After a review conducted by the Gender Equality Promotion Council, Mayor Soichiro Takashima announced that Fukuoka’s City’s virtual seventh ward, Kawaii-ku, would be “maintained and expanded” as part of the city’s public relations efforts. The Council met in February to review complaints from four residents that the Cute Ward initiative “sends the message that women must be cute” and recommended that City Hall improve its “insufficient explanation” for the project. City Councilman Shiro Mizushiro demanded an end to Kawaii-ku by saying, “Hiring a celebrity to actively promote the City as a tourism ambassador would be easier for citizens to understand”. In response, Mayor Takashima stressed, “The Kawaii-ku idea is fresh and original, and it has already gained a certain level of recognition due to nationwide media attention.” He indicated his intention to continue using Cute Ward to promote Fukuoka in the upcoming fiscal year while adding two new aims to the project: increasing tourist numbers and invigorating the region. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Mar. 8
