Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito speaks to the press in Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture, November 22 (©Sankei)
Donald Trump was not the only leader who defied expectations and secured reelection in November despite facing relentless media opposition.
After stepping down as Hyogo governor in March amid accusations of power harassment and soliciting gifts, Motohiko Saito made a comeback with his reelection on November 17.
For months, major media outlets, including Nippon TV, national broadcaster NHK, Shincho Shimbun, and Asahi Shimbun, dedicated hours each day to covering the allegations against Saito. Intended or not, their extensive coverage left the appearance of supporting the claimants.
While Saito's victory raises serious questions about the influence of legacy media, other factors also played a role.
Social Media and Modern Elections
Much has been made of the use of social media in Saito's reelection. Statistics reveal that 70% of voters in their teens and twenties backed him. NHK Party leader and popular YouTuber Takashi Tachibana publicly threw his support behind Saito in the final days of the campaign. One of Tachibana's stump speech videos, released just days before the election, garnered 15 million views.
Yet, attributing Saito's win largely to his adept use of social media also oversimplifies the story. Its broader significance stems from a very local historical and political context.
Hyogo's Political Loop
After World War II, prefectural governors began to be elected through popular elections. Motohiko Kanai became the first elected Hyogo governor in 1962. Kanai's deputy governor at the time was Tokitada Sakai, who went on to win the next election in 1970. This marked the beginning of a loop where deputy governors would succeed governors.
Sakai's deputy governor, Toshitami Kaihara, succeeded him, and Kaihara's deputy governor, Toshizo Ido, then succeeded him.
Ido, who was elected in 2001, served until 2021. With each term lasting four years, Toshizo Ido's five consecutive terms amounted to a 20-year administration.
Saito's Rise
Ido intended to have his deputy governor succeed him, but this plan fell apart in the 2021 gubernatorial election. Instead, Motohiko Saito took office, marking the first change in administration in 59 years in Hyogo Prefecture.
Voters supported Motohiko Saito for his emphasis on economic revitalization and transparent governance. Many felt that Ido's administration lacked transparency in decision-making processes, particularly regarding public spending and the handling of major projects.
Troublesome Reformer?
Saito consistently emphasized that Hyogo's finances were in critical condition. It looked good on paper, but the prefecture-owned land and forest assets were overvalued compared to their actual market prices. Moreover, they could not be sold. But on the balance sheet, they created the illusion that everything was fine.
Additionally, there was the issue of bureaucrats taking cushy post-retirement positions. After retiring at 65, many prefectural employees transitioned to external affiliated organizations, staying there until they were 70. Taxpayers' money often funded the lucrative salaries, benefits, and pensions that came with these positions.
Furthermore, there was a plan to rebuild the prefectural government office at a cost of ¥100 billion JPY (over $642 million USD). Meanwhile, prefectural schools were falling apart. They lacked seismic (earthquake) reinforcements and still had squat toilets. Some did not even have air conditioning.
Governor Saito criticized the new government office as wasteful and decisively cut such projects, which made him a lot of enemies.
Committee Inquiry
On March 12, 2024, documents were distributed anonymously to prefectural assembly members, national legislators, police, and the media. The documents argued that Governor Motohiko Saito abused his power, bullied staff, and solicited gifts from contractors. They professed that when he visited disaster sites, he sought and received various favors.
Saito's camp promptly launched an investigation and found the document source. It turned out to be a former local official in the prefecture's Nishiharima District Administration Office.
Key prefectural assembly members also got the anonymous documents. They decided to convene a special investigative committee under the Local Autonomy Act, similar to a parliamentary hearing.
Post-its and Jam
Governor Saito and Deputy Governor Katayama were summoned. The committee interrogated them based on the anonymous document. Media reports expanded the intrigue with their reports. ANN (TV Asahi) reported on Governor Saito allegedly throwing an object at a senior official out of frustration, calling it a case of power harassment. The object in question? A post-it note.
Regarding the power harassment claims, this is the only confirmed incident.
As for the allegations of receiving gifts from contractors, the committee reviewed audio data left by the now-deceased former Nishiharima District official. The recording included what seemed to be Governor Saito's voice discussing gifts of wine, jam, and salt ― not exactly the makings of a slush fund scandal. Moreover, the individuals who provided these gifts all denied being coerced by Saito into offering them.
Laptop from Hyogo
A more troubling discovery involved questionable records related to the late former Nishiharima official's affairs with ten female staff members of Hyogo Prefecture.
In tracing the source of the anonymous documents, Saito's team examined prefectural servers and digital records, which led to the discovery of the former official's laptop. Allegedly, it contained incriminating evidence against the former official, including photos and videos spanning a decade. While infidelity is not illegal, it raises significant ethical concerns. The key issue is that this individual held a senior position with authority over personnel decisions.
Curiously, these issues were entirely overlooked during the committee sessions. When Katayama testified on May 31 and began discussing the computer's contents, Chairman Okutani interrupted, stating, "Please stop. Let's not discuss private matters," silencing Katayama. Mass media, too, refused to address the laptop.
Dismissal and Return
Before the committee could issue its conclusion, the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly unanimously passed a no-confidence resolution against Governor Saito. Saito opted not to dissolve the assembly, resulting in his automatic removal from office on September 30. Taking to the streets alone the next day, he announced his candidacy for the upcoming election.
More Than Social Media
Some observers have drawn comparisons between Saito's victory and the strong showing of a young, social media-savvy candidate in the Tokyo mayoral race in July.
That candidate, Shinji Ishimaru, effectively harnessed social media to secure an impressive second-place finish behind third-term Governor Yuriko Koike. He far outpaced other notable contenders. Media outlets hailed Ishimaru's social media strategy as groundbreaking, heralding a new era in campaigning.
In contrast, when Saito employed similar tactics, the media reacted as if he had mobilized an army of online conspiracy theorists. Now it was the media who were accusing Saito of election law violations.
Putting aside the irritation of social media, the bias of traditional media had long been evident. Months of one-sided editorials and lengthy daytime news broadcasts made clear the media's preference for a local, the former mayor of a local town.
Kazumi Inamura ran as an independent after serving three terms in the mayor's office. One of her notable achievements was significantly increasing the mayoral retirement allowance. During her first term, it was ¥4.71 million (approximately $30,000). However, from her second term onward, it rose to ¥22.6 million ($145,000) — an increase of more than five times.
In that sense, Saito's reelection represents more than a clash between new and old media. The electorate voted for a reformer offering more transparency, especially when it comes to public spending. Saito has signaled he's prepared to take the heat and do just that.
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Author: Daniel Manning
