Japan town's sole female councillor ousted after accusing mayor of sexual assault

Shoko Arai was voted out of her seat after making allegations against mayor that most residents said damaged the town's reputation

The only female member of a town assembly in Japan has been voted out of her seat after she accused the mayor of sexual assault, in a setback for the country's nascent #MeToo movement.

Shoko Arai, until Monday a councillor in Kusatsu, a popular hot spring resort north-west of Tokyo, lost her seat after more than 90% of residents voted to recall her, saying she had damaged the town's reputation, Japanese media reported.