Sagamihara City Mayor Kentaro Motomura

Making Sagamihara a city of choice. A challenge towards an exciting future.

Kentaro Motomura, Mayor of Sagamihara

■ Profile
- Member of the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly in 15
- Served as a Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly Member (2 terms) in 19.
- Member of the House of Representatives in 21
- Member of the House of Representatives (2 terms) in 26
- Member of the House of Representatives (3 terms) in 29
- Assumed office as Mayor of Sagamihara on April 22, 2019.
・5 Mayor of Sagamihara (2nd term)　

Mayor Motomura, whose formative experiences in elementary school inspired him to pursue politics, is drawing on his diverse experiences to prioritize the voices of those on the ground and is driving a transformation from a passive administration to one that actively reaches out to people. We spoke with him about Sagamihara City's further challenges, as it is striving to create an exciting city together with its 72 citizens, having pioneered initiatives such as childcare support and the civic pride ordinance nationwide.

■The origins of unwavering conviction and the path to becoming a politician

I decided to become a politician when I was in the third grade of elementary school. I even wrote in an essay at the time that I wanted to become a politician in the future. At the heart of this was an encounter with a classmate who had autism, a developmental disability. As I walked to school hand in hand with my classmate for six years of elementary school, the feeling that "disabilities are not something that people choose to have, and I want to help and support people who are in need" naturally began to grow within me.
After spending two years studying for university entrance exams, I attended night classes at university while working as an assistant to my politician uncle, learning about politics firsthand. However, my uncle's sudden death led me to work part-time at construction sites. Leveraging my experience working hard on construction sites, I joined a general contractor after graduating from university, but I was assigned to a department that mainly involved desk work. For me, who valued hands-on experience on-site, this daily routine was often stressful. Around that time, the general affairs manager told me, "It's important to always have the idea of ​​what you would want to do," a statement I still deeply cherish. I learned that it's good to voice what you want to do.
These words encouraged me to pursue the path I truly wanted to take, and I resigned from my job at a general contractor. After five years as a parliamentary secretary, I entered the prefectural assembly at the age of 32. My political mentor's motto was, "Become a politician who can say the same thing anytime, anywhere, to anyone," and I have continued to work towards that goal ever since.
I decided to run for mayor of Sagamihara because I wanted to make this city an exciting place for everyone. I want to further promote the city's abundant water resources and wonderful attractions, and pave the way for a future where all citizens can have hope and pride.

■ Maximizing the potential of the city and continuing to take on challenges without fear of failure

Sagamihara City's greatest appeal lies in its perfect blend of urban amenities and abundant nature, creating an ideal urban-natural environment. It is the only city in Kanagawa Prefecture where a new station for the Chuo Shinkansen (maglev train) is planned, and it boasts five lakes, including Lake Tsukui, and is blessed with rich natural beauty where wild animals can be seen. The ground is solid, and although the only thing the city lacks is the sea, the expansion of the road network allows access to the Shonan coast in about 40 minutes by car, making it a city with tremendous potential.
Sagamihara City has grown into a city of 72 people over approximately 70 years. As the first city to be designated as a government-ordinance city after the war, our city has only been in that position for 16 years, which is a relatively short period of time. However, precisely because of this, we believe it is important not to be complacent and to constantly strive for improvement. Believing that failure is the foundation of success, we are driving change and reform by proactively reaching out to citizens rather than waiting for them to consult with us.

■ Aiming to create an exciting city that will be chosen by the next generation

Currently, we are particularly focusing on three pillars: measures to address the declining birthrate, measures to promote employment, and measures for mountainous and rural areas. Of these, we are especially committed to creating a city where people can proudly say, "Sagamihara is the place to raise children," and "Sagamihara is the place to receive an education." Specifically, we have made 15 public facilities, including the world's first planetarium, a rare ice rink for a municipality, an aquarium, and a new sports park, available free of charge to children under 15. We also offer a "weekend temporary childcare program" where we look after children on weekends regardless of the reason. This program was started in response to the urgent needs of parents who wanted to "take a break on their days off" or "have an unexpected errand." All of these are original city policies developed in collaboration with staff, based on feedback from those on the ground. We believe that Sagamihara needs most right now, moving from an administration that "waits for citizens to come to it" to an administration that "goes out to its citizens."
We also provide support to university students who will be responsible for the future of our town. In response to students who were struggling because they couldn't find part-time jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we started a program to distribute fresh, locally grown vegetables and other food items once a month. Through these warm connections, we hope that the younger generation will also come to love Sagamihara as their own town.
In 3, we became the first in the nation to enact the "Sagamihara Civic Pride Ordinance." This ordinance serves as a guideline for each of our 72 citizens to feel love and pride for their city and to actively participate in its development. While actively incorporating best practices from other municipalities, we aim to create a city where everyone can think, "I'm glad I live in Sagamihara," and "I want my children's generation to live in this city too."
To achieve this, I will take the lead in promoting the creation of a vibrant organization, ensuring that each and every employee works with even just 1% more enthusiasm than they did yesterday. Let's work together to build the future of Sagamihara.

■Message to university students

The years from your 20s to your 40s pass by incredibly quickly. You only live once, so don't be afraid of failure and try to challenge yourself in everything you do. I myself have experienced failures in entrance exams and losing elections in the past. However, I have come to realize that it is important to have a positive mindset, knowing that morning will always come if you sleep through it, no matter how difficult the situation. By continuing to challenge yourself, a new future will surely open up for you. Let's move forward positively while enjoying our unique lives. And if you ever have the opportunity, please come visit Sagamihara, a vibrant city.

Student Newspaper Online, March 4, 2026 Interview with Ayatsuki Sakakura, 3rd year student at Tokyo Metropolitan University

Ayatsuki Sakakura (3rd year, Tokyo Metropolitan University) / Reina Inomoto (1st year, Kyoto University of the Arts) / Hinano Shinoda (2nd year, Tokyo Kasei University) / Risa Ukita (2nd year, Tokyo Women's University)