Photo/Illutration Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito testifies at special investigation committee in Kobe on Aug. 30. (Nobuhiro Shirai)

KOBE--Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito on Aug. 30 said he has been a strict boss and may have gone overboard on occasion, but he insisted his actions were intended to improve efficiency at the workplace.

Saito appeared before a special investigation committee that is examining allegations that the governor harassed and verbally abused local administration officials, including one who was punished and later found dead.

At 3 p.m., Saito, dressed in a dark suit, entered the large meeting room and bowed deeply to the committee.

“I swear to tell the truth according to my conscience and to neither conceal nor add anything,” he said.

The Article 100 Committee, set up by the prefectural assembly, heard testimony that the governor had thrown stationery at a top official.

Another worker detailed how the governor yelled at employees.

The allegations of power harassment entered the spotlight in mid-March, when the former head of the prefectural government’s branch office in charge of the western Nishi-Harima region accused the governor and other senior officials of corruption and harassment.

The former chief listed seven allegations against Saito in a document that was sent anonymously to the media. He was later disciplined and found dead at his house in July.

Saito has denied the allegations listed in the document, saying, “The core parts are not true.”
Whistleblowers who report power harassment are protected under the whistleblowers law.

But the governor said he was unaware of such protections. He also said that punishing the whistleblower was a proper response because the document was “highly defamatory.”

But Saito did say he went too far when he called the whistleblower “unfit to work as a public servant” at a news conference.

The committee also asked the governor about allegations that he berated employees when he had to walk 20 meters at a prefectural archeology museum. His car was forced to stop because the area was off-limits to vehicles.

Saito said he gave a firm warning to employees at the time because he felt that they had failed to secure a proper vehicle route.

Saito also demanded that the no-entry sign at the museum be removed so that his vehicle could enter the restricted area.

Asked by the committee if the demand was excessive, Saito said his behavior was rational because he did not know vehicles were prohibited in the area.

The governor was also asked about testimony that he sent chat messages to employees during weekends and late at night.

He admitted to sending such off-hour messages, saying the employees needed to do important tasks, such as addressing missed reports.

Saito also said he expected his employees to consult with him and provide proper reports, but he expressed regret that he may have been too lenient with those he was familiar with.

In addition, the committee asked the governor about his repeated use of a group chat to evaluate employees’ performances. On one occasion, he wrote, “This employee isn’t efficient.”

The governor said he wanted to improve the workplace by pointing out what could be done. He added he should have been more careful with his wording.

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