( CNN ) -- Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose announced his resignation Thursday after admitting he received money from a hospital operator prior to his election last year . `` I have confirmed my determination to resign as Tokyo Governor , '' he said during a press conference after handing in his letter of resignation to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly . Inose admitted to receiving 50 million yen ( U.S. $ 480,150 ) from Tokushukai , a hospital operator involved in vote-buying allegations . `` I should not have borrowed the money , '' Inose said . He said it was a personal loan and not in any way linked to his election campaign . He added that the money has already been returned . `` I have tried hard to demonstrate my accountability , but unfortunately it was n't enough to clear away suspicions against me . '' The governor was seen to have played a crucial role in securing Tokyo 's successful bid to host the 2020 Olympics in September , The Japan Times reported . `` I do n't want to further interrupt the operations of the administration as Tokyo prepares for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics , '' he said at the press conference . `` I offer a deep apology , '' he said , bowing deeply . It is likely that a special election will be arranged to choose Inose 's successor in the coming February , according to The Japan Times .
Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose resigns after admitting involvement in money scandal . He admitted receiving 50 million yen from a scandal-hit hospital operator . Inose says he does not want to interrupt operations as Tokyo prepares for the 2020 Olympics .