Photo/Illutration Hiroshi Kodama, then-mayor of Akitakata, Hiroshima Prefecture, bows his head in apology and announces his resignation at a news conference in the city on June 30, 2020. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

While investigators were closing in on many members of Hiroshima Prefecture’s political community in 2020 for allegedly taking bribes from Katsuyuki Kawai and his wife, Anri Kawai, one local politico pulled a memorable stunt.

Hiroshi Kodama, the mayor of Akitakata, had his head shaved when he met the media and admitted to receiving 600,000 yen ($5,400) from Katsuyuki.

"I decided on this hair style to show my remorse," Kodama explained.

He must have thought this self-imposed penance would get him off the hook and enable him to remain in office, but he was forced to resign shortly after.

Still, I must say Kodama ended up averting the worst.

On July 6, prosecutors decided not to indict any of the 100 Hiroshima officeholders, including Kodama, even though all had been "bought" by the Kawais.

As for the latter, both husband and wife were charged with violations of the Public Offices Election Law and resigned from the Diet.

According to past precedents, accepting bribes is a punishable offense, whether the amount received was several tens of thousands of yen or just a measly amount.

But this time, some pocketed as much as 3 million yen and still went scot-free.

It is a de facto plea bargain when prosecutors go lenient on a suspect in exchange for their cooperation with an investigation. But plea bargaining is not applicable to cases involving the Public Offices Election Law, which means that what the prosecutors pulled was nothing short of a backdoor deal.

Still, the prosecutors may argue that their foremost priority was to reel in the big one--a former justice minister--and that, since this could not be achieved without the cooperation of individuals who received the money, the decision not to indict them was a necessary evil.

Well, I never knew Japan's judicial system could be so flexible.

Anglers refer to the fish they are after as "honmei," and all other fish are called "gedo."

Anyone who fishes for honmei are said to only release any gedo they catch.

Some released fish may die from injuries caused by the hook, but there are also tough survivors.

How will the gedo of the Hiroshima political community fare, now that they are off the hook?

On the very day it was announced they would not be indicted, six of the 13 prefectural assembly lawmakers who had received cash from the Kawais were reportedly elected to the assembly's key posts.

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 8

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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