Two Hyogo prefectural assembly members resigned from a special investigative committee over information leaks that fueled a bullying campaign during the governor’s election last autumn.

The information, including audio recordings from a closed-door questioning session of a witness, ended up in the hands of Takashi Tachibana, leader of the anti-NHK political party and a candidate in the election.

Makoto Masuyama, a member of regional party Hyogo Ishin no Kai, submitted his letter of resignation from the committee on Feb. 20 to the prefectural assembly, which approved the move.

Minoru Kishiguchi, deputy chairman of the committee and also a member of Hyogo Ishin no Kai, resigned from the committee on the same day.

Kishiguchi was found to have provided documents to Tachibana that accused another assembly member of being the “mastermind” behind activities to oust Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito during his first term.

The special committee was investigating allegations of power harassment and corruption against Saito.

Those allegations ultimately forced Saito to vacate the post. But he decided to run again for governor in the subsequent election.

The audio data came during questioning of former Deputy Governor Yasutaka Katayama on Oct. 25, 2024.

Considering the potential impact on the election, the committee had previously decided not to release recordings of the witness questioning until after the campaign.

According to the prefectural assembly secretariat, releasing information from closed sessions is prohibited under assembly rules. Violators can be dismissed or suspended from the assembly based on the Local Autonomy Law.

On the evening of Feb. 19, Masuyama explained on an internet broadcast that he had recorded the questioning of Katayama and handed it over to Tachibana on Oct. 31, 2024, the day the election campaign began.

Masuyama said he leaked the information because he felt the media was unfairly attacking Saito and would cover up the information if he gave it to them.

“Is this right that the election proceeds without the citizens being informed?” he said.

Masuyama added that he provided the recordings to Tachibana, hoping his strong influence would spread the information.

Hyogo Ishin no Kai is the Hyogo branch of Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party).

Ryohei Iwatani, secretary-general of Nippon Ishin, Masuyama and Kishiguchi will hold a news conference within the prefecture on Feb. 23.

Hirofumi Yoshimura, the party leader, told reporters on Feb. 20, “This is a violation of the rules, and such actions are unacceptable.”

Seiji Maehara, co-representative of Nippon Ishin, was also critical.

“If true, this is utterly indefensible,” Maehara said at a news conference on the same day. “Severe punishment should be administered.”

A member of Hyogo Ishin no Kai said, “I think resignation is the only option for the two members.”

USED BY TACHIBANA

The allegations of abuse and corruption against Saito were made by the head of the prefectural government’s branch office in charge of the Nishi-Harima region.

The whistle-blower was later found dead in an apparent suicide.

During the October questioning session, Katayama began discussing the contents of private documents found on the work computer of the dead prefectural government official.

Although the private documents had not been authenticated, their contents could have damaged the reputation of the whistle-blower.

The audio recording captured the moment when Kenichi Okutani, chairman of the special investigation committee, deemed Katayama’s remarks inappropriate and halted his testimony.

Tachibana used the audio data at street speeches during the gubernatorial election campaign, including outside Okutani’s home and office.

When the recording spread on social media, Okutani faced criticism for “hiding inconvenient truths.”

The spread of defamation and uncertain information escalated, severely disrupting the operations of the special investigation committee.

Kishiguchi met with Tachibana and an ordinary citizen during the election campaign. There, he is believed to have handed Tachibana documents about Hideaki Takeuchi, a former prefectural assembly member and committee member.

In a video that went viral on social media, Takeuchi was labeled the “main culprit” behind the whistle-blower issues.

He resigned from the assembly the day after Saito won the gubernatorial election.

Takeuchi died in January in an apparent suicide.

He had expressed his distress of having his own supporters question the truth of information that circulated on social media.

Following Masuyama’s admission, Okutani commented, “If this is true, it is regrettable.”

He said he will consider an appropriate response after verifying the facts.

Okutani also said he will consider filing a complaint about the meeting between Kishiguchi and Tachibana, which he believes obstructed the operations of the special investigative committee.

(This article was written by Takuya Kitazawa and Junichi Takitsubo.)