The mayor of Shimotsuma, Ibaraki Prefecture, was found dead in a drainage canal at approximately 12:50 a.m. on June 15, 2026. He was 67 years old. A family member reported him missing around 11 p.m. on June 14, 2026, after he returned to his home on Sunday morning and later left alone in a car. Police believe suicide based on surrounding circumstances. Toyoji Sudo served as speaker of the Shimotsuma Municipal Assembly before being elected mayor for the first time in March 2026. According to mainichi.jp, the mayor's car was parked near the location where his body was found. Accounts differ on whether Sudo ran for mayor in 2022: one source states he was elected for the first time in March 2026, while another reports he announced his candidacy for the 2022 mayoral election but does not confirm success.