After weeks of mounting pressure over a political funds scandal that has tainted his office, Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe on Wednesday submitted a letter of resignation to the Tokyo assembly speaker, which takes effect on Tuesday.
A gubernatorial election to replace Masuzoe is likely to be held on July 31 or Aug. 7, according to an official at the Tokyo Election Management Committee secretariat.
The timing, though, does not portend well for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games as an election now means the following governor could assume office right in the middle of the event, which runs from July 24 through Aug. 9 of that year. A governor's term is set at four years, whereby a new election must take place. Such a situation could cause confusion during the games for the host city.