Maebashi Mayor Resigns amid Hotel Scandal

Maebashi, Gunma Pref., Nov. 27 (Jiji Press)–Akira Ogawa, mayor of Maebashi, the capital of Gunma Prefecture, eastern Japan, is set to resign on Thursday following a scandal involving repeated visits to a hotel with a married male subordinate. At a plenary meeting the same day, the city assembly with 38 seats and one vacancy unanimously approved the resignation of Ogawa, 42. “It was a tough decision I made after much deliberation,” she told the meeting. “I decided that it would be best to take responsibility for my actions by leaving the mayor’s office.” She submitted the resignation to the assembly leader, Kimitaka Tomita, on Tuesday. Under the public offices election law, a mayoral election must be held within 50 days from the day after the local assembly head, who has received an offer of resignation, notifies the local election board. The Maebashi board decided that the election following Ogawa’s resignation take place Jan. 12, 2026. Ogawa had expressed interest in running, but she told reporters Thursday that she will think about her future while consulting with supporters and citizens. Meanwhile, a lawyer has shown readiness to enter the race. In September, Ogawa admitted visiting a hotel catering to couples more than 10 times with the male city employee, although she knew he was married. However, she denied any romantic involvement with him, claiming that the meetings were to discuss her worries regarding public service and her private life. The Maebashi assembly had planned to take a vote on a no-confidence motion against Ogawa, which cited damage to the city’s image, but decided not to after she expressed her intention to resign. After working as a lawyer and serving in the Gunma prefectural assembly, Ogawa was elected Maebashi mayor for the first time in February 2024, defeating an incumbent seeking a fourth term with the backing of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]