Key Facts
• August 14, Mayor Maki Takubo of Ito City addressed diploma fraud allegations.
• Takubo claimed universities should verify diploma issuance for non-graduates.
• Takubo listed Toyo University Law School as alma mater despite being expelled.
• June 4, Takubo showed a “diploma” to city council leaders amid rising suspicions.
• Toyo University confirmed diplomas are only issued to graduates, not expelled students.
• Takubo’s lawyer, Masahiro Fukushima, stated the diploma “does not appear fake.”
• Takubo insists she graduated before being expelled, citing unclear university records.
• The diploma remains locked in her lawyer’s office, not submitted for verification.
• No action has been taken to present the diploma to prosecutors or the council.
• A special council committee continues investigating the matter.
Summary
Ito City Mayor Maki Takubo faces allegations of academic fraud, claiming to have graduated from Toyo University despite being expelled. On August 14, she suggested the university should verify diploma issuance for non-graduates. A “diploma” shown to city council leaders in June remains unverified, with Toyo University affirming diplomas are only issued to graduates. Takubo’s lawyer, Masahiro Fukushima, supports the document’s authenticity, complicating the case. Despite calls for transparency, the diploma remains locked in the lawyer’s office, and no formal submission to prosecutors or the council has occurred. A special committee continues to investigate the controversy.
