Keiji Okamoto, the chief of the Osaka City Economic Strategy Bureau, faces serious allegations of power harassment according to an investigation by the Osaka City Fair Employment Review Committee. The committee, composed of lawyers, has recommended corrective measures after confirming 26 instances of power harassment, all of which Okamoto denies. During the investigation, initiated by a whistleblower last October, several staff members reported that Okamoto used abusive language, including statements like 'idiot' and 'I don’t want to see your face,' particularly singling out employees during confrontational outbursts.

Despite Okamoto's denial, testimonies from multiple employees indicated a pervasive issue, with one stating that while the language used by Okamoto was inappropriate, it did not constitute harassment. However, the review committee highlighted the fear of retaliation among staff that contributed to their reluctance to come forward, pointing to a toxic organizational culture within the bureau. The committee emphasized that the city's leadership, represented by Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama, must take effective action to improve workplace conditions.

The scrutiny of Okamoto's behavior is set against the backdrop of his role in overseeing critical functions of the Economic Strategy Bureau, which deals with city tourism, culture, and sports strategies. Furthermore, the committee released findings suggesting another violation of ethical standards involving a district mayor accepting baseball game tickets from citizens, reinforcing concerns about integrity in local governance. Mayor Yokoyama acknowledged the need for stronger governance and accountability, pledging to work on these issues moving forward.