Governor of Gunma Prefecture, Ichita Yamamoto

2025.04.05

Nothing in life is wasted, everything is useful

■ Profile
Born in Kusatsu Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture in 1958. After graduating from the Faculty of Law at Chuo University, he completed a Master's degree at Georgetown University Graduate School in the United States. After working for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other organizations, he was elected to the House of Councillors representing Gunma Prefecture in 1995. Over his four terms, or approximately 24 years, he has served in various positions, including Minister of State for Special Missions in the Cabinet Office and Chairman of the House of Councillors Budget Committee. In 2019, he became Governor of Gunma Prefecture and is currently in his second term.

Governor Yamamoto served for many years as a member of the House of Councillors and also served as a cabinet minister, before becoming the current Governor of Gunma Prefecture. He is also a singer-songwriter and a blogger who has been writing for over 20 years and has maintained the number one ranking in the Ameba politician category. We spoke to Governor Yamamoto, who continues to be passionate about many things, about his journey so far and his role in prefectural government.

◾️My student days were filled with playing

To be honest, I didn't study much during my student days. But that doesn't mean I didn't put effort into it. I was passionate about being in a rock band, and in the summer we would perform at small live music venues. In the winter, I'd go skiing at Kusatsu Onsen with dozens of friends. In short, I was more interested in having fun than studying.

Even in such circumstances, I studied English very hard. I had a strong desire to study abroad, so I attended an English cram school that had classes every day. There, I made many friends from other universities, and I think that this experience turned out to be a great asset.

◾️Learn international politics while studying abroad and become interested in diplomacy

After graduating from university, I studied international relations at Georgetown University in the US. My time at graduate school in the US was very different from my time at university in Japan, and I had to study really hard to keep up with the classes. So while I was studying abroad, I studied in the library until about 3am every day.

At the time, Japan's ODA (Official Development Assistance) was the highest in the world, and I became very interested in Japan's international position. At first, I wanted to be a journalist, so I joined the Asahi Shimbun as a reporter, but quit after just a few months. After that, while traveling alone around Asia, I thought about what I really wanted to do, and decided that I wanted to work in a position related to Japanese diplomacy, so I joined JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).

◾️Experience at the United Nations and transition to politics

At JICA, I was seconded to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and worked at the New York headquarters for three years. I was involved in environmental work in the areas of economic cooperation and aid, and being at the UN forced me to confront Japan's international position.

Meanwhile, my father was a politician and served as a member of the Diet. I had no intention of becoming a politician myself, but after my father's health deteriorated and he later passed away suddenly, I decided to enter the world of politics with the encouragement of those around me. Without my experience at the UN, I might not have decided to become a politician.

From Diet Members to Governors as "Players"

Since becoming a politician, I have served as a member of the Diet for over 20 years. The primary role of a Diet member is to create laws, in other words, to be a rule-maker. However, during my time as a Diet member, there were limited opportunities to be directly involved in the policy-making process. In contrast, a governor is a "player" who takes the lead in the field. He or she can decide on policies and compile the budget to implement them. There is an overwhelming sense of presence in the fact that the governor's decisions can greatly change the future of the region.

For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to protect the people of Gunma Prefecture from this mysterious virus. The budget compiled under the leadership of the governor had a direct impact on the lives and health of the people of the prefecture. There were times when the pressure kept me up at night, but even in those times, I racked my brains. Every day was a series of small decisions.

When making decisions, I keep in mind whether the policies and budgets will benefit all residents of the prefecture. Will they benefit only a select few, or will they benefit all residents of the prefecture? I make decisions with this in mind. The most important thing is that I am very conscious of the principle that "we will not do anything that cannot be done under the sun."

◾️Number one Gunma Prefectural employee

Having served as governor for six years, I believe Gunma Prefecture's employees are number one among all prefectures in Japan. Of course, the prefectural government is a large organization with many different people, so it's not 100% perfect, but Gunma Prefecture's employees are extremely excellent, even compared to other prefectures across the country, in terms of both COVID-6 countermeasures and digital strategies. The promotion of Gunma-chan, the local mascot, has also become number one in Japan, and the growth in YouTube subscribers has been top-notch in the country. All of this is thanks to the hard work of our employees. That's why I keep saying in various places that "Gunma Prefecture employees are number one." Ultimately, I think the most important thing as a leader is to truly rely on others. The more you rely on and trust people, the harder they'll work.

◾️Making the digital creative industry a new major industry in Gunma

Currently, Gunma Prefecture's main industry is manufacturing, with a concentration of automotive-related industries. However, with an eye toward future development, the prefecture is focusing on the "digital creative industry" as a new key industry. The "digital creative industry" refers to industries specializing in creative fields, such as content production, design, video, game, and app development, utilizing rapidly evolving digital technology. Human resource development is essential to attracting industries, so Gunma has established "tsukurun," a human resource development center available free of charge to elementary, junior high, and high school students living and studying in Gunma Prefecture. Furthermore, Gunma has invited the TUMO Center, developed by Armenia in Central Asia, to open "TUMO Gunma," an educational institution for junior and senior high school students, this summer.

We are also working with film companies to attract large-scale filming locations. Many movies and TV dramas have already been shot in Gunma Prefecture, and the prefecture is strengthening its presence as a base for the entertainment industry.

We don't want Gunma Prefecture to become simply a "degraded version of Tokyo." Rather than simply importing what's popular in Tokyo, it's important to build a unique culture and economic sphere that makes use of Gunma's unique strengths. To that end, we will create an environment in which young people can settle and thrive, centered around the digital and creative industries.

◾️Message to university students

Now that I'm 67 years old, looking back, I realize that nothing in life is wasted. Even if you think of it as a detour, it's never wasted. My passion for rock bands and skiing as a student, my desire to become a journalist, and my work at the United Nations are all valuable experiences for me today.

That's why I believe that doing useless things and failing will ultimately make you a more attractive person, so I hope you will move forward without fear.

　Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on March 17, 2025 by Masamasa Hattori, second-year student at N High School