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Paper short abstract:

The purpose of this paper is to examine and review how local politics change under a female leader. The paper will focus on movements to change priorities in the agenda of local assembly, thus giving the public a new sense of determination in local governments.

Paper long abstract:

In Japan, only 10% and 20% of the members of parliament’s Lower House and Upper House, respectively, are women. Women account for a mere 2% of the leaders of Japan’s 1,811 municipalities. The aim of this paper is to examine and review how local politics change under a female leader by focusing on Suginami Ward in Tokyo, Japan. In June 2022, Satoko Kishimoto, a 20-year resident of Europe with no experience in public office, won the mayoral election beating the incumbent male mayor by a margin of just 187 votes. She is the first female mayor in the history of Suginami Ward with a population of 588,800.

After assuming the role of mayor, Kishimoto strives to pick up voices that weren't paid attention to under previous administrations. She also stresses the importance of listening to the voices of voters who did not vote for her. By doing so, she hopes to facilitate dialogue among people with different interests.

The paper will focus on movements to change priorities in the agenda of local assembly by Mayor Kishimoto, thus giving the public a new sense of determination in local governments.