Ryosuke Takashima: Japan’s Youngest Mayor

 

To lead is to make a difference; having a vision and developing an emerging world does not matter how old or young you are. It is how you can bring about change and build a stronger nation for the better.

Ryosuke Takashima, 26, sets the best example that leadership does not require age to lead. On April 23, the voters of Ashiya, Japan's coastal city, elected the country's youngest mayor in history. With the slogan "An Ashiya where you can live actively at any age," the aforementioned platform vowed to improve all residents' quality of life. From free medical care and to combat low birth rates and the decline in the working-age population for those under the age of 18. In addition, he also campaigned green infrastructure planning. As the country's youngest mayor, he is part of a new generation of politicians who are younger and more diverse. His achievements will amaze everyone, Takashima earned an Ivy League education at Harvard University, where he majored in environmental engineering. Furthermore, he became a member of the non-profit organization Ryugaku Fellowship, which assists Japanese liberal arts students in finding opportunities to study abroad. According to The Japan Times, the association he chaired in 2016 has helped 300 students since its inception. 

During his time in Massachusetts, he wrote sports features for the student newspaper and interned at Japan's Foreign and Economy Ministry. Takashima participated in a variety of volunteer activities in Ashiya during extended periods of travel. His background made him stand out in the community, and a new opportunity arose that Gen Z politicians can lead and make a significant difference, opening a new door for development.

References:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/04/25/national/ryosuke-takashima-ashiya-youngest-mayor/
https://nextshark.com/ryosuke-takashima-japans-youngest-mayor

Photo Courtesy: Nextshark on Twitter

Authored by: Nicole Anne Manzo