Eiji Higashima, a 77-year-old village council chairman of Chosei Village, Chiba Prefecture, was arrested for beating a female staff member. He was driving an official car to pick up and drop off a private welcome and farewell party.
interviews with the village revealed that the chairman was believed to have been drunk at the time. Vice Chairman Kijima, who was sitting next to the chairman, said, "There was a lot of alcohol in it"