Key Facts
• November 2024: Governor Motohiko Saito re-elected with over 1.11 million votes.
• November 2025: Arrest of Takashi Tachibana for defamation of former councilor Hideaki Takeuchi.
• January 2025: Takeuchi, targeted by harassment, dies by suicide.
• March 2025: Third-party committee finds Hyogo Prefecture violated whistleblower protection laws.
• July 2024: Former West Harima Bureau Chief, whistleblower, dies by suspected suicide.
• November 2025: Governor Saito repeatedly avoids direct answers in press conferences.
• Public protests outside Hyogo Prefectural Office during governor’s regular press briefings.
• Allegations of retaliation against critics, including harassment and property damage.
• Governor Saito denies whistleblower claims, calling them “baseless” and “inappropriate.”
Summary
One year after Governor Motohiko Saito’s re-election in Hyogo Prefecture, the administration remains mired in division and controversy. Despite securing a landslide victory with over 1.11 million votes, allegations of power harassment and whistleblower retaliation have plagued his tenure. The arrest of Takashi Tachibana for defamation and the suicides of two individuals linked to whistleblower cases have intensified public scrutiny. Governor Saito has consistently avoided addressing these issues directly, citing ongoing investigations. Protests outside the prefectural office and reports of harassment against critics highlight the deepening unrest. A third-party committee has identified violations of whistleblower protection laws, but Saito maintains the prefecture’s actions were appropriate. The situation underscores the challenges of restoring stability and trust in Hyogo’s governance.
