Saga Prefecture Governor Yoshiyoshi Yamaguchi: "Saga is the best!" He wants to create a flat and diverse city

■ Profile

After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, he joined the former Ministry of Home Affairs. He led the front lines of disaster sites at the Cabinet Security and Crisis Management Office. He tackled the issue of depopulation head-on as head of the Depopulation Countermeasures Office and has extensive experience in local governments such as Akita, Tottori, and Nagasaki prefectures. He is also active in the private sector, working for JTB Research Institute, the Rugby World Cup 2019 Organizing Committee, and as a professor at the University of Tokyo.
He became Governor of Saga Prefecture in January 2015 (currently serving his second term).

Governor Yamaguchi says that since his student days he has taken on a variety of challenges, "Rather than regretting not doing, it's better to regret doing." Following the advice, "Do work that benefits people," he embarked on a career as a bureaucrat, and is now the Governor of Saga Prefecture, where he has launched many initiatives that are in line with the times. We spoke to Governor Yamaguchi about his experiences as he continues to act for the people of Saga Prefecture.

■When I was a student, I always chose to do it if I was unsure

"When in doubt about whether to do something or not, I always choose to do it," I decided, and acted accordingly. I took on a variety of challenges, such as staying in China for over a month before the introduction of capitalism, getting my car to stop working in the desert, and going to Okinawa to teach at a cram school. I also worked part-time at an entertainment production company, and at my university's cultural festival, I set up a stage that invited comedians and singers, and was active in the advertising study group. Through these activities, I learned the value of being with friends.

■ I was told to "do work that will benefit others"

Since I was working in the entertainment industry, I thought I might go into the media industry in the future. However, when I was having lunch with a famous person, he told me, "Yamaguchi, you should do something that will benefit people." This triggered me to want to live life to the fullest, and I began to think about what I should do. At the time, a friend's father was the governor of a prefecture, and I happened to have dinner with him, and that's when I first learned about the Ministry of Home Affairs (now the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications). I thought that here I would be able to transfer to various prefectures from a young age and take on new challenges, so I decided to join the Ministry of Home Affairs and pursue a career as a bureaucrat.

His time as a bureaucrat gave him invaluable experience

While career bureaucrats typically work in Kasumigaseki, I spent much of my time on the front lines. I rushed to the scene and worked tirelessly as a coordinator during the nuclear accident in Tokai Village, Ibaraki Prefecture, the Niigata Chuetsu earthquake, and the eruption of Mount Usu. Before becoming governor, I was seconded to JTB for public-private exchanges, and traveled around the country as part of the Rugby World Cup organizing committee, promoting the event. Then, at the age of 49, I had the opportunity to run for governor of Saga Prefecture. I had always wanted to be a leader beloved by the local residents, but I decided to run just 13 days before the election. There were already strong candidates, so I started out at a disadvantage, but I was able to utilize my experience working on a wide range of tasks during my time as a bureaucrat, and with the help of many people, I was able to win.

■ I want to create a city where people of all kinds can coexist.

Since becoming governor, I have launched a project called "Saga Style" with the hope that everyone can live naturally and comfortably. Rather than discriminating against certain people, such as by holding concerts for people with disabilities only, I aim to create a people-friendly city where the elderly, foreigners, and people with disabilities can all coexist in the same space. I also plan to create a partnership system for LGBT people, and I hope to create an accepting local community.

■ Initiatives that meet the needs of the prefecture's residents are reflected in the numbers

I regularly visit various places, observing the daily lives of prefectural residents and hearing directly from them. For example, the "Saga, the Great Prefecture for Raising Children" project was launched in response to a request from prefectural residents: "First, let us make ourselves want to raise children." We purchase all new children's books at the prefectural library, and while enhancing education to nurture children's aspirations, we are also working to create an environment where raising children is enjoyable. Last year, we were ranked number one in the national ranking of "Ikumen" (fathers who are actively involved in child-rearing). Furthermore, a video I made about my own experiences with the challenges of pregnant women became a huge hit, with over 35 million views worldwide. Furthermore, since becoming governor, I have been spreading the slogan "Saga is the Best!" I am truly pleased that, in a local newspaper survey, approximately 90% of prefectural residents now say they "love Saga."

■Putting the people first and providing generous support

Since the beginning of last year, we have been focusing on a proactive approach to COVID-19 countermeasures. Saga Prefecture has zero infected people recovering at home and is a leader in vaccination rates. When an infection was reported on a remote island, medical personnel were swiftly transported by helicopter to contain the spread of infection. Furthermore, all those aged 16 and over who wished to receive the vaccine on the seven remote islands have now completed their second vaccination. I personally check in on each infected person every day to see how they are doing, striving to provide the swift and thorough response that is possible only in a rural area.

■ Attention to detail in building the prefectural office

I believe that innovation born between people is important in creating a new society. To that end, Saga Prefectural Government is actively recruiting mid-career employees, and while the national average is 3%, the percentage of mid-career hires among administrative staff in Saga Prefecture is as high as 12%. Rather than recruiting a group of civil servants, we hire people with a wide range of work experience, so we have many open-minded people. Recently, content collaborating with anime and games has become a hit among teenagers and people in their twenties, and an increasing number of young people are interested in moving to Saga. I would like to continue collaborating with various private companies and other organizations to convey the appeal of Saga to many people.

Also, at the Saga Prefectural Government, we place great importance on not lying. The issue of favoritism in administrative agencies has been a hot topic, but even the slightest bit of deception can cause many employees to go through hardship later on trying to make the numbers add up, which increases distrust among the prefecture's residents. Naturally, if we're wrong, we will sincerely apologize and correct the mistake, so that we can continue to build trust.

■Message to students

When making a choice, it's important to consult with yourself and make a decision. This is because if you make your own choices based on the opinions of those around you, you'll end up blaming others when something difficult happens. I think the key to living a better life is to make choices responsibly. There is always an opportunity behind every crisis, so keep doing your best and think of everything as an opportunity.

Student Newspaper WEB January 8, 2021 Interview by Nao Suzuki, 4th year student at International Christian University