Tokyo Governor resigns over money scandal
The man who led the Japanese capital's successful bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics resigns in shame.
Naoki Inose admitted he received money from a scandal-hit hospital chain ahead of an election.
The Tokyo mayor described the $500,000 payment as a personal loan from operator Tokushukai.
He said he was resigning to avoid damaging the Olympic preparations.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO GOVERNOR, NAOKI INOSE, SAYING:
"We should not let metropolitan government work stop over my personal issues especially at this time when Japan has just about come out of a long tunnel of darkness and is about to make a running dash towards (the Summer Olympics) 2020."
It's been a huge fall from grace for Inose.
Elected leader of one of the world's biggest cities a year ago, he was considered key in securing Tokyo's bid to hold the 2020 games.
Naoki Inose admitted he received money from a scandal-hit hospital chain ahead of an election.
The Tokyo mayor described the $500,000 payment as a personal loan from operator Tokushukai.
He said he was resigning to avoid damaging the Olympic preparations.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO GOVERNOR, NAOKI INOSE, SAYING:
"We should not let metropolitan government work stop over my personal issues especially at this time when Japan has just about come out of a long tunnel of darkness and is about to make a running dash towards (the Summer Olympics) 2020."
It's been a huge fall from grace for Inose.
Elected leader of one of the world's biggest cities a year ago, he was considered key in securing Tokyo's bid to hold the 2020 games.