This month, 36 year old Sawako Naito beat incumbent Akiyoshi Endo, 64, to become the youngest ever female mayor in Japan, by winning the Tokushima mayoral election. Voter turnout was 38.88 percent, up 6.82 percentage points from the previous election. She told reporters, "With the perspective of a woman, I want to make Tokushima a comfortable city for working citizens and families with small children".
Naito turned 36 in March. The previous holder of the youngest female mayor was Naomi Koshi, who was elected Mayor of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture in 2012 at age 36 years six months.
I think many in Japan are very preoccupied by age, so this is a big news story.
Good for her! I think in the past older people stayed in power because they didn't want to give it up. Today's 'elders' are rather fit and will live probably longer than earlier generations, so they are probably convinced they are energetic enough to do the job. Of course they have experience, but do they have the right outlook for the future? Maybe the younger ones are more aware of what is needed to deal with the problems to come....
Well done! New ideas! I wonder what my friends in Otsu and Shiga think of this. I bet they're happy!
ReplyDeleteOops. I read it backwards. She's not from Shiga. The earlier young mayor was. Duh!
ReplyDeleteLots of countries consider older people, especially men, to be the people in charge, it is great to see some women coming though through.
ReplyDeleteGood for her!
ReplyDeleteI think in the past older people stayed in power because they didn't want to give it up. Today's 'elders' are rather fit and will live probably longer than earlier generations, so they are probably convinced they are energetic enough to do the job. Of course they have experience, but do they have the right outlook for the future? Maybe the younger ones are more aware of what is needed to deal with the problems to come....
I wonder what changes this new young woman will bring. I wish her well
ReplyDeleteThat's quite young to become a mayor, female or not! I hope she'll do a terrific job.
ReplyDelete