Chiharu Araki, Representative of Tokyo Citizens First Party

Politics is about making someone's "impossible" "possible."

Chiharu Araki, Representative of Tokyo Citizens First Party

■ Profile

Born on March 1, 1982, in Kumamoto Prefecture.
He served as the first public secretary to House of Representatives member Yuriko Koike (6 years of experience), was first elected to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly in 2017, and is currently serving his second term.Tokyo Citizens First AssociationRepresentative, First Association Representative. Member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly (elected from Nakano Ward), Chief of the First Branch of the House of Councilors' Tokyo Electoral District, Vice Chairman of the Police and Fire Committee. Qualifications held: Administrative scrivener, real estate agent, disaster prevention specialist.

Since winning the top spot in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly in 2017, Tokyo Citizens First Party member Araki Chiharu has launched 5000 policies. What kind of student life did this female assembly member in her 30s have? We delved into the secrets of Araki, who is so active that people whisper, "There are three Araki Chiharu!"

■ Tutoring new students started as a gesture of gratitude to seniors

I got a lot of qualifications in university. The reason I wanted to get qualifications is because students have a lot of free time. Time to play is important, but I prioritized the things that only a student can do. In my first year, I tried to get the real estate agent exam. I failed the first exam, but I passed it in my second year. I also got qualifications as an administrative scrivener and Chinese language proficiency test.

In addition to the qualifications, I also served as a freshman tutor for four years. Simply put, a freshman tutor is someone who takes care of new students. When I was a freshman, my seniors took me to Huis Ten Bosch, explained the curriculum, and taught me what university is all about. Thanks to my seniors, I was able to enjoy university life from the very beginning, so I thought, "I wonder if I can do something for my juniors too," and decided to run for the position. In my fourth year, I also became a leader.

■My childhood dream was to become a prosecutor

I went on to study law at university, not political science. The reason for this was that I actually wanted to become a female prosecutor. It all started when I learned about rape at university. I learned that even in cases with similar circumstances, the verdicts are completely different when judged by a man and a woman. I also thought, "I want to join the railway police force and catch bad people to prevent things like molestation." My desire to study law was so strong that I went on to graduate school.

■ Why I decided to be Koike's secretary for six years

It all started when I saw Yuriko Koike on TV. At the time, she was the first female Minister of the Environment, and her presence was often featured on TV. I admired her policies, which get to the heart of human psychology.

For example, when it came to eco-bags and Cool Biz, Koike proposed policies saying, "Let's start with the top of the company." I remember being impressed by this statement, which I thought was only possible because she understood the structure of society. Koike also had the ability to communicate. At the time, I believed that communication skills were important, so I wanted to work under Koike. When I decided I wanted to become a politician, I went to Koike with just my resume and asked to be his apprentice.

■The job of a politician is to "do what others don't do"

Ms. Koike taught me about the various jobs of politicians. She repeatedly emphasized that there is no point in doing what others do. That is why it is so important to listen to the voiceless. There are many people in Japan who are in trouble. Our job is to listen to those who cannot speak up, those whose voices are hard to hear, and those who cannot speak up even if they do.

One of these is sex education for young people. In Sweden, children's secrets are kept confidential and an environment is established where they can resolve their problems and worries. When you become pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted disease, it's hard to talk to your parents about it. No one can speak for you, but it's important. Our job is to solve these problems. When I was Koike's secretary, I learned an important lesson: "Listen to the voiceless and do what no one else will." She says that experience is connected to her current policies. I go everywhere to make this a reality. I participate in disaster prevention drills and almost all events in Nakano Ward. I'm so busy that people say, "There must be three Arakis!" (laughs).

■ The slow pace of Japanese politics is an issue

Although the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly is an extremely important body, unfortunately, it doesn't get much attention. Committee meetings aren't even broadcast on television. Even if you want to see the minutes, it takes a month to get them. To be honest, everything is slow. By the time you need to, it's already over, and you can't move forward with the public. That's why I continue to call for "reforming this old assembly into something new." Most Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly members are in their 60s, and women in their 30s are rare. That's why I believe I have a role to play in raising my voice and saying, "The current system is outdated, so something new is needed."

■ Politics is "something that can make the impossible possible"

I have put forward over 5000 policies to date. This is because there are many cases where people in trouble give up, saying, "It's just the system." However, thinking that "it's impossible to change" narrows the possibilities for Tokyo and Japan. A recent example would be the relaxation of the conditions for students to attend metropolitan high schools.

Recently, there has been an increasing trend for people raising children with disabilities to move to islands such as Izu Oshima in order to give their children the opportunity to experience nature. However, only Tokyo residents can attend public high schools. Believing that barriers to those who want to live on an island should be removed, we submitted a request to allow people from outside the prefecture to attend public high schools. When we conveyed this to the governor, he immediately made the change. We will continue to listen to the voices of those in need and work to find swift solutions.

■Message to university students

Make full use of your right to vote at 18 and get involved in politics. Politics is a part of life. It protects your livelihood, your life, and your health, so look at the politicians and choose accordingly. I want you to look at Japan from a student's perspective 50 or 100 years from now and ask yourself, "Can we entrust our future to the politicians of today?" By participating in politics, you can experience what it means to live as a member of society. It can also mean that your voice can become a reality. This is why it is important to live your life with a sense of ownership over social issues. I hope you will all be aware of this.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on April 26, 2022 by Minami Okada, a fourth-year student at Seikei University