Tokyo Governor resigns over money scandal
- 10 years ago
The man who led the Japanese capital's successful bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics resigns in shame.
Naoki Inose admitted he received money from a scandal-hit hospital chain ahead of an election.
The Tokyo mayor described the $500,000 payment as a personal loan from operator Tokushukai.
He said he was resigning to avoid damaging the Olympic preparations.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO GOVERNOR, NAOKI INOSE, SAYING:
"We should not let metropolitan government work stop over my personal issues especially at this time when Japan has just about come out of a long tunnel of darkness and is about to make a running dash towards (the Summer Olympics) 2020."
It's been a huge fall from grace for Inose.
Elected leader of one of the world's biggest cities a year ago, he was considered key in securing Tokyo's bid to hold the 2020 games.
Naoki Inose admitted he received money from a scandal-hit hospital chain ahead of an election.
The Tokyo mayor described the $500,000 payment as a personal loan from operator Tokushukai.
He said he was resigning to avoid damaging the Olympic preparations.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO GOVERNOR, NAOKI INOSE, SAYING:
"We should not let metropolitan government work stop over my personal issues especially at this time when Japan has just about come out of a long tunnel of darkness and is about to make a running dash towards (the Summer Olympics) 2020."
It's been a huge fall from grace for Inose.
Elected leader of one of the world's biggest cities a year ago, he was considered key in securing Tokyo's bid to hold the 2020 games.