Tokyo assembly accepts disgraced governor's resignation over funds scandal

The Tokyo assembly accepted the resignation of Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe on Wednesday evening following his involvement in a fund scandal, with his departure coming into effect next Tuesday.

Masuzoe, 67, has been embroiled in a political funds scandal which implicated him in a numerous of cases of using political funds for his own purposes in violation of Japan's political funds law.

The disgraced governor handed his resignation letter to the assembly's president on Wednesday morning.

On Monday Masuzoe was grilled by the assembly over his misappropriation of funds and was found to provide insufficient clarification on his spending and in some cases refused to elaborate and provide adequate details when being examined.

Following the grilling by the assembly, he was under intense pressure to step down on Tuesday, but had stood firm and asked the assembly to hold fire until September to allow for him to better account for himself and carry out his duties until then.

The impending departure of Masuzoe, following his predecessor Naoki Inose also stepping down for a money scandal, has reignited fierce debate about money and politics in Japan, with such instances of graft, misappropriation of political funds, corruption and bribery involving political figures, rarely being out of the headlines here.

Masuzoe himself had previously apologized to the public for his involvement in the scandal, stating he intended to carry on in his position and restore the public's faith in him, but an irate public as well as both ruling and opposition camps have been gunning for Masuzoe to step down, despite the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August at which he was scheduled to attend the closing ceremony.

His resignation will also have negative impact on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in which he has been deeply involved in.

There had been growing calls from politicians, lawyers and the public for Masuzoe's resignation amid the ongoing funds scandal, which involved him using around 450,000 yen (4,239 U.S. dollars) from his now defunct political funds body to pay for accommodation and dining expenses for a trip he made with his family to a luxury hotel in the New Year holiday season.

He has also been accused of taking multiple trips overseas since he became governor in 2014, to the tune of 200 million yen (1.88 million U.S. dollars), and has faced accusations of commandeering government vehicles for his own use to visit his villa at a hot spring resort just outside Tokyo as many as 50 times, all at the taxpayer's cost.

Allegations levied against Masuzoe, who is known for his lavish lifestyle, also claim he improperly used funds to purchase expensive art, books and clothing, causing further indignation from taxpayers here. Endit