FUKUOKA (TR) – Last week, Takuya Murakami, the mayor of Tagawa City, denied allegations of sexual harassment made by a subordinate earlier this year. Previously, the mayor had admitted to engaging in an affair with the woman that was based on “mutual understanding,” reports TV Asahi (May 5).
On May 2, Murakami released a statement titled “Declaration of Determination.” The statement read, “There is absolutely no evidence that I have committed any acts that qualify as sexual harassment.”
The statement went on, “In order to restore my reputation, and for the people who supported me, I have come to the decision to file a lawsuit.” However, he did not reveal whom he is suing. As well, Murakami declined a request from the press for an interview.
On March 31, a lawyer representing the female city employee with whom Murakami was allegedly having an affair held a press conference. The lawyer revealed that the woman had filed a petition with the city’s Fairness Committee. She requested a third-party investigation into the facts, claiming that it was not an affair, but that she was sexually harassed by “forced consent.”
In the statement, Murakami indicated his intention to cooperate with the third-party investigation, but pointed out that “unfair claims have continued [since the announcement at the end of March].”
“To restore trust”
At a city council meeting held on April 10, Murakami explained, “I had taken it as a private relationship based on mutual understanding, but looking back, I cannot deny that I lacked the imagination to consider the weight of my position and the pressure the other person felt. This is the result of my own lack of awareness, and I deeply regret it.”
When asked at the meeting whether he had any intention of resigning, he said he did not. “The first thing I need to do is to face the facts squarely and fulfill my responsibilities to restore trust,” he said. “Rather than resigning immediately, I would like to decide what to do next after I have fulfilled all my responsibilities.”
