Japanese council votes to remove unconscious mayor
Summary
A town council in Japan voted to remove their mayor, Kikuo Hatakeyama, who has been unconscious since February due to a brain hemorrhage. The council passed a no-confidence motion to end his term on May 19, as local law requires a mayor’s own resignation to be formally submitted, which did not happen.Key Facts
- Kikuo Hatakeyama has been mayor of Hachirogata since 2008.
- He became unconscious after suffering a brain hemorrhage in February.
- The town assembly passed a no-confidence vote unanimously to remove him.
- This method is rare in Japan, where no-confidence motions against ill mayors are uncommon.
- The mayor’s wife had asked the council to consider his ability to continue or resign.
- Local law says mayors must notify the assembly themselves to resign; family requests are not valid.
- A no-confidence vote was chosen as the fastest way to remove the mayor.
- An election to pick a new mayor will be held within 50 days.
- Hachirogata is a small town in Akita prefecture with about 5,000 people, known for agriculture and fishing.
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