Anti-nuclear Niigata governor resigns over sex scandal in move likely to impact restart of key power plant

Kyodo, Staff Report

NIIGATA – Niigata Prefecture Gov. Ryuichi Yoneyama resigned Wednesday over what he described as “misunderstandings” in relationships with several women, a move that is almost certain to influence discussions on whether to approve the restart of nuclear reactors in the region.
Yoneyama has been cautious about the reactivation of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear complex on the Sea of Japan coast.

Speaking about one of the women he was involved with, Yoneyama claimed he had tried “to win her favor.”

“I gave her gifts and money,” he told a news conference. “The action caused a misunderstanding. … I had romantic feelings.”

Just hours before he met with reporters, the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported online that the 50-year-old, who was elected in 2016 with the backing of anti-nuclear parties, had paid a university student ¥30,000 several times for “sex.”

Yoneyama told reporters he was aware that his “sugar daddy dating” could be regarded as “prostitution,” adding that he met the student through an online dating service.

Yoneyama, a bachelor, admitted to having similar relations with several different women before and after he was elected.

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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-nukes-plutonium-specialreport/americas-nuclear-headache-old-plutonium-with-nowhere-to-go-idUSKBN1HR1KC