Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike sustained a knee injury after throwing out the first pitch at a Yakult Swallows baseball game, Bloomberg reports.
The incident occurred when her foot slipped on the mound as the ball bounced towards home plate.
Koike’s office said in a statement late Wednesday it would take her about two months to recover from the fracture and the governor would work remotely for that time.
The governor’s left leg buckled as she delivered the ceremonial pitch. She hobbled off the mound, with a smile on her face and a Swallows mascot standing nearby. Koike left the field waving to fans and was later diagnosed with the injury.
Koike, aged 72, is a trailblazing figure for women in Japanese politics, was re-elected to a third term last month, solidifying her position as one of the most prominent elected officials in the country.
While she gained international recognition as Tokyo’s governor during the 2020 Summer Olympics, Koike has faced criticism for her controversial redevelopment plan for the area surrounding the Yakult Swallows’ stadium. Critics argue that the project could have negative environmental impacts.
