Last June, a new ward mayor was elected for the first time in 20 years. Mayor Aoi Seike (50), also the first woman to hold the position, shared her key policies and vision for the rapidly developing district.
—How has this past year been for you?
After 20 years of the same leadership, and now a woman in charge—I think many were in a “wait-and-see” mode. However, I believe unconscious biases (like the assumption that women aren’t suited for leadership) can be overcome through dialogue.
In policy-making and budget planning, I’ve prioritized supporting women’s career continuity and leveraging their skills. The ward aims for 50% of managerial roles to be filled by women. To achieve this, digital transformation is essential. This fiscal year, we established a Digital Reform Department to lead the charge. We’re fully committing to organizational reforms centered on digitization.
That said, being mayor still feels like a “24/7 job.” I want to change the work culture so more diverse candidates can aspire to this role—including adjusting my own approach.
—You’ve pledged “zero childcare service rejections.”
This year, we expanded temporary childcare slots by opening new support facilities and introduced subsidies for matching-based services. Next fiscal year, a facility in “Mitamachi Terrace” will also offer temporary childcare.
As a mother of a high schooler…
