Kumamoto Yatsushiro City Hall Bribery Case: Council Members Suspected of Demanding Bribes Directly

In the Kumamoto Yatsushiro City Hall bribery case, three city council members arrested in connection with the new city hall construction are suspected of directly demanding bribes from a construction company.

Thu May 07 2026

Overview of New City Hall Construction Bribery Case

New suspicions have emerged in the bribery case surrounding the construction of the new city hall in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture. Three city council members were previously arrested for allegedly receiving 60 million yen in cash from a construction company in return for favors in the bidding process for the new city hall, which was rebuilt after being damaged by the Kumamoto Earthquake 10 years ago. They reportedly pressured city officials to provide preferential treatment.

City Council Members Suspected of Directly Demanding Bribes

According to investigative sources, there is evidence that the city council members arrested in this case directly demanded bribes from the construction company's representative before the bidding took place. This suggests a more active role in soliciting funds rather than merely receiving bribes, escalating the seriousness of the incident. Police are expanding their investigation to ascertain the precise facts from those involved.

*Source: NHK World-Japan (2026-05-07)*

Tags: #Kumamoto #Yatsushiro #Bribery #Construction Scandal #Japan