By secretly installing a publicly-funded toilet in his office for his exclusive use, the mayor of this small western Japan town joined a string of local leaders said to have made their offices and government buildings their own; the pricey porcelain has come under scrutiny, too. In similar cases, one mayor was criticized for putting a glass-walled shower booth in his office, while another brought a home sauna to his local government building. About 25 kilometers northwest of JR Osaka Station, Inagawa is a Kansai region commuter town home to about 30,000 residents, and is known for its forests and bucolic landscapes. ... (full story)