Nagasaki Prefecture’s Governor, Kengo Oishi, may be facing potential resignation fallout after reportedly skipping a crucial conference to attend a football match featuring Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
The governor traveled from Nagasaki to Nagai Stadium in Osaka to witness Ronaldo in action during a friendly match between Al-Nassr and PSG on July 25, which also showcased other football luminaries such as Neymar, Marcelo Brozovic, Lee Kang-in, and Archaf Hakimi.
According to a report from the South China Morning Post on December 8, Oishi claimed to have personally paid for his match ticket, while the prefecture covered his travel and accommodation expenses. However, questions have arisen about his absence from an important governors’ conference in Yamanashi prefecture on July 25-26, where discussions focused on addressing Japan’s declining birth rate, rural population shrinkage, and the impacts of global warming.
The Nagasaki prefectural government’s secretarial section revealed to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper last week that Oishi participated in a preliminary event in Yamanashi on July 24 but couldn’t attend the conference due to “official duties.” These duties allegedly originated from Oishi’s June trip with Nagasaki assembly speaker Tatsuya Tokunaga, during which discussions were held with the Portuguese government to enhance cooperation in culture, sports, and tourism.
Following the football match on July 25, a private company reportedly facilitated a meeting between Oishi and Ronaldo the next day. During the encounter, the governor purportedly requested Ronaldo’s support in promoting Nagasaki Prefecture. As of now, there has been no response from the Portuguese football star regarding Oishi’s plea.
Kengo Oishi, 39, made headlines in February of the previous year when he became the youngest governor in Japan after winning the election. The controversy surrounding his attendance at the football match raises questions about his commitment to official responsibilities and the potential repercussions for his political career.