Photo/Illutration Maki Takubo gives a speech in front of JR Ito Station in Shizuoka Prefecture in support of an Ito city assembly candidate on Oct. 12. (Shinya Minamishima)

ITO, Shizuoka Prefecture--Ito Mayor Maki Takubo, embroiled in allegations of academic fraud, will likely lose her post after her critics won at least 18 of the 20 seats in the city assembly election.

The Oct. 19 election was called after Takubo dissolved the assembly, which had unanimously passed a no-confidence resolution against the mayor in September.

All 18 former assembly members who had voted in favor of the no-confidence resolution were re-elected.

According to a pre-election survey, 19 of the 20 elected assembly members have expressed support for another no-confidence motion against the mayor, making its passage--and Takubo’s removal--highly likely.

A special investigative committee has accused Takubo of having “intentionally falsified” her academic credentials.

Takubo listed herself as a graduate of Toyo University in Tokyo in a background survey submitted to media outlets during a mayoral election. In reality, however, she had been removed from the university.

Hiromichi Nakajima, 65, the assembly chair who had pursued the allegations against Takubo, secured re-election on Oct. 19.

At 11 p.m., when he was projected to win, Nakajima addressed his supporters.

“This city assembly election is just the first step. We must submit another no-confidence resolution,” he said. “Then we’ll hold a mayoral election and work quickly to restore the city administration to how it was.”

The winners in the assembly election include three from Komeito and one each from Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), Reiwa Shinsengumi and the Japanese Communist Party. Fourteen were independents.

Only two newcomers were elected.

Turnout among the 56,471 eligible voters was 59.22 percent, up from 48.88 percent in the previous election and ending the declining trend in turnout rate.

The academic scandal raised interest in city politics.

According to a survey conducted by 13 local media outlets before the election, only one among the 20 eventual winners plan to oppose another no-confidence motion submitted against Takubo.

That person was Motoyuki Katagiri, who was elected for the first time and had publicly declared his support for the mayor.

On the night of Oct. 19, Takubo visited Katagiri’s office to lend support.

“I hope he’ll bring a fresh breeze to the assembly,” Takubo said to his supporters.

She left the office without responding to questions from reporters.

If two-thirds of the 20 assembly members are present at the assembly and a majority votes in favor of a no-confidence motion, Takubo will be dismissed immediately.

A mayoral election would then be held within 50 days.

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