By AMANE SUGAWARA/ Staff Writer
December 27, 2023 at 14:17 JST
Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama, secretary-general of Osaka Ishin no Kai, speaks to reporters in Osaka on Dec. 26. (Amane Sugawara)
OSAKA—Osaka Ishin no Kai, a regional political party, said it gave stern verbal warnings to five members who harassed others in the party, but it did not disclose details, citing privacy concerns.
Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama, the party’s secretary-general, told reporters here on Dec. 26 that Osaka Ishin no Kai has identified five of the 14 complaints lodged by members as harassment cases.
He said the five cases involved “intimidating language and behavior and other incidents,” often in “arguments over differences in the direction of campaign activities.”
Yokoyama declined to discuss specifics on the grounds that victims may be identified. He would not even say whether party executives were among those who received the warnings.
Asked if the cases included sexual harassment, Yokoyama did not deny such a possibility.
“It is regrettable that these cases occurred,” he said. “We will take measures to prevent a recurrence.”
The party, which is headed by Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura, plans to establish a contact point for receiving reports about harassment, among other measures.
Osaka Ishin no Kai started an investigation in May after the leader of the party’s Osaka prefectural assembly caucus resigned. He was accused of making inappropriate comments and unwanted sexual advances toward an Osaka municipal assemblywoman who belongs to the party.
About 340 party members, such as assembly members and local government heads, were asked if they faced harassment by colleagues and others in the party.
For each of the 14 incidents reported, party officials interviewed those involved along with lawyers and labor and social security attorneys, according to the party.
Osaka Ishin no Kai is the core organization of Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), a national political party.
Many executives of Nippon Ishin, including leader Nobuyuki Baba, belong to Osaka Ishin no Kai.
Osaka Ishin no Kai holds a majority of seats in both the Osaka prefectural and municipal assemblies.
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