down the building and his subordinate knew it. Though it’s obvious he’s not fit to hold public office.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

who was struggling to evict tenants and the owner of the building,

"Make them evict! You go and start a fire today and get arrested! Burn it! No joke! Go and destroy the building now!"

So was he advocating burning down the building WITH the tenants inside??? He should be arrested, as his proposal clearly endangered people's lives and property .

It's clear that I lacked quality as a leader."

Ya think??

8 ( +8 / -0 )

I am not familiar with Japanese laws. However, shouldn't that be considered illegal? Especially given his position, how is this not a bigger issue? A public figure, seriously ordering a subordinate to commit a crime that has the potential to harm the lives of people, people that he is charged with protecting and representing. Burning the building is also a crime.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

"under fire" indeed. hahaha

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites