Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka formally apologized to the city assembly on Thursday after an investigation confirmed he had engaged in power harassment toward municipal employees. According to 読売新聞, the mayor said he accepts the findings in full and expressed regret for his conduct.
The investigation found that Yamanaka had used abusive language, including calling staff members "incompetent" and "scum," according to the report. During the assembly session, the mayor acknowledged that his behavior fell short of proper respect for others, as detailed by 東京新聞デジタル. He spoke for roughly ten minutes during the apology.
Despite the formal finding of harassment, Yamanaka reiterated his intention to remain in office, according to TVer. This stance has drawn sharp criticism from some assembly members, with TBS NEWS DIG reporting that lawmakers described the harassment ruling as a de facto recommendation for resignation.
The political fallout continues to escalate. 47NEWS reports that the Liberal Democratic Party caucus in the assembly is preparing to formally request the mayor's resignation. The move signals that the apology may not be enough to quell opposition pressure.
The investigation's conclusion marks a significant blow to the mayor's administration, which now faces a divided assembly and public scrutiny over workplace conduct. The coming days will determine whether the resignation request gains traction among other political groups in the city.
