On the 18th, the Saijo City Council in Ehime Prefecture passed a significant motion of no confidence against Mayor Toshiaki Takahashi, who was found by a third-party committee to have committed power harassment against city employees. The council's decision was made with a majority vote, resulting in 24 members in favor and 4 against. Following the report, which highlighted two instances of power harassment involving derogatory comments and aggressive outbursts by the mayor, Takahashi is now faced with a critical choice: dissolve the council within ten days or resign from his position.

The third-party committee produced a report detailing that during a meeting last July, Mayor Takahashi directed offensive comments at city staff, including phrases like "Are you stupid?" Moreover, in a separate instance, he reportedly yelled at a staff member to "get out" during a questioning session. This has raised significant concerns about leadership behavior within the city's administration, leading to the council's swift action.

In his response to the council's decision, Mayor Takahashi expressed disappointment, emphasizing his intention to apologize to the citizens of Saijo. He stated, "This is a regrettable outcome. I wish to extend my apologies to the citizens first. Future steps are entirely uncertain." The outcome of this vote not only affects Takahashi's political future but also highlights broader issues related to workplace conduct and governance within local governments in Japan.