Fukuoka Governor Seitaro Hattori set out his goals for the year during a New Year press conference on January 5, emphasizing growth and administrative reform. Below is our unofficial edited translation for your convenience.
Happy New Year.
I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to everyone as we begin the new year in good health.
To the members of the Prefectural Press Club, I know some of you continued working through the year-end and New Year holidays. Thank you for your dedication. I look forward to working with you again this year.
As many of you know, this year is the Year of the Horse, which is also my birth sign. For this year, I have chosen a single character to represent the direction of prefectural government: “Sho” (翔).
In Japanese, sho means “to soar,” “to fly,” or “to race upward into the sky.” I chose this character to express my hope that Fukuoka Prefecture will rise boldly toward the future, like a celestial horse taking flight.
Last year, with the trust and support of the people of Fukuoka, I began my second term as governor. As in my first term, my highest priority has been to protect lives, safeguard health, and secure livelihoods. We have steadily advanced our policies, acting decisively when necessary.
At the same time, we face increasingly complex challenges. Internationally, the security environment is widely regarded as the most severe since the postwar period. Domestically, Japan continues to grapple with an ultra-low birthrate, rapid aging, population decline, and the resulting strain on regional communities. We have also yet to achieve a sustainable cycle of rising wages and prices.
These are challenges we cannot afford to postpone. We must respond with both flexibility and resilience.
For this reason, beginning April 1, we will implement a major reorganization of the prefectural government. By bringing together the capabilities of approximately 8,000 prefectural employees, we will strengthen our ability to support residents’ safety and daily lives while energizing economic activity across the prefecture.
We will face these challenges head-on and work to overcome them.
This reorganization represents a fundamental shift in how the prefectural government operates. Our aim is to create an organization where staff can act more smoothly, collaborate more effectively, and fully apply their expertise. Through this, the prefectural government itself will become more agile and more resilient.
As part of this effort, we will establish four new departments designed to respond to the needs of our time.
First is the Policy Planning Department.
To create bold policies, we must sometimes move beyond long-standing administrative conventions. This department will break down vertical silos, work across divisions, and design policies and programs in close coordination with other departments. The prefecture’s public relations function will also be transferred here, allowing us to communicate more strategically and strengthen trust with residents.
Second is the Municipal and Regional Promotion Department.
Municipal governments are the closest public institutions to residents. By working alongside cities, towns, and villages, we will design a brighter future for each region and tackle shared challenges such as population decline.
Third is the Human Resources Development and Empowerment Department.
The foundation of Fukuoka, and of Japan, is people. People are our greatest asset and our greatest hope. This department will help uncover children’s potential, support young people who take on challenges without fear of failure, and ensure that women can thrive and shine. It will also protect employment and working opportunities for all.
Fourth is the Welfare and Children’s Policy Department.
Regardless of gender, age, nationality, or disability, we will build a society where everyone’s human rights are respected and people can live with dignity and peace of mind. We will also create environments that allow children, who will carry the next generation, to grow up healthy and secure.
Alongside the creation of these four departments, we will reorganize divisions and sections under each department with a renewed sense of purpose. Strong coordination within the governor’s office will be essential, as will close cooperation with the Board of Education, the police, and other related institutions.
Across education, healthcare, the environment, culture, the arts, and sports, we will work to ensure that residents can truly feel, from the bottom of their hearts, “I’m glad I live in Fukuoka.”
We will also continue to strongly support agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, the growth of small and medium-sized businesses that drive our economy, and the development of promising startups originating in Fukuoka. Strategic infrastructure development, including key road networks, and proactive corporate attraction efforts will remain core priorities.
From the perspective of safety and security, we must never allow another pandemic like the one that dealt such a heavy blow to our lives, communities, and economy. To protect lives, especially the lives of our children, we will advance the One Health approach together with residents.
I will devote myself fully this year and move forward at full speed.
Through these policies and reforms, we will continue working toward a Fukuoka Prefecture where everyone can live with peace of mind and many smiles.
I sincerely hope this new year will be a hopeful and rewarding one for all residents of Fukuoka Prefecture. With that, I conclude my New Year’s address.
Thank you very much.
Fukuoka Governor Seitaro Hattori
Source: Fukuoka Pref Internet TV / Fukuoka Prefecture
Photo: Fukuoka Pref Internet TV
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