Ayase City Mayor Yoshihiko Tachikawa

2026.06.01

A balance of urban and rural life. Aiming for a lifestyle that's uniquely Ayase.

Ayase City Mayor: Yoshihiko Kitsukawa

■ Profile
Born in Terao, Ayase City in 1970.
Graduated from Ayase Kindergarten in 1977.
Graduated from Ayase Municipal Tendai Elementary School in 1983.
Graduated from Ayase Municipal Ayakita Junior High School in 1986.
Graduated from Kanagawa Prefectural Ayase High School in 1989.
Graduated from Kokushikan University in 1994.
2011: Ayase City Council Member (First Elected)
2015: Elected to Ayase City Council (for a second term)
In 2019, served as a member of the Ayase City Council (elected for a third term) and Vice Speaker.
2021: Speaker of the City Council, Chairman of the Kanagawa Prefectural Association of City Council Speakers
Inaugurated as the 5th Mayor of Ayase City in 2024.

Ayase City in Kanagawa Prefecture is a place where many people are warm and friendly, and it has easy access to Yokohama and Tokyo, while also offering a calm environment with fields and greenery. However, it is facing various challenges, including population decline, transportation issues, and childcare support. In this context, we spoke with Mayor Yoshihiko Tachikawa, who aims to create a livable city that makes the most of the region's charm, about the current situation and future of Ayase City.

During my student days, I worked part-time jobs, but one day, while driving, I happened to see an F3 race, which sparked my desire to try car racing. To fulfill that dream, I worked various jobs such as carpentry, scaffolding, and convenience store clerk. The opportunity to interact with many people I wouldn't normally meet has become a great asset to me. In my current job, I feel that this has led to a deeper understanding of people in various professions, rather than just a superficial one. After graduating from university, I have worked in a wide range of jobs, including sales for the encyclopedia "Britannica," truck driving, kitchen installation, and as a programmer at a system development company.

■The path to politics: Deciding to take action first

When I was working in system development, I only went home to my house in Ayase to sleep. However, I was suddenly elected to the neighborhood association, and I began to pay attention to local affairs. This coincided with my child's entry into elementary school, and I became aware of local issues and frustrations that I hadn't noticed before. At that time, I decided that instead of just complaining, I should try to do something myself, so I ran for city council member and served for 13 years. In fact, the reason I became mayor was almost the same as when I became a city council member. If there were things I couldn't do as a city council member or things I wasn't satisfied with, I wanted to become mayor and improve them myself. I think that many people's cooperation and timing also played a role in my becoming mayor. With more than 600 city hall employees, the mayor is the top person in charge. The support I received from the people in the community during that election was a great source of strength for me to run for office.
During my four-year term, I plan to start by doing what I can and work to enhance the positive aspects of Ayase. Ayase is a town whose greatest charm is the warmth of its people. On the other hand, there are still areas where the living environment can be improved, so I believe it is necessary to improve things one by one, such as transportation and the living environment. Rather than just improving one thing, I hope to increase the number of people who want to live in Ayase by improving the entire way of life.

■ For creating a livable city

Ayase City's population peaked in 2 and has since begun to decline. We are entering a major turning point, moving away from an era where population growth and economic development were taken for granted. While private companies are striving to adapt to the changes, there are still areas where the sense of crisis has not fully permeated the local government. I believe that changing this is the first step necessary for Ayase City to survive in the future. In recent years, many areas experiencing population growth have seen development centered around train stations. However, Ayase City has no train station, and the presence of Atsugi Air Base limits the height of buildings that can be constructed. In this context, I believe that what is important for attracting many people to live here is to have both a "moderate sense of ruralness" and a "moderate sense of urbanity." Furthermore, I am also prioritizing the creation of an environment that is conducive to raising children. This means having well-developed public transportation, medical facilities and police stations to ensure a safe and secure life, and plenty of businesses to provide employment opportunities. By improving this overall quality of life, I hope to further develop Ayase City. In addition to route buses and community buses, Ayase City is currently conducting pilot programs for shared bicycles and on-demand transportation. In the future, we are also considering next-generation transportation options such as Zippar. Furthermore, to secure employment opportunities, we are promoting industrial urban development and working to attract new businesses.
We are particularly focusing on childcare support. Starting this fiscal year, we have made arrangements to accept children at two existing public nurseries, and all children are now able to attend. Furthermore, during the period before nursery school, kindergarten, and elementary school, it can be difficult for mothers to connect with each other, and some may become isolated. To address this issue, we are also working to create a place where information can be exchanged by opening a parenting salon. In addition, we are conducting workshops to cultivate children's non-cognitive skills. For children who are truant or socially withdrawn, we opened a safe space this year affectionately called "Ayapiisu," creating an environment where children can talk about their problems and feel safe. Also, continuing from the previous mayor, we are continuing to provide tuition assistance to high school students from single-parent families and other backgrounds in order to broaden their educational options. On the other hand, while support can be provided through parents and facilities when children are young, it has been a challenge that support becomes more difficult once they reach middle school age and above. Therefore, starting this fiscal year, we are beginning an initiative to provide subsidies to middle school student councils. This initiative allows students running for student council to include a budget of 10 yen in their policy proposals. Furthermore, we would like high school students to be involved in organizing city events in the future. We want children to have the experience of not just attending events, but also creating them themselves.

■Message to university students

I want everyone to have dreams and hopes. However, I know there are many obstacles, not only in the stage of having dreams and hopes, but also in the process of making them come true. Even so, I want you to take action first. You can start over as many times as you want even if you fail, and those who experience failure become stronger. So I want you to run towards your dreams and goals without fear. Furthermore, everyone has time, but conversely, it is also something that is given equally to everyone, regardless of their position. I think it's a waste of time to hesitate and wonder, "What should I do?" Time is something you can't buy, so use it effectively and try to challenge yourself to make your dreams and hopes come true.

Student Newspaper Online, February 14, 2026, Interview with Sakura Yamashita, 4rd year student at Tsuda University