Misato City Council expels council member Kazuya Sekine for intimidating behavior

Misato City Council unanimously voted to expel independent council member Kazuya Sekine for repeated intimidating behavior and remarks towards the mayor and others in the assembly. Sekine, 45, was previously referred to prosecutors for verbally abusing city hall staff and obstructing business. He also received a resignation recommendation in September after making defamatory statements online. The expulsion means Sekine loses his seat. He stated he would not accept the decision and aims to win the next mayoral election. The mayor expressed regret over the incident and hopes for a safe working environment for staff.