Key Facts
• September 1, 2025: Police accepted a complaint alleging document forgery.
• Mayor Maki Takubo claimed to have graduated from Toyo University but was expelled.
• City council investigation confirmed no valid diploma was issued by Toyo University.
• Complaint filed on July 31, 2025, by a Chiba resident, citing forgery and false documentation.
• Mayor Takubo showed a ‘diploma’ to staff and council members during initial allegations.
• Lawyer Masahiro Fukushima holds the ‘diploma’ in a safe, refusing voluntary submission.
• Police investigations include other complaints of election law and local governance violations.
• Mayor Takubo stated willingness to cooperate with investigations if notified.
• Lawyer cited legal rights to reject seizure, calling forced confiscation “unacceptable.”
Summary
The controversy surrounding Mayor Maki Takubo of Ito City deepened as police accepted a complaint on September 1, 2025, alleging forgery and false documentation. Takubo, who claimed to have graduated from Toyo University, was found to have been expelled, with no valid diploma issued. Despite showing a ‘diploma’ to staff and council members, investigations confirmed its inauthenticity. The document remains in a safe held by lawyer Masahiro Fukushima, who has refused voluntary submission and warned against forced seizure. Takubo expressed willingness to cooperate with investigations, which also include allegations of election law and local governance violations. Police continue to investigate all complaints.
