Photo/Illutration Fusaho Izumi, the mayor of Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture, speaks during a July 27 news conference about a death threat addressed to him, demanding his resignation. (Haruka Suzuki)

AKASHI, Hyogo Prefecture--Police are beefing up security to protect an outspoken mayor here following a death threat sent by email.

“To be honest, I’m scared and confused,” Akashi Mayor Fusaho Izumi said at a July 27 news conference. 

Izumi, 58, said the death threat was sent to a different local government in Hyogo Prefecture and not to the Akashi city government on July 26 and that he learned of it after prefectural police notified him.

The email, which bore the name of an individual as the sender, smeared Izumi and demanded his resignation.

The sender threatened “to resort to radical measures,” even “murder,” Izumi said.

The letter also made a reference to Tetsuya Yamagami, the suspected gunman in the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Nara on July 8. The sender wrote about having “a homemade gun” just like Yamagami, 41, did.

Izumi used to serve as an aide to Koki Ishii, a Lower House member who was stabbed to death by the leader of a far right group in 2002.

He mentioned the incident at the news conference and said with a stern look, “I feel scared, more than others, about politicians losing their lives."

Izumi, who is active on Twitter, is known for making controversial comments about government policy and other issues on social networking sites.

He said the threat “feels different” after the shocking slaying of the veteran politician, the nation’s longest-serving prime minister.

“I mince no words. It is frightening,” Izumi said as he pledged to cooperate in any way he can with the police in the hope the sender is identified and apprehended soon.

“I hope they won’t leave the matter unattended,” he added.

In the meantime, Izumi has taken measures to bolster the security around him.

Asked by a reporter if the death threat would affect his activities, the mayor said: “I don’t know. It’s too early to say. To be honest, I’m a little hesitant about continuing to make daring comments like before.”