Key Facts
• Takahashi Tachibana, 58, arrested for defamation of former Hyogo Prefecture legislator Hideaki Takeuchi.
• Allegations include spreading unverified claims about Governor Motohiko Saito’s misconduct.
• Information sources included Hyogo Prefecture legislators and officials.
• November 2024: Tachibana shared private data of a deceased former official online.
• Data originated from a government computer and was leaked by an unidentified employee.
• May 2025: Third-party report confirmed high likelihood of internal data leak.
• Hyogo Prefecture filed a complaint for breach of confidentiality under local civil servant law.
• Legislators Masayoshi Masuyama, Minoru Kishiguchi, and Takaaki Shirai provided confidential information to Tachibana.
• Masuyama shared audio from a closed-door committee meeting in October 2024.
• Kishiguchi provided documents accusing Takeuchi of being a “mastermind” against Saito.
• Takeuchi resigned after Saito’s reelection and passed away in January 2025.
• Legislators involved were expelled from their party and formed a new regional group.
• Hyogo Prefectural Assembly passed a censure motion against Masuyama and Kishiguchi.
• Investigations into the leaks and defamation are ongoing.
Summary
Takahashi Tachibana, leader of the political group “Protect the People from NHK,” was arrested for defamation related to the late Hideaki Takeuchi, a former Hyogo legislator. Tachibana also disseminated unverified allegations about Governor Motohiko Saito, using leaked data from government sources. The data, originally stored on a public computer, was leaked by an unidentified employee. Legislators Masayoshi Masuyama, Minoru Kishiguchi, and Takaaki Shirai were implicated for providing confidential information to Tachibana, leading to their expulsion from their party. Investigations continue into the leaks and the spread of misinformation, which caused significant reputational harm to involved parties.
