Yoshihisa Matsuo, the mayor of Arita Town in Saga Prefecture, recently declared his intention to run for re-election in the upcoming mayoral race scheduled for April 12. This announcement comes after a dramatic series of events following allegations of sexual harassment that led him to express his intention to resign. After receiving a reprimand from the town council due to inappropriate conduct during a business trip, he initially planned to step down but later decided to withdraw his resignation, largely influenced by the support from constituents urging him to continue his term, which is set to finish on April 15.

During a press conference, Matsuo shared his internal conflict over the decision to remain in office and run for re-election. He stated that he had a strong commitment to move forward and learn from the experience, despite the potential damage to his reputation and the town's image. His reversal of resignation was aided by financial considerations, as holding elections on a different schedule would impose significant additional costs on the town. Amid the backlash regarding his actions and questions about his leadership qualities, Matsuo is determined to recover public trust through tangible results rather than just words.

Facing competition from other independent candidates, including Gentarou Honda, a cram school manager, former financial officer Yoshihide Washio, and barber Shigeru Kurihara, Matsuo's candidacy raises concerns about the potential impact of his previous misconduct on the election outcome. While he acknowledges the difficulties in restoring his image, Matsuo emphasizes that only through effective leadership and delivering results can he hope to regain the confidence of the voters.