Tokyo governor to give up one-year salary as punishment

Naoki Inose, governor of Japan's capital city of Tokyo, said he will give up his next year salary as a "penance" for accepting money from Tokushukai hospital, according to media report.

Inose pledged at a general committee session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly set up to question the scandal that Inose accepted 50 million yen ($485,250) ahead of his election last December, reports Xinhua.

Inose, 67, also apologised to the assembly members, and Tokyo residents for his misconduct, adding that he feels responsible for making sure preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics do not get bogged down.

Tokushukai hospital has been linked to alleged vote-buying on behalf of lower house member Takeshi Tokuda in the December 2012 lower house election.

Inose apologized Nov 29 to the assembly for accepting money, but the assembly's largest factions said questioning in regular sessions was insufficient to bring him to account for his actions.