Loekalization Blog

Motohiko Saito’s re-election in November 2024 is a political story so wild, it makes Tiger King look like a documentary on lawn care. Just two months after being unanimously booted out by the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly for allegations of power harassment, Saito didn’t just crawl back into office—he strutted in, probably to the tune of Eye of the Tiger. With six other candidates in the running and an actual scandal with tragic undertones hanging over his head, Saito somehow convinced over a million people that, yes, this was the man to lead Hyogo into the future. Because apparently, voters really do love a good redemption arc—no matter how many HR nightmares it’s built on.

Let’s rewind to September 2024, when Saito’s career was unceremoniously hurled off a cliff. The allegations? Power harassment so over-the-top it felt scripted: verbal abuse, demanding gifts from local businesses like Hyogo’s governor’s mansion had an unspoken BYO policy, and fostering a workplace so toxic, it tragically pushed a senior official to take their own life. That official, who had anonymously accused Saito of misconduct, left behind a letter detailing the harassment before their suspension and suicide. It was a turning point that shook Hyogo Prefecture and led to the prefectural assembly’s investigation, which revealed that more than 40% of surveyed employees had witnessed or heard about Saito’s abusive behavior. In a move that screamed “enough is enough,” the assembly voted unanimously to oust him. When even your allies are like, “Yeah, you gotta go,” it’s hard to argue you’ve got much political capital left.

And yet. And yet. Saito turned what should have been a career-ending scandal into the ultimate comeback story. His strategy? Skip the remorse, double down on social media, and promise the kind of reforms that sound just vague enough to be irresistible. He promised administrative reforms, a focus on rising costs, and investments in younger generations. On social media, he was everywhere, carefully crafting a narrative of a misunderstood hero battling the evil political establishment. Never mind the allegations; his campaign made it seem like he was running against the prefectural assembly itself.

Meanwhile, the internet wasn’t exactly holding back. The commentary was a glorious mix of outrage, poetry, and conspiracy theories. One user, @nisino_ookami, channeled their inner Basho with this biting haiku:

「人の振り見て我が振り直さず 出鱈目と嘘がバレても平然と講釈垂れるメディア達 信用と使命の二言既に死語」

Translation:
“Look at others, learn nothing from them. Even when exposed as liars, the media shamelessly lecture on. Trust and integrity? Dead words.”

If Shakespeare were alive today and had an X account, he’d probably be jealous.

Another user, @pierrot228, went for the jugular:
「3年間、おねだり品を知事室に並べただけで、この選挙で、なんの具体的な政策も語れなかった男を。」

“This guy spent three years stacking gifts in his office and couldn’t even spit out a single policy during the election.”

You can practically hear the sound of mic drops echoing across Hyogo.

Then there was @taseki_bukkowas, who took a sharp left into conspiracy theory territory:
「港湾利権守るためのデマに決まってるだろ。」

“Obviously, this is just a smear campaign to protect the port lobby.”

Because when all else fails, blame the shadowy overlords of shipping. The idea that Big Port had it out for Saito is both bizarre and somehow perfectly fitting in this circus of a political saga.

Despite the online roasting, despite the allegations, despite the actual tragedy, Saito won. Over a million voters decided he was their guy, perhaps drawn in by his promises of reform, his underdog narrative, or just the sheer incompetence of the other candidates. Whatever the case, he didn’t just win—he trounced the competition.

But let’s not kid ourselves. The tragedy of the senior official’s suicide is a stain on Saito’s record that no number of hashtags can erase. The prefectural assembly’s investigation laid bare a culture of fear and abuse, and the unanimous no-confidence vote wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction—it was a damning verdict. While Saito might have charmed his way back into office, the question remains whether he can lead without the scandals, the drama, and the faint scent of wine-related hubris.

For now, Hyogo Prefecture has rolled the dice on Saito 2.0. Whether his second term becomes a redemption story or the political equivalent of a dumpster fire remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure: you’ll want to keep your popcorn handy, because this saga isn’t over yet.