Photo/Illutration A list of signatures collected for a campaign to recall Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura shows almost identical handwriting and finger seals. Part of the photo is modified. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

An individual involved in a campaign to oust Hideaki Omura as governor of Aichi Prefecture admitted to being part of a team that applied their fingerprints to help forge hundreds of thousands of signatures submitted in the failed effort.

The person said the fraudulent activity was carried out at the behest of a senior campaign team official to make signatures lacking the conventional imprint of a "hanko" seal appear legitimate.

The source who made the admission during an interview with The Asahi Shimbun requested complete anonymity.

The prefectural election administration commission announced in February that 83 percent of 435,000 or so signatures submitted to local election authorities were suspected of having been forged. It filed a criminal complaint with the police against suspects unknown.

During the interview, the source said that team members were tasked with sorting out signatures collected by municipality from Oct. 25 to around Nov. 4, the deadline for submissions.

Team members worked at the campaign office in Nagoya’s Higashi Ward and other venues in the city, including a public facility.

The source explained that team members were asked to separate signatures that lacked the imprint of a "hanko" seal or were incomplete for other reasons.

Takahiro Tanaka, a former Aichi prefectural assembly member who headed the recall campaign secretariat, gave directions to apply finger seals to incomplete signatures, which was then diligently carried out, the source said.

The source used different fingers to help ensure each signature looked different and avoid arousing suspicion of the illegal activity.

As lists drawn up for each local election administration commission are required to show residents of the same city, the source also searched for signatures on other lists to post them to the appropriate list.

Team members worked in shifts, and the source joined them for several days.

“My fingers were all red” from dipping them in ink to apply finger seals, the individual added.

After expressing concerns about the illegal nature of the assignment, Tanaka told the person not to fret as each local election administration commission would be in charge of handling the matter.

“I was in total disbelief that this kind of thing was being actually carried out,” the person said.

Asked for comment, Tanaka vehemently denied the account provided by the source, calling it “absolutely impossible.”

On April 16, the Nagoya-based Chunichi Shimbun reported that Takeshi Yamada, a senior official of the recall campaign secretariat and who resigned the day before as a member of the Tokoname municipal assembly, admitted that he applied his finger seals to large numbers of signatures.

Yamada said he did so at Tanaka’s direction.

But Tanaka steadfastly refused to confirm Yamada's version of events.

“I will provide explanation as soon as an opportunity becomes available,” he said.

Prefectural police searched the secretariat on suspicion of breaching the Local Autonomy Law last month and are continuing to question Yamada on a voluntary basis.

The recall campaign was initiated by Katsuya Takasu, a cosmetic surgeon well known for denying the Holocaust and the Nanking Massacre, and others with right-wing leanings who were upset by Omura’s decision to allow the Aichi Triennale 2019 international art festival to be held.

Its “After ‘Freedom of Expression?’” exhibit featured a sculpture meant to symbolize "comfort women” forced to provide sex to wartime Japanese military personnel.

A video presentation with scenes of burning portraits, including one of Emperor Showa (1901-1989), was also displayed.

Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura, who criticized Omura’s handling of the art festival, supported Takasu's recall effort.
Signature collecting began in August 2020 and the petitions were submitted in November.



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