Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa suddenly collapsed during a live press conference on June 30 while addressing public concerns over a growing voyeurism scandal involving local teachers. The incident occurred at 10:30 am in City Hall as Hirozawa fielded questions about preventive measures against teacher-led secret photography groups targeting students.
Eyewitnesses reported the mayor abruptly paused mid-sentence, complaining of discomfort, before slumping forward onto the podium despite staff rushing to provide a chair. Assisted by aides, the 62-year-old leader regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital while alert and communicative.
Medical staff attributed the episode to acute exhaustion compounded by stress during the high-stakes briefing. The collapse came as Hirozawa's administration faces mounting pressure over recent arrests of educators in Nagoya schools for allegedly creating and sharing illicit photos of minors - a scandal that has sparked national outrage over child protection failures.
This marks the second major health incident for Japanese officials this month following Osaka's governor's hospitalization, highlighting the intense pressures on local leaders addressing systemic social crises. City officials confirm Hirozawa is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation, with updates on his condition expected within 48 hours.
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