A former member of the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly who took part in investigating Gov. Motohiko SaitoтАЩs workplace bullying allegations last year has died in an apparent suicide тАФ the third reported death since the controversy unfolded in March 2024.
Hideaki Takeuchi, 50, was found unconscious in the study of his home in the city of Himeji on Saturday evening. He was taken to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead, according to Jiji.
Takeuchi resigned from his post in the prefectural assembly a day after SaitoтАЩs stunning reelection as governor in November following his ousting by a unanimous vote of no-confidence in September. A probe into the governorтАЩs alleged misconduct by the prefectural assemblyтАЩs powerful investigative panel тАФ of which Takeuchi was a member тАФ is still ongoing.
