A council in Japan has voted to remove its mayor, who has been unconscious for several months. Kikuo Hatakeyama, 72, has served as the mayor of Hachirogata in northeast Japan since 2008, but fell ill in February and suffered a brain hemorrhage. The town assembly unanimously passed a no-confidence motion against the mayor, meaning that he will automatically lose his position on May 19. Japan's National Association of Town and Village Assemblies says it's rare for a no-confidence motion to be filed against a mayor due to illness. The council said that removing Hatakeyama was a tough choice, but administratively necessary. His wife asked town officials last month to assess whether her husband could continue in his post, saying that it would be the best option for him to resign as mayor. Local law requires that mayors who want to resign notify the assembly chair of their intention. The town government last month said that a resignation request submitted by family members would be invalid. Consequently, a no-confidence motion was agreed as the quickest way for the mayor to be removed. An election to choose his successor is expected to be held within 50 days.
