Departures of note

Toyoji Sudo was a Japanese politician who held the office of mayor of Shimotsuma, a city in Ibaraki Prefecture. He was first elected in March 2026, succeeding the previous administration and focusing on local revitalization initiatives. During his brief tenure, he promoted policies aimed at improving municipal finances and community services.

Sudo's term was cut short when his body was discovered in a drainage ditch in Yachiyo town on June 15, 2026. Local police treated the incident as a likely suicide. His sudden death prompted a special mayoral election, in which former mayor Hiroshi Kikuchi won a third term.

Sudo's death sparked discussions about the pressures faced by local officials and led to renewed attention on mental health resources for public servants in the region.