On November 16, 2014, Fukuoka’s young and charismatic Mayor was re-elected for a second term. The Mayor, who places priority on clear and open communication sat down with Fukuoka Now’s publisher Nick Szasz to talk about his plans for the next four years.
Congratulations on your re-election. You gave us an interview when you became Mayor in 2010, so we appreciate this second opportunity. How do you feel entering your second term?
I was voted in with support from 60% of voters, an all-time record in terms of votes captured for Fukuoka City. In addition to my gratitude to this outpouring of support, I also realize the strong responsibility I have to make good on people’s expectations.
Unlike the last time I was elected, when I was coming in as a former newscaster and was relatively unknown, this election represents a win after I’ve been in office for four years and overcome a range of challenges.
Your spirit of challenge is well recognized indeed. Tell us about your aspirations for the next four years. Let’s begin with international projects and strategies.
One of the strengths of Fukuoka is the proximity to other major metropolis via our international airport. I used this to my advantage during my first election run, putting considerable effort into promoting Fukuoka as a destination from overseas.
Today, Fukuoka Airport has flights going not only to Asia, but also direct flights to Europe through the Dutch airline KLM. In terms of promoting the city as a destination, we’ve taken Europe much more strongly into consideration. In 2013, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with London’s Tech City; we owe the growth of our business efforts in this direction to the very fact that there are now more direct flights overseas.
There are also more low cost carriers (LCCs) offering flights, and leases on offices here are drastically more affordable than in Tokyo. This means Fukuoka offers a low-cost entry to doing business, so we are well-positioned to support those entering the Japanese market.
Going forward, Japan’s population is expected to decline, so a major question is in what way we build links with other countries. This means not just inbound growth, but focusing on sending people from Fukuoka overseas, too. The things they learn abroad and bring back home will, without fail, change Fukuoka for the better. In other words, we want to promote outbound travel as well, insofar as we feel it will create a generation of “city changers.”
What was the most memorable overseas mission from last term?
The most memorable moment was going with Prime Minister Abe in spring 2014 to an event in London. Every year, the city holds a dinner, and I was able to participate with our Prime Minister. We also had a chance to give a presentation at a seminar for investment in Japan and pitch the virtues of Fukuoka. I think this was the first time in the history of Fukuoka City that its mayor accompanied the Prime Minister on a foreign tour and gave a sales pitch for the city. The fact that Fukuoka was given such an opportunity is a testament to the importance of our mission.
The media has highlighted your efforts to support business globalization, and the city’s designation as a National Strategic Special Zone for Global Enterprise and Job-Creation. Tell us your goals and what is required to succeed?
We want to create new value out of Fukuoka and lead the next generation from here. I want to build Fukuoka into a place where people the world over want to live — a place that suits people’s values. I refer to this as creating “a leading Asian city that harmonizes people, environment, and the metropolis,” and I think it’s an absolute must that we create a city in this image.
Until now, the idea of the megacity has held sway, with everyone wanting to be the next Tokyo or New York. However, following the events of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, that viewpoint drastically changed. It’s not enough to measure a city based on its economy and population — you have to consider whether it is liveable, too. Liveable doesn’t just mean that if there’s some greenery and nice views to offer, the rest will take care of itself. People want places to go to have fun on the weekend; they want opportunities to do business; they want places they can go to unwind and relax. A truly liveable city has to meet all of these needs and more. My vision of a city in which people, the environment, and city life coexist is just that kind of city.
In terms of business, Japan is pushing a policy of creating new value regionally, with tax breaks for businesses moving from Tokyo to the provinces. Taking up and moving does not mean that just their office changes, though. It means their employees and their employees’ families also move en masse. The more committed a company is, the more they will have a personal stake in those employees, their families, and children. They will want to find a city that has robust medical care and other services.
One plank in this process is surely inviting major firms to come out here, but I feel that what Fukuoka needs even more than that is growth to produce the range of services and values that actually resonate with today’s day and age — not just growth for growth’s sake.
In addition, Fukuoka is second only to Kyoto in terms of the proportion of the population that are university students. We also have lots of talent like students coming to study from abroad. This is a stress-free environment that is easy to live in and promotes creative ideas. We’d like to draw on this potential and stimulate Fukuoka to produce more and more opportunities for creative endeavors, in turn stimulating the city’s growth.
The notion of “ventures” and “startups” has become a household term in Fukuoka today. The Startup Cafe opened in October 2014 and has been lively with activity with people aiming to start new ventures. It’s a one-stop shop for startup consultation and support. The next step in that process is creating that next generation of talent to step up to the plate and take on new challenges. We want to support the top players and companies that come out of that process and give them our full backing. If we create a successful startup model here in Fukuoka, we can export it across the rest of Japan. I would also like to encourage overseas firms to set up shop here.
What can to be done to create a more foreigner-friendly environment for business persons from overseas and to make the city more livable for foreigners?
The most important thing is having an open heart and mind. This is not something you can create by throwing money at the problem. I believe Fukuoka has this spirit, thanks to our interaction with cities throughout Asia. One emblem of this is the Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention in Fukuoka, an exchange event we have been hosting for over twenty-five years.
At the same time, we still need to do more to invite people from overseas to experience both the tourism and business sides of Fukuoka and see what makes our city great.
In terms of tourism, we’ve been a leader in Japan in installing Wi-Fi services throughout the city, and we have partnered with medical facilities to offer consultations in multiple languages. On the business side, we are taking steps to ease visa and residency requirements so as to make the climate more congenial to entrepreneurs and students from overseas. The employment counseling center at the Startup Cafe offers counseling in English, Chinese, and Korean.
Fukuoka has been designated as a National Strategic Special Zone for Global Enterprise and Job-Creation, so we are steadily clearing each hurdle and becoming a city where those from overseas can come to visit or work. We are delighted to welcome more visitors, be they coming for leisure or to start a new venture.
We’ve noticed the city’s efforts towards English-language education by native teachers in public schools. What are you hoping to achieve by this?
We are putting considerable effort into English-language curricula, international exchange, and practical events people can partake in. Native speakers are offering English language instruction from fifth grade through middle school. In terms of the amount of time we devote to English education, we are also “first class.”
Our target is to have over 35% of third graders passing Level 3 of the national English language examinations. As of 2013, that number stood at 33.6% [32.9% in 2012 and 26.4% in 2011], so we have just a little bit more to go. Since we have gained the special zone designation I mentioned, I think we are poised to become an incubator of talent.
We’re out of time, but do you have anything to say to foreigners living here now or to those considering to move here?
When people think of Japan, they tend to imagine Tokyo and Kyoto. Unlike Tokyo, Fukuoka is compact but dense, allowing you to experience a range of what traditional Japan has to offer, all in one place. We also have an even longer history than Kyoto. Far and above one of the greatest appeals is that we are much more economically priced than Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto — and that is true in terms of tourism, business, and everyday life. Fukuoka also has an excellent transit system, so you are a stone’s throw from numerous famous sites in the Kyushu area.
Tokyo and Osaka are, in a sense, already “complete” cities, but Fukuoka is kind of a new frontier for Japan. In the past, we thrived through our relationships with Asia, and we are today considered Japan’s most dynamic city. This region has been blessed with opportunities, and I think we are one of the more exciting and interesting of Japan’s growing new cities. Tokyo and Kyoto have had their ascendancy, but when you look at Japan as a whole, Fukuoka is definitely “next!”
On November 16 the first-ever LGBT Rainbow Parade was held in Fukuoka City and drew over 600 participants. What do you make of this?
We prize diversity here. Everyone has a different background and something unique to offer. We want to create a “universal city” where people are kind to others and others are kind to them in turn. It is a significant milestone that the Rainbow Parade was such a success here.
The Fukuoka City Human Rights Education Center plays a pivital role as we try to erase prejudice from society. However, the number of people concerned about issues affecting sexual minorities is still low. Our upcoming Rainbow Festival will be held in January and will allow everyone to participate. The event will be a rare opportunity to hear anecdotes from young people on these issues. We want to continue making efforts to get the populace engaged and interested in issues affecting sexual minorities and create a society where one and all can live peacefully and thrive.
Fukuoka Mayor’s Office website: http://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/mayor/
