Tatsuji Sugimoto, the former governor of Fukui Prefecture in central Japan, has been accused of sending more than 1,000 sexually inappropriate text messages to staff during his tenure, according to an investigation obtained by AFP on Wednesday.
Sugimoto, 63, resigned last month during his second term following multiple allegations of sexual harassment reported through a whistleblower system.
The investigation, which included emails with around 6,000 officials and interviews with 14 staff members, documented the messages. Some contained statements such as, “I won’t say anything about a physical relationship” and “Do you like sexual things?”
Lawyers also reported several instances of alleged physical contact, including touching of thighs or buttocks, although Sugimoto denied these claims. The report noted, “It appears that Mr. Sugimoto engaged in so-called groping, and it cannot be ruled out that his conduct may constitute the criminal offence of non-consensual indecent acts.”
Even after issuing apologies to victims, Sugimoto allegedly continued sending messages in some cases, which the report suggested “may also constitute an illegal act” under Japan’s anti-stalking legislation.
The investigation concluded that despite his resignation and expressions of remorse, Sugimoto “bears grave responsibility” for his actions.
Japan ranked 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Gender Gap Index, reflecting ongoing challenges in addressing workplace gender inequality. The global #MeToo movement has had limited impact in Japan, though a few high-profile cases have drawn attention, including Shiori Ito’s Oscar-nominated documentary Black Box Diaries, which premiered in Japan last month and chronicles her alleged sexual assault by a television reporter.
