On Mar. 16 Fukuoka mayor Soichiro Takashima announced that City Health and Welfare Bureau director Yasuko Arase (age 62) will assume the position of deputy mayor on Apr. 1. Arase will replace Toshihisa Ono, whose term concludes on Mar. 31, thus making her the first female deputy mayor in 12 years. City Hall has set a goal to increase the ratio of women in positions of assistant manager or higher to at least 20% by fiscal 2018. Arase, a physician by trade, first came to work for the City government in 1987 and has held several posts, including the director of the Child Affairs Bureau and the chief executive of Sawara Ward. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 3/6
