A 55-year-old city councilor from Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, was arrested on suspicion of forcible obscenity for kissing an elementary school girl in a library facility where he is the director.
The suspect arrested was Shintaro Hoshino, 55, a member of the Narita City Assembly.
According to the police, around November and December last year, he was suspected of forcible obscenity for hugging and kissing a teenage elementary school girl head-on at the Manga Library, a private library facility in Nakadai, Narita City.
It is believed that the on-site facility was opened and operated next to his own law firm by Mr. Hoshino in order to create a place for children to live in the area.
The police were investigating after receiving a report from the Narita City Board of Education in February.
In response to the investigation, he admitted to the charges, saying, "I just felt like a greeting."
Hoshino was first elected to the Narita City Council in 11 and is currently serving his third term.
Voices of surprise and disappointment from locals
The arrest of Senator Hoshino was met with surprise and disappointment from the local community.
A woman in her 60s said, "Many children came to the Manga Library to play, and I was surprised that the council members put so much effort into their activities for the children. I feel like I'm doing something."
A man in his 60s said, "I'm shocked that a city councilor would have done that.
What is the "Manga Library" in the field?
According to the blog of the arrested Representative Hoshino, the "Manga Library" that became the site opened in 2015 next to the law office of the lawmaker in the city, and the council member serves as the director.
The facility has a large collection of manga books collected through donations, etc., and local children visited it.
Regarding the efforts of the Manga Library, the council member wrote in his blog, "I want children to grow up healthy through manga" and "I want to create a space where children can relax and watch over them with the whole community."