Kunihiko Oshiba, Mayor of Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture

2026.04.10

Hokuto City: A place where everyone can live safely and securely, forged through vast natural landscapes and strong ties with the nation.

Kunihiko Oshiba, Mayor of Hokuto City

■ Profile
Born in 1958 in Akeno Village, Kitakoma District, Yamanashi Prefecture (present-day Akeno-cho, Hokuto City).
Graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration, Asia University.
In 2011, I left my job at a private company and ran for the Yamanashi Prefectural Assembly for the first time, and was elected.
Subsequently, he served as the Speaker of the Yamanashi Prefectural Assembly and held other positions, serving as a member of the Yamanashi Prefectural Assembly for three terms, totaling nine years.
Current position since November 2024

Hokuto City in Yamanashi Prefecture boasts the longest hours of sunshine and the finest water in Japan. This city, with an area comparable to the 23 wards of Tokyo, is led by Mayor Kunihiko Oshiba. We spoke with him about everything from his unusual entry into the world of politics to his unique approach to education and childcare support in response to the declining birthrate and aging population, and his passionate feelings for the young people who will bear the future of Japan.

During my student years, I attended university in Tokyo. I wasn't particularly interested in politics from a young age; it was simply because I longed for the city and wanted to learn about human relationships in a wider world. I spent most of my time working part-time jobs and made countless friends. The experience of interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and learning how to communicate has become an invaluable asset in my life. I never dreamed back then that this experience would later prove useful in my work as mayor.

■The path to politics I decided on, inspired by my father's example and the words of my benefactor

After graduating from university, I returned to my hometown and got a job. About four years into my working life, my father was encouraged by those around him to run for office, and as a result, he served four terms as mayor of Akeno Village. Having witnessed my father's struggles firsthand, I had absolutely no intention of pursuing a career in politics myself. However, when I turned 52, I was asked by those around me to run for prefectural assembly. At first, I kept refusing, but at the end of January, after the new year, the then-mayor of Hokuto City, Masashi Shirakura, came to me and earnestly persuaded me, saying, "You are the only one!" At that moment, the words my father often said during his lifetime, "If you can't live up to expectations, you can't call yourself a man," flashed through my mind. I decided that if I ran away now, I wouldn't be a man, so I quit my job, ran for office, and won. After serving three terms as a prefectural assembly member, I received strong support again, this time with the words, "We want to entrust the mayoral position to you because you have connections with the national and prefectural governments." Driven by a strong sense of crisis that the city would not improve without cooperation with the national government, I decided to take on the role of mayor.

■Japan's best natural environment and a fast-paced municipal administration

Hokuto City's area is roughly the same as Tokyo's 23 wards, but its population is only about 45,000. To manage and develop such a vast area, close cooperation with the national and prefectural governments is essential. The city's greatest appeal is its abundant nature, which is arguably the best in Japan. It boasts the longest hours of sunshine in Japan, clean water, and is the top producer of mineral water in Japan. Furthermore, its strong ground provides a safe and secure environment in terms of disaster prevention. It is precisely because I know the wonders of Tokyo that I have been able to rediscover the charm of my own hometown. What I value most in running the city is human relationships and an overwhelming sense of speed. By connecting with the national government, we can quickly obtain information on subsidies and other resources. Once we receive the information, we prepare immediately and are the first to raise our hands. This sense of speed is the driving force behind the city's development. At the same time, we never neglect communication with the citizens. We make an effort to gather firsthand opinions, not just intellectually, by listening directly to high school students who say things like, "We want a McDonald's."

■ A town that attracts new residents and a strong commitment to supporting child-rearing

Currently, Hokuto City consistently ranks high in "most desirable rural areas to live in" rankings, attracting keen interest from people looking to relocate. The city has seen an increase in young people moving there, drawn by its clean air and water, and healthy food. The city's comprehensive Wi-Fi network, adapted to the rise of teleworking, is also a major contributing factor. Furthermore, the city boasts abundant tourist resources, including flowers, mountains, water, and sake. We aim to attract visitors to the entire area by promoting stay-type tourism, such as visiting art museums and soaking in hot springs. On top of that, to address the challenges of a declining birthrate and aging population, we are particularly focusing on childcare support. We are implementing seamless support measures, including completely free school lunches, subsidies for childcare fees, comprehensive support during pregnancy and childbirth, subsidies for home renovations for families with children, and enhanced after-school care programs, steadily increasing our reputation as a child-friendly city.

■ Rebuilding an educational environment that fosters "bonds" among children

In terms of education, school consolidation is a significant challenge we face. Hokuto City was formed by the merger of eight towns and villages, resulting in eight junior high schools. However, due to the declining birthrate, some classes have only a dozen or so students. While small class sizes offer the advantage of more individual attention, it's difficult to run team sports clubs like baseball or soccer with only around 15 students. Furthermore, because students attend the same schools from kindergarten through junior high, there are concerns that if bullying were to occur, these relationships could become fixed. We want our children to interact with a wider range of people and develop bonds and communication skills within a diverse environment. Therefore, we are considering reorganizing the junior high schools to ensure a sufficient student population and create a vibrant educational environment where students can learn from and inspire each other.

■ Passing on healthy longevity, safety, and security to future generations

Looking ahead, the first priority is maintaining the health of our elderly residents. Our city has an aging rate of approximately 40%. Having experienced the death of my own parents after a long hospital stay, I strongly desire that all citizens live long and healthy lives. We will strengthen subsidies for health checkups for those aged 75 and over, and initiatives for early detection of cancer, aiming to create a city where people can remain active throughout their lives, even at the age of 80, and continue farming energetically. Most importantly, we will build a foundation of "safety and security." This will include establishing rules for tourists, creating a system to ensure at least three days' worth of water and food, and conducting thorough, practical disaster prevention training. Currently, the city hall is operating in a temporary building, but I intend to take full responsibility for the construction of a new city hall that will serve as a hub for the safety and security of our citizens.

■Message to university students

During your student years, try to interact with as many people as possible. This will be the most important foundation for entering society. Gain lots of experience, make mistakes along the way, and forge bonds with people who have diverse values. And I hope you will keep challenging yourselves without fear. It is undoubtedly you, the young people, who will bear the future of Japan. We will do our best to create a better society so that you can learn in a safe and secure environment, eventually become parents and raise children, and lead healthy and fulfilling lives. If you have the opportunity, please come and stay in Hokuto City for two or three nights to experience this wonderful nature and air.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on November 12, 2026 by Daiki Shimada, a fourth-year student at Hosei University