Key Facts
• August 6: Ito City Council held its 5th meeting on Maki Takubo’s academic fraud allegations.
• Council demanded submission of graduation certificate and attendance at witness questioning.
• Deadline for certificate submission: August 8, 4:00 PM.
• Scheduled witness questioning: August 13, 10:00 AM.
• Council Chair Hiro Michi Nakajima personally delivered the request to Mayor Takubo.
• Mayor Takubo stated she would review the documents before commenting.
• Previous requests for certificate and questioning were refused by the mayor.
• Council may pursue criminal charges if the mayor fails to comply.
Summary
The Ito City Council in Shizuoka Prefecture has intensified its investigation into Mayor Maki Takubo over allegations of academic fraud. During its fifth meeting on August 6, the council reiterated its demand for the mayor to submit her graduation certificate and attend a witness questioning session. The deadlines for compliance are set for August 8 and August 13, respectively. Council Chair Hiro Michi Nakajima personally delivered the request to the mayor, who has so far avoided confirming her response, stating she would first review the documents. Mayor Takubo has previously refused similar requests, and the council has indicated it may escalate the matter to criminal charges if she continues to resist. This development marks a critical juncture in the ongoing investigation.
