Key Facts
• August 13: Mayor Maki Takubo testified at a special committee hearing.
• Takubo claimed to have shown her diploma for 19.2 seconds to council leaders.
• Vice Chair Aoki Keihiro disputed this, stating it was less than 10 seconds.
• Takubo emphasized she recorded the interaction and used a stopwatch.
• Aoki also recorded the meeting, citing concerns about Takubo’s intentions.
• The original diploma remains locked in a lawyer’s office safe.
• Aoki accused Takubo of attempting to portray council leaders as antagonists.
• The controversy has deepened public doubts about Takubo’s academic credentials.
Summary
The academic fraud allegations against Mayor Maki Takubo of Ito City have escalated following her testimony on August 13. Takubo claimed she showed her diploma to council leaders for 19.2 seconds, a statement supported by her recorded evidence. However, Vice Chair Aoki Keihiro refuted this, asserting the display lasted less than 10 seconds based on his own recording. Aoki accused Takubo of attempting to shift blame onto council leaders, further complicating the issue. The original diploma remains inaccessible, locked in a lawyer’s office, leaving the matter unresolved and public skepticism growing.
