Hatakeyama has been the mayor of Hačirógota since 2008. He will officially lose his position on May 19 after a vote of no confidence. No-confidence votes against mayors due to illness are unusual in Japan. This is also why the city council called the voting result a difficult but administratively necessary decision, the BBC reports.
Last month, Hatakejam’s wife asked the city council herself to evaluate whether her husband can continue in his position. She told the local media at the time that it would be best if he resigned. However, according to Japanese rules, he must submit the resignation himself, and if one of his relatives submitted it for him, it would be invalid.
Hachirógata is located in the northeast of Japan in Akita prefecture. It has approximately 5 thousand inhabitants and its economy is driven mainly by agriculture and fishing. The elections, in which the new mayor of the city will be elected, should be held in the next fifty days.
