In relation to the Tsu City Council election in Mie Prefecture, a former city council member who allegedly gave prepaid cards to voters was given a suspended prison sentence.

The defendant, Masaharu Hasegawa, aged 68, a former Tsu City council member, was charged with violating the Public Offices Election Act.

According to the indictment, the defendant allegedly gave a total of 34 prepaid cards, with a total face value of 34,000 yen, to multiple voters in order to win the Tsu City Council election held in January this year.

Hasegawa served as a city council member from 2014 to 2018 and lost the election this time.

In the ruling on the 27th, the Tsu District Court pointed out that “he visited a considerable number of voters himself and repeated the crime,” but considering that he had dissolved his own political group, he was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for five years.

Tsu City Council

The Tsu City Council is the municipal government body serving Tsu, the capital city of Mie Prefecture, Japan. Historically, Tsu developed as a castle town during the Edo period and later became a key administrative center after the modern municipal system was established in 1889. Today, the council oversees local governance, public services, and urban development for the city, which is known for its coastal location and historical landmarks.

Mie Prefecture

Mie Prefecture, located on Japan’s Kii Peninsula, is historically significant as the home of the Ise Grand Shrine, one of Shinto’s most sacred sites, which has been rebuilt every 20 years for over a millennium. It was also a key region during the Edo period, hosting the influential Tōkaidō road and the ninja stronghold of Iga Province. Today, Mie is known for its natural beauty, including the Ise-Shima National Park, and for producing cultured pearls and Matsusaka beef.

Tsu District Court

Tsu District Court is a judicial institution located in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, Japan, serving as a key venue for civil and criminal trials in the region. Its history reflects the modernization of Japan’s legal system, with the court operating under the framework established after the Meiji Restoration. Today, it continues to uphold the rule of law as part of Japan’s hierarchical court system.

Ise Grand Shrine

The Ise Grand Shrine, located in Mie Prefecture, Japan, is the most sacred Shinto shrine in the country, dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Its history dates back over 2,000 years, and it is famous for the unique tradition of ritual rebuilding every 20 years, a practice that has been maintained for centuries to preserve its spiritual purity and architectural techniques. The shrine complex consists of two main sites—Naikū and Gekū—and attracts millions of pilgrims and visitors annually.

Ise-Shima National Park

Ise-Shima National Park, located in Mie Prefecture, Japan, is a scenic coastal area renowned for its rugged ria coastline, pearl cultivation, and sacred sites. The park encompasses the Ise Grand Shrine, one of Shinto’s holiest sites, which has been rebuilt every 20 years for over 1,300 years as part of ancient purification rituals. Designated as a national park in 1946, it also preserves traditional fishing villages and the cultural heritage of the Ama (female pearl divers).

Kii Peninsula

The Kii Peninsula is a mountainous region in southern Honshu, Japan, renowned for its ancient pilgrimage routes and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its cultural significance dates back over a millennium, centered on the sacred sites of Yoshino and Omine, Kumano Sanzan, and Koyasan, which are linked by historic trails like the Kumano Kodo. These routes have been traveled by emperors, aristocrats, and pilgrims for centuries, reflecting a deep spiritual connection to nature and Shinto-Buddhist traditions.

Tōkaidō road

The Tōkaidō road was one of the five major routes of Edo-period Japan, connecting Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to Kyoto. Established in the early 17th century under the Tokugawa shogunate, it served as a vital artery for travel, commerce, and the movement of feudal lords under the sankin-kōtai system. The road, featuring 53 post stations, became famous through Hiroshige’s ukiyo-e prints, blending practical infrastructure with cultural artistry.

Iga Province

Iga Province, located in present-day Mie Prefecture, Japan, was a historic region renowned as the birthplace of ninjutsu and the home of the Iga ninja clans. During the Sengoku period, it maintained a degree of autonomy through its network of fortified villages, but was eventually conquered by Oda Nobunaga in 1581 in the brutal Tenshō Iga War. Today, the area is celebrated for its ninja heritage, with museums and cultural sites preserving its legendary history.