Asaka Mayor Masayo Matsushita

Aiming to create "Asaka, a town everyone can be proud of and want to continue living in," we are building our town through dialogue.

Mayor of Asaka City: Masayo Matsushita

■ Profile
He was first elected to the Asaka City Council in 2011, serving two terms for eight years. After that, while continuing his political activities, he completed graduate school, and after serving as a Saitama Prefectural Assembly member, he became the Mayor of Asaka City. He works on city administration with the motto "Creating a strong and prosperous century-old city of Asaka" to ensure the sustainable development of the city. His hobbies include sake, martial arts, and rakugo (traditional Japanese storytelling).

Asaka City in Saitama Prefecture boasts excellent access to the city center, offering a perfect blend of convenience and abundant nature. Mayor Masayo Matsushita, who took office last year, prioritizes close "dialogue" with citizens and is diligently working on administrative reforms utilizing DX (digital transformation) and childcare support. This time, we interviewed Mayor Matsushita about her journey, the charm of Asaka City, and its future.

During my student days, I was enrolled in the Faculty of Foreign Languages, majoring in French. At the time, I was fascinated by foreign languages ​​and aspired to work for a foreign company or similar organization, hoping to utilize those languages ​​in my future career. I also worked various part-time jobs, such as tutoring, working at a cafe, organizing events, and proofreading books. I was a very typical university student, enjoying a good balance between studying and having fun.
My perspective completely changed after I got married and had a child. Before that, I only thought about my immediate family, but after giving birth, I started to seriously consider the future of the next generation, wondering, "What will this child's future hold?" and "What will society be like in the future?" As a way to alleviate my anxieties about the future, I began to thoroughly study and deepen my understanding of how society works, but at the time, I never imagined that I would go into politics.
When I first came to Asaka City, my husband's hometown, I was struck by its peaceful and lush green residential atmosphere. It boasts convenient transportation, numerous parks, and a wonderful environment, but what reassured me most was the warmth of the people. Although my mother-in-law had already passed away, her acquaintances were incredibly kind and supportive, constantly asking "Are you okay?", which allowed me to raise my children with a relaxed and open mind. For me, my children are the driving force behind my activities, and the warm-hearted people of Asaka are the very foundation of my work.

■ Thoroughly "listening": Community development through dialogue and DX

Since becoming mayor, I have been particularly focused on the "Town Meetings" that started last November. I am determined not to waver in my commitment to listening directly to the voices of the citizens and valuing dialogue. I will do as much as I can. Even if something is not possible at the moment, I will thoroughly investigate how far it can go and make sure to provide feedback, never just listening without giving a clear answer. For me, the voices I receive from the citizens are a great source of motivation. I am truly happy when I receive feedback on the column in the city newsletter that we publish every month. Recently, I have also been focusing on promoting DX (Digital Transformation). For example, newborns need many vaccinations, so we have introduced a childcare support app to make it easier to manage their schedules. My goal is a "City Hall where you don't have to come, wait, or write." Procedures can be completed without having to go to City Hall, and even if you do come, there will be no waiting time and you won't have to write paperwork multiple times. I am pursuing such a smart form of administration.
Furthermore, in August 8, Asaka City became a "Walkable City," aiming to create a comfortable and walkable urban environment. The city is implementing initiatives such as installing benches throughout the city with the hope of making it a more inviting place to walk around.

■ A place for parents to feel at home

Asaka City has a large number of children, making it urgent to address the issue of waiting lists for after-school care and daycare centers, the so-called "first-grade wall." We are working to create safe after-school spaces where children can be left when needed, even for parents who are not working. We also plan to expand our after-school children's classroom program starting next fiscal year.
In school education, we are focusing on "inquiry-based learning," where children identify and solve problems on their own. Addressing school absenteeism is also a crucial issue. We have established a special support room within the school to create a safe space for children who find it difficult to attend class. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we believe it is important to carefully listen to each individual's voice, understand what each child needs, and provide support accordingly.

■ "Asaka: A town everyone can be proud of and want to continue living in," passing this vision on to the next generation.

Starting this fiscal year, Asaka City will launch a new, fundamental "Comprehensive Plan." The theme is "Asaka: A city everyone can be proud of and wants to continue living in." We will update the livability of Asaka in every aspect, including childcare, education, and transportation.
In future urban development, we cannot avoid addressing issues such as the aging of public facilities, population decline, and the further utilization of digital transformation (DX). In this era of 100-year lifespans, we want to create an environment where everyone can live a healthy life and learn whenever they want through "lifelong learning." We will take a long-term perspective and re-examine the foundations of urban development, including how to accommodate people with disabilities, while also referring to advanced examples of lifelong learning. We intend to continue listening to the voices of citizens, including through town meetings, and deepen our understanding of these issues.

■ Live in the present moment to the fullest without hesitation

During my student days, I had absolutely no interest in politics and lived a very ordinary life. After that, I also experienced being a full-time housewife, and now I am serving as mayor. What I want to convey to all of you is, "Live each moment to the fullest."
When starting something new, have the courage to take that first step without hesitation. Don't overthink it, like "What if I fail?" Just have a simple feeling like, "I'll give it a try." If you have nothing to lose, just try it. If you find it's not for you, you can always stop or go back at that point. In fact, I myself went back to graduate school and started learning again when I was 50 years old. You can start learning whenever you feel like it.
There are views that can only be seen by those who take that first step and try. Asaka is truly full of warm and wonderful people. I encourage you all to keep smiling, not be afraid of failure, and try many new things.

Interview with Ayami Matsuyama, a first-year student at Aoyama Gakuin University, published by Student Newspaper Online on November 21, 2026

Ayami Matsuyama, 2nd year student at Aoyama Gakuin University / Chiharu Yamada, 2nd year student at the University of Information Management and Innovation