Former Ito Mayor Faces 82.2M Yen Election Cost Audit, May 27

By Huzaifa Zahoor

May 27, 2026

12:09 AM

2 min read

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Key Points

Former Ito Mayor Takubo Maki faces fraud charges for falsifying credentials shown to city officials.

Residents filed audit request seeking 82.2 million yen in election costs from dissolved council and mayoral election.

City audit committee accepted the request on May 20, 2026, triggering official investigation.

Current Mayor Sugiura pledged to recover improperly spent funds once audit concludes.

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Shizuoka’s audit committee accepted a residents’ request to recover 82.2 million yen in election costs from former Ito Mayor Takubo Maki on May 20. Maki faces fraud charges for showing fake credentials to city officials. The city dissolved its council last year after political conflict, triggering expensive new elections. Current Mayor Sugiura Kenya pledged to recoup any funds deemed improperly spent.

How the Political Crisis Unfolded

Ito’s city council passed a no-confidence vote against Maki in September 2024. Maki responded by dissolving the council, forcing new elections. The council voted no-confidence again in October 2024, removing Maki from office. A new mayoral election followed, costing the city millions in public funds during the turmoil.

What the Audit Request Means

Residents’ group leader Sekigawa Nagako filed the audit claim, stating Maki prioritized self-preservation over city governance. The audit committee will now interview relevant officials to determine if the 82.2 million yen in election costs should be recovered. The audit committee accepted the request on May 18.

Current Mayor Commits to Recovery

Mayor Sugiura, elected one year ago, apologized for the city’s turmoil and vowed to recoup funds if the audit finds improper spending. Sugiura stated he would recover improperly used public funds once the audit concludes. The city remains focused on rebuilding trust after the credential fraud scandal damaged public confidence.

Final Thoughts

The audit request signals that Ito residents demand accountability for the 82.2 million yen spent during the political crisis. If the audit confirms improper spending, Maki could face financial liability on top of his fraud charges, marking a significant step toward recovery for the city.

FAQs

What did former Mayor Takubo Maki do wrong?

Maki presented false educational credentials to city officials and faced fraud charges. He dissolved the council after a no-confidence vote, triggering costly elections.

How much money are residents trying to recover?

Residents are seeking 82.2 million yen to cover election costs resulting from the dissolved city council and subsequent mayoral election.

What happens next in the audit process?

The audit committee will interview officials to determine if election spending was improper, then pursue recovery from Maki if confirmed.

Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.

About Author

Huzaifa Zahoor

Co Founder

Huzaifa Zahoor is the engineer who built Meyka. He has spent years writing Python, training AI models, and building data pipelines specifically for financial markets. His technical articles have reached over 30,000 readers on Medium, so he knows how to make complex things easy to follow. If this article touches on how the tools work, he is the person who actually built them.