Japan Press Weekly

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2013 May 15 - 21 [JCP]

JCP mayor works to reflect residents’ voices in administration

In Izu-Oshima Island with a population of 8,200, residents-oriented measures have been promoted under the town administration led by a Japanese Communist Party member.

In April 2011, former JCP town assembly member Kawashima Masafumi became the mayor of Oshima Town, which is located about 100km south of Tokyo.

To improve disaster prevention plans is an important task for the administration of Oshima, which was forced to evacuate all its residents when Mt. Mihara erupted in 1986. By the end of this fiscal year the town will complete its distribution of a radio receiver for its emergency radio communication system to each household for free.

It is also necessary for the remote island to promote its key industries of agriculture and fishery as well as the tourist industry so that young residents who leave the town to go to school can return and find sustainable work in their hometown.

Kawamura’s administration has launched a project to develop an Oshima brand of fish products and create jobs in food processing and distribution.
　
The annual number of tourists to the island has decreased from its peak of 840,000 in 1973 to less than 200,000 in 2011. Thanks to administrative efforts to promote the use of the volcanic natural resources of the island in tourism and to create a network involving about 5,000 people outside the island to invite more tourists, the number exceeded 210,000 last year. The town hopes to reach its target of 250,000 tourists next year.

Immediately after he was elected, Mayor Kawashima put into practice his election pledge to promote the release of public information and to directly listen to residents’ opinions and concerns. He has visited residents to talk with them and has held meetings to explain disaster-prevention measures and other policies.

“When something comes up, people would say, ‘Let’s call the mayor.’ This is his amazing achievement,” said Yokokawa Emiko, a vice head of residents’ group, which has worked to improve the town’s library system, eradicate areas with transportation difficulties, and improve agriculture. These issues are now topics at meetings the town administration has with residents.

“To carefully listen to people’s voices is the key for me to improve welfare and medical services and to develop local industries,” said Mayor Kawashima.

Past related article:
> 9th JCP municipal head elected (April 26, 2011)