Japanese mayor vows to quit after verbal abuse

February 2, 2019

Akashi, Hyogo Pref.--Akashi Mayor Fusaho Izumi on Friday expressed his intention to resign to take responsibility for verbally abusing a city worker.

Izumi, 55, tendered his resignation to the speaker of the city assembly of Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan.

"It is obvious that I lack the qualities of a leader," Izumi told a press conference at the city office.

Izumi did not discuss whether he will run in a mayoral election to return to office, saying that he was not yet at the stage of considering such a thing.

In June 2017, Izumi scolded a senior city official for a delay in negotiations to acquire land for a road project. He then verbally abused the official, demanding that the city employee set fire to the building then on the land.

"This was an unforgivable act. I have no choice but to step down," Izumi said at the press conference.

On Tuesday, the mayor admitted that the remarks to the city official amounted to harassment, but declined to step down. Jiji Press