Aichi assembly vice speaker to resign over Asian Games venue car dispute
In short
Narita Osamu, vice speaker of the Aichi prefectural assembly, has decided to resign and to leave the assembly's LDP caucus after a dispute with a guard over his private car at a venue of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, people familiar with the matter said. According to Narita, he parked the car at the fencing venue in Tokoname, Aichi, on Sept 26 and left after a guard stopped him, having mistaken the vehicle for one with a permit. The timing of the resignation and the departure from the caucus has not been decided.
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Narita Osamu, the vice speaker of the Aichi prefectural assembly, has decided to resign and to leave the Liberal Democratic Party caucus in the assembly, people familiar with the matter said on Oct 7. The decision follows a dispute with a guard over his private car at a venue of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which closed on Oct 4, according to the reports and to Narita's own account. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Narita, he visited the fencing venue in Tokoname, Aichi, on Sept 26 and parked his private car in the parking lot. As he was leaving the venue, a guard stopped him, but he left anyway. Narita said he had mistakenly believed his private car had been granted a permit like an official vehicle. [ 2 ]
Narita told a meeting of the LDP Aichi prefectural assembly caucus on Oct 7 that he intended to resign and to leave the caucus, the people said. The timing of both has not been decided. [ 1 , 2 ]
Sankei Shimbun reported that Narita entered the venue with a private car that was not permitted to pass and had trouble with a guard as he exited, while Nishi-Nippon Shimbun, citing Narita, placed the visit on Sept 26 at the fencing venue in Tokoname and said a guard stopped him as he left. The accounts agree that the resignation plan and the departure from the caucus are connected to the venue dispute. Tokyo Shimbun also reported the planned resignation and the trouble at the Asian Games venue in its headline; its article text was not available, so it adds no further detail. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The resignation of a vice speaker of a prefectural assembly is a domestic political matter with limited reach outside Japan, although it follows conduct at a venue of an international multi-sport event the region hosted. The documents give no indication of further consequences, such as a criminal inquiry or action by the assembly.
Key facts
- Narita Osamu, vice speaker of the Aichi prefectural assembly, has decided to resign, people familiar with the matter said on Oct 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He also intends to leave the Liberal Democratic Party caucus in the Aichi prefectural assembly. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He told a meeting of the caucus on Oct 7 that he intended to resign and to leave it, and the timing of both has not been decided. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He entered a venue of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with a private car that was not permitted to pass and had trouble with a guard when leaving, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 ]
- According to Narita, he visited the fencing venue in Tokoname, Aichi, on Sept 26, parked his private car there, was stopped by a guard as he left but left anyway, and had mistaken his car for one granted a permit like an official vehicle. [ 2 ]
- The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games closed on Oct 4. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Narita Osamu is vice speaker of the Aichi prefectural assembly and has decided to resign. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He also intends to leave the LDP caucus in the assembly. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The resignation plan follows a dispute with a guard over his private car at a venue of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The timing of Narita's resignation and of his departure from the caucus has not been decided. Both documents state the timing is undecided, so no date is known.
- The details of what happened at the venue — the date, the location and whether Narita or the guard acted improperly. The Sept 26 account rests on Narita's own explanation as reported by a single outlet, and no account from the guard or the venue is included.
- The full contents of Tokyo Shimbun's report. Only the headline of that article was available, so it can confirm the outline but adds no detail.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Narita visits the fencing venue in Tokoname, Aichi, parks his private car there and, according to him, is stopped by a guard as he leaves but drives off. [ 2 ]
- The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games close. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Narita tells a meeting of the LDP Aichi prefectural assembly caucus that he intends to resign and leave the caucus, and people familiar with the matter confirm this to reporters. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Sankei Shimbun publishes its report on the planned resignation. [ 1 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun publishes its report. [ 2 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun publishes its report. [ 3 ]