AHyogo prefectural assemblyman bawls hysterically in public after being accused of misusing millions of yen in public allowances — over which he eventually resigns.
• A Tokyo metropolitan assemblyman hurls sexist taunts against a fellow female member of the assembly, then apologizes for the act days later after repeatedly denying he had done so.
• A 60-year-old member of the Yamaguchi municipal assembly is arrested for shoplifting and use of illegal drugs.