Key Facts
• On August 5, Shizuoka Mayor Takashi Namba addressed the solar project issue.
• Ito Mayor Maki Takubo cited halting the solar project as a reason for staying in office.
• Takubo previously claimed to have graduated from Toyo University but was expelled.
• On July 7, Takubo announced her resignation due to the academic scandal.
• On July 31, she reversed her decision and declared her intention to remain in office.
• Namba, a former deputy governor, clarified the solar project is stalled due to legal issues.
• The project lacks permits for river use, bridge construction, and drainage systems.
• Namba stated, “The solar project does not depend on the mayor to be stopped.”
• He criticized misinformation about the project’s status and emphasized transparency.
• Namba refrained from directly evaluating Takubo’s performance as mayor.
Summary
Shizuoka Mayor Takashi Namba criticized Ito Mayor Maki Takubo during an August 5 press conference, addressing her claim that halting the Izukogen solar project justified her decision to remain in office. Takubo, who faced backlash for falsely claiming a university degree, initially announced her resignation on July 7 but reversed her decision on July 31. Namba, a former deputy governor involved in the project’s opposition, clarified that the solar project is stalled due to legal and administrative barriers, not dependent on the mayor’s actions. He highlighted the need to correct misinformation and emphasized that the project cannot proceed without necessary permits. While critical of Takubo’s statements, Namba avoided directly commenting on her overall performance.
