Hyogo Governor Cleared in Election Bribery Case, June 20

By Danny Kontos

June 20, 2026

04:31 PM

2 min read

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Key Points

Governor Saito paid PR firm 715,000 yen during 2024 election campaign.

Prosecutors review board upheld no-prosecution decision on June 17.

Former prosecutor and university professor challenged the decision but lost.

No further legal recourse available for complainants.

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Japan’s Kobe Prosecutors Review Board ruled on June 17 that Hyogo Governor Motoaki Saito should not face charges over alleged illegal campaign payments. The board upheld prosecutors’ decision not to prosecute Saito and a PR firm executive for a 715,000 yen payment made during the November 2024 gubernatorial election. The case is now closed with no further legal action possible.

What the Payment Involved

Saito’s campaign paid a PR firm 715,000 yen for services including poster design and social media strategy during the 2024 election. The PR firm’s female executive posted online that she handled the campaign’s public relations work and SNS strategy. Critics argued the payment violated Japan’s Political Funds Control Law by functioning as illegal campaign compensation.

How the Legal Process Unfolded

Former prosecutor Nobuo Gohara and Kobe University professor Hiroshi Uewaki filed a criminal complaint in December 2024 after Saito’s election. The Kobe District Prosecutors Office rejected the complaint in November 2025, citing insufficient evidence. Gohara and Uewaki then appealed to the prosecutors review board, which upheld the no-prosecution decision on June 17.

Reaction and Legal Finality

Saito’s lawyer called the decision “appropriate” and said the matter was resolved. However, Uewaki expressed disappointment, stating that without prosecution despite available evidence, powerful officials could act with impunity. The review board found prosecutors conducted careful investigation and their judgment was sound. No further legal recourse exists for the complainants.

Final Thoughts

The prosecutors review board’s decision ends the legal challenge to Saito’s 2024 election. With no further appeals available, the governor faces no criminal charges despite critics’ concerns about campaign finance enforcement.

FAQs

What exactly did Hyogo Governor Saito allegedly do wrong?

His campaign paid a PR firm 715,000 yen for services. Critics claimed this violated Japan’s election law regarding campaign compensation.

Who filed the complaint against Saito?

Former prosecutor Nobuo Gohara and Kobe University professor Hiroshi Uewaki filed the criminal complaint in December 2024.

Can the case be reopened or appealed further?

No. The prosecutors review board’s decision is final and binding. No further legal action or appeals are possible under Japanese law.

Disclaimer:
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About Author

Danny Kontos

Co Founder

Danny Kontos has been a stock investor since 2007 and co-founded Meyka in 2023. He keeps a small, focused portfolio and only moves when the numbers are hard to argue with. He has waited years on a single position before. Before Meyka, he ran a web hosting company and a mortgage lending platform, so he knows what a well-run business actually looks like under the hood. This article did not come from a news cycle. It came from someone who has been watching this space for a long time.