Motohiko Saitō

is a Japanese politician and the 53rd and 54th governor of Hyōgo Prefecture in Japan.

Overview

Amid the controversies surrounding the Saitо̄ administration, on September 19, 2024, the Hyōgo Prefectural Assembly submitted a motion of no confidence, which was unanimously passed by 86 votes. Subsequently, Saitо̄ had to choose between dissolving the Assembly or leaving office. On September 26, Saitо̄ announced that he would not dissolve the assembly and would instead run for reelection after he is removed from office. On September 30, Saitо̄ was required to vacate the position. Saitо̄ was reelected in the 2024 Hyogo gubernatorial election that took place on November 17, 2024.

The head of the prefectural government bureau for a region called Nishiharima committed suicide on July 7, 2024, after presenting an internal whistleblower document criticizing Governor Saitо̄'s actions in office. After that, Japanese media focused on Saitо̄, and discussion and criticism of the Saitо̄ administration increased.

Hyogo Prefectural Government internal whistleblowing document issue

The issue stemmed from a document in which a former senior prefectural official acted as a whistleblower against the governor and others, raising concerns about Saito's alleged power harassment and the receipt of gifts from companies. Furthermore, the issue escalated after one of the staff members committed suicide.

Background

On March 12, 2024, the Director of the Nishiharima Prefectural Bureau, Yasuhide Watase (then 60 years old), anonymously distributed a document titled "Regarding the Illegal Acts of Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito" to prefectural assembly members, media outlets, and the prefectural police department.

Saito testified to the Special Investigation Committee with a strong mandate under Article 100 of the Local Autonomy Law that he obtained the document from “a private individual” on March 20.

According to prefectural assembly officials, the lieutenant governor and the head of the Prefectural Personnel Department visited without an appointment the Nishiharima Prefectural Bureau in Kamigori Town, Akō District on March 25 and allegedly confiscated Watase's computer.

Watase was scheduled to retire at the end of March, but his retirement was canceled on March 27 when the Hyogo Prefecture announced that his actions were highly likely to warrant disciplinary action.

At a regular press conference on the same day, Saito stated, "The document contains numerous false claims, which raises legal issues such as the loss of credibility and defamation of the staff." He added, "Fabricating and circulating a document full of lies during work hours is unacceptable behavior for a public servant. We are proceeding with legal measures, including filing a criminal complaint and an accusation."

On April 2, Saito revealed that he would bring in lawyers to investigate Watase’s disciplinary actions and denied establishing a third-party committee. Furthermore, he avoided commenting on the veracity of the allegation of power harassment against him and said, “it would be better to explain after thoroughly examining the entire situation.”

On April 4, Watase appealed to the prefecture's Public Interest Whistleblowing System and reported the allegation to the Prefectural Administration Reform Division, which oversees the System, and the Division was tasked with investigating the allegation.

On April 16, the department head of the prefecture’s Bureau of Industry and Labor admitted to receiving one of the gifts mentioned in the document. Hoping that the governor would promote Hyogo Prefecture’s products, he requested that the manufacturer send him the product. The product was delivered, but after consulting with the secretarial department, he decided to return it, and it was stored unopened in the warehouse.

On April 20, the former General Affairs Division Chief, who was mentioned in Watase's whistleblowing document as having developed depression due to the stress from a series of misconduct and covering up, committed suicide. The news of his death was not posted on the employee’s site until April 23. Saito explained at a press conference on April 24 that the Chief's death was not disclosed due to the wishes of the bereaved family. It was also reported that an attempt by colleagues to collect an orphan education fund for the deceased's children was stopped by prefectural executives.

On April 24, a prefectural assembly member Maki Maruo (Independent) submitted a request to Saito for the establishment of a third-party organization to investigate the contents of the document and conduct a staff survey on the existence of power harassment. On April 26, Saito reiterated his negative stance on establishing a third-party organization, stating, "The personnel department is conducting with lawyers a detailed investigation."

On May 7, the prefecture government announced that Watase had been placed on a three-month suspension as a disciplinary measure.

After conducting interviews with all the prefectural employees and business personnel named in the document, the prefectural government determined that essential elements of the allegation were not factual and that the document constituted defamation and potentially libel. Additionally, the head of the Bureau of Industry and Labor, who admitted to receiving the gift, was reprimanded.

While stating that "We cannot disclose the investigation methods," the prefecture asserted that a sufficient and necessary investigation was conducted through interviews with relevant parties by the personnel department. They concluded that "we believe the trust in the prefectural government has been restored, and the establishment of a third-party committee is unnecessary.”

On May 9, the Hyogo Prefectural Citizens' Coalition, a caucus composed of members from the Constitutional Democratic Party and other prefectural assembly members, requested the prefectural government to establish a third-party organization to conduct an investigation. At the press conference, a prefectural assembly member criticized, "Before the investigation even began, the governor declared the document to be 'all lies' and 'groundless,' and then only his subordinates conducted an internal investigation."

On May 14, Saito stated that he was considering the establishment of a third-party organization, shifting his previous stance on external investigation.

On May 15, the ruling party of the prefectural government, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), held a general conference to discuss the establishment of a third-party agency and an Article 100 Special Investigation Committee (the Article 100 Committee, hereafter). Opinions were divided within the party regarding the Article 100 Committee, and no consensus was achieved.

On May 16, a meeting of representatives from each party in the prefectural assembly was held, and LDP, Komeito, and the Japanese Communist Party requested the prefectural government to establish a third-party agency.

On May 20, the Japan Innovation Party also agreed to support the establishment of a third-party agency.

On May 21, with unanimous agreement from all parties, Speaker Hyoe Naito (LDP) requested Saito to establish a third-party agency, and Saito officially announced a reinvestigation through the third-party agency.

On June 5, while denying the accusation of power harassment, Saito partially admitted the factuality of the statement in the whistleblowing report for yelling at the staff who made him get out of the car and walk 20 meters at the business trip destination, saying that he provided necessary guidance within the scope of his duties.

On June 7, Lieutenant Governor Yasutaka Katayama pleaded with the chairperson of the assembly steering committee, Fujimoto Hyakuo, for refraining from establishing the Article 100 Committee because he would resign.

On June 13, the prefectural assembly approved the establishment of the Article 100 Committee by a majority vote.

The established Article 100 Committee,“Special Committee on Whistleblowing Document Issues,” was composed of 15 members, with Kenichi Okutani of LDP serving as chairperson.

On June 14, the first meeting of the Article 100 Committee was held.

On June 20, during a regular press conference, Saito explained each item in the document for the first time and denied all seven allegations.

On June 27, the second meeting of the Article 100 Committee was held.

It was confirmed at the meeting that Watase would be summoned to testify as a witness at the third meeting scheduled for July 19.

Subsequently, an opinion was raised to disclose other documents remaining on the confiscated computer at the Article 100 Committee.

In response, Watase’s representative submitted a request to the committee chairperson not to disclose any materials unrelated to the purpose of the investigation.

On the night of July 7, Watase’s family filed a missing person report with the prefectural police. When the police searched for him, Watase was found dead at a relative’s house in Himeji City. It is believed to be a suicide.

References

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University of Tokyo alumni
Politicians from Hyōgo Prefecture
1977 births
Living people
Governors of Hyōgo Prefecture
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