Governor Suggested Leaking Private Information

The investigation committee of Hyogo Prefectural Government published a report on leaking private information of former officer, who accused harassment of Governor, Motohiko Saito. The report recognized that the information was handed out from former　Director of General Affairs, Chiaki Inomoto, to three prefectural assembly members. It also found that Saito possibly instructed Inomoto to leak the information. Saito argued that he had no intention to instruct Inomoto. 

In April 2024, a bureau chief of Hyogo government in charge of Nishi-Harima region distributed a document which accused Saito’s harassment on his staffs or accepting gifts. The government punished the bureau chief with suspension of his position. The bureau chief killed himself in July after Hyogo Prefectural Assembly decided to establish an investigation committee.

 

The assembly passed a non-confidence resolution against Saito in September, and Saito was reelected in the gubernatorial election in November. The information leaked by Inomoto was uploaded on social networking services during the election. The investigation committee concluded in March 2025 that the punishment on the bureau chief was likely to violate Whistleblower Protection Act.

 

The committee that found Inomoto’s leak was another third-party organization established in Hyogo Prefectural Government by Saito. Its report revealed that Inomoto leaked private information in a laptop of the bureau chief. The information was published in the gubernatorial election campaign in November to defame the bureau chief. “It is highly possible that the leak was made for explanation with instruction of governor or vice-governor,” says the report.

 

Saito announced that he recognized his responsibility as the leader of Hyogo government and would cut his salary as the governor. However, Saito denied his instruction to Inomoto, admitting that he had been reported about inappropriate information in the laptop. Inomoto, on the contrary, testified to the committee that he was instructed by Saito. Inomoto argued that he was said “How about sharing the information with assembly members?” from Saito. Saito has not commented about the suggestion.

 

According to the investigation, the officers of Hyogo government, including then vice-governor, endorsed Inomoto’s argument that he was instructed by Saito. Only Saito insists that he did not instruct leaking the information. The information was used by Takashi Tachibana who ran for the gubernatorial election to support victory of Saito. Hyogo government requested YouTube and X to delete Tachibana’s posting on the information of bureau chief.

 

Receiving report from the investigation committee, Hyogo government issued a penalty of three-month suspension on Inomoto, as same as on the bureau chief who committed suicide. Related to the scandal, an assembly member who made inquiry on Saito in the assembly’s investigation committee, also killed himself in January 2025. He was exposed to harsh slanders supporting Saito, who believed in no wrongdoing of Saito.

 

Saito shows no intention to step down, arguing that he has certain amount of supports from the people in Hyogo, not implementing his responsibility to settle confusion in the executive branch of Hyogo.

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