Photo/Illutration Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu explains the submittal of his resignation at an April 10 news conference. (Miho Tanaka)

SHIZUOKA—Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu evoked the final words of a 16th-century Catholic believer who died a violent death as he fell on the sword himself on April 10.

Kawakatsu submitted his resignation to the president of the Shizuoka prefectural assembly that day after giving a speech that was widely criticized as offensive. 

At a news conference later on April 10, Kawakatsu uttered the words of Tama (Gracia) Hosokawa (1563-1600), who penned a poem as she prepared herself for her imminent violent death: "Flowers are flowers and people are people/ Only because they know when to die."

Her poem is often quoted to stress the difficulty of bowing out with grace at the right moment.

Kawakatsu came under huge criticism from local residents when in addressing new prefectural employees at a welcoming ceremony on April 1, he appeared to insult farmers, ranchers and factory workers for their low intelligence.

At the news conference, Kawakatsu, 75, said he submitted his resignation because he wanted to keep the vacuum in the prefectural administration leadership as short a time as possible.

Soon after the controversy erupted, Kawakatsu said he would resign when the prefectural assembly convened in June. But his hasty departure will push up the gubernatorial election to as early as next month.

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