Bullying mayor ousted as Japan’s voters reject political abuse

Bullying mayor ousted as Japan’s voters reject political abuse

Yokohama’s mayor has become the latest local official in Japan to be forced from office by scandal, as analysts say voters are no longer willing to look the other way. Takeharu Yamanaka reportedly called his staff “human trash” and told a senior official to “commit seppuku” (ritual suicide) if the city failed to win a bid for an international conference. He stepped down on Friday after a prolonged investigation found he had repeatedly verbally abused city employees and humiliated...

By Julian Ryall