A 47-year-old provincial politician from Japan, Ryutaro Nonomura, has captured the internet’s attention after an emotional press conference where he tearfully tried to explain his extravagant use of public funds.
Nonomura, elected to the assembly in Hyogo, western Japan in 2011, is under suspicion for misusing 3 million yen (17,000) of official allowances, primarily on 195 trips to four locations in one year, including 106 visits to the same hot spring resort, all without proper documentation.
The footage of Nonomura’s press conference, where he wailed, banged his fists, and sobbed while giving unclear excuses, has been widely circulated on television chat shows.
During the three-hour event in Kobe, he expressed his passion for societal change through his role as an assembly member, repeatedly asking, “Don’t you understand?”
Social media users reacted strongly, with some questioning his suitability as a member of society, let alone an assembly member.
One Twitter user asked, “Is he alright as a member of society, let alone a member of an assembly?” while another compared his behaviour to that of a crying elementary school student.
Nonomura’s emotional outburst has garnered significant online attention, with one YouTube video of the incident reaching over 600,000 views by Wednesday afternoon.
Watch video below: