Key Facts
• Former Kishiwada Mayor Kohei Nagano, 47, arrested for bid-rigging allegations.
• Accused of leaking minimum bid price for a May 2021 city project.
• Violation of the Act on Elimination and Prevention of Involvement in Bid-Rigging.
• Nagano served as mayor from 2018 but lost his position after two no-confidence votes.
• Lost re-election in April 2025 by over 40,000 votes to the current mayor.
• Attorney Yukio Kikuchi suggests investigation may expand to bribery charges.
• Prosecutors have not disclosed Nagano’s response to the allegations.
• Kishiwada City declined to comment, citing lack of information.
• Investigation focuses on whether the contractor offered any compensation in return.
Summary
Kohei Nagano, former mayor of Kishiwada City, Osaka, was arrested by the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of bid-rigging. He allegedly leaked the minimum bid price for a city project in May 2021, enabling a contractor to secure the bid. Nagano, who served as mayor from 2018, faced two no-confidence votes over personal scandals and lost his position. Despite running for re-election in April 2025, he was defeated by a significant margin. Legal expert Yukio Kikuchi highlighted the possibility of the case evolving into a bribery investigation, depending on whether the contractor provided any compensation. Prosecutors have not revealed Nagano’s stance on the allegations, and Kishiwada City has refrained from commenting. The case underscores concerns about corruption and governance in public office.
