Welcome to the Mayor's Office

Thank you for visiting the Ichikawa City Government's website.
I am Hiroshi Okubo,  mayor of the Ichikawa City.

 

Ichikawa City, founded in 1934 as the third city in Chiba Prefecture. Located in the western part of the prefecture, it is 56.39 km2 in size with a population of about 470,000.

 

Despite bordering on Tokyo Metropolis across the Edo River, Ichikawa City retains much of its natural environment, including green spaces and waterside areas, and the northern part of the city thrives on agriculture, including nashi pear growing. Southern Ichikawa, on the other hand, faces Tokyo Bay, and is part of the Keiyo industrial zone. Ichikawa has also developed as a city of history and culture. It is dotted with historic sites, such as the Soya Shell Mound and remains of the Shimousa Provincial Office and Kokubunji Temple, while the Man'yoshu, an ancient scroll that is the earliest surviving collection of Japanese poetry, features the Legend of Tekona of Mama, a tragic tale of a breathtakingly beautiful girl from the local area.

 

Keeping in mind citizens-first local government, I will do my very best to drive city administration forward. Your understanding and support in this regard is greatly appreciated.

 

I am pleased to extend my greetings to you all at the start of the New Year.

 

Looking back at last year, I am newly and keenly aware of the importance of safety and security. It was a year when we realized the importance of the relationship between people and the willingness to support each other, as symbolized in the word, “Kizuna (meaning bond, tie, or connection in Japanese).” I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for the significant support and cooperation provided by many citizens to Ichikawa City in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

 

During the year we have just entered into, we intend to make further development to achieve one of the objectives of the ten-year town planning in the second Basic Plan: “Safe, comfortable and attractive town.”

 

A project titled the “Gardening City Ichikawa” to make the entire city more attractive by increasing the flowers and greenery in the city has been underway since last year, in which flowers and plants have been planted in public facilities, including the median of the National Highway No.14, contests, etc. to broadly present the activities of citizens and businesses have been held, and a supporter system that currently has over 400 registrants has been set up. This year, we will further develop the project to establish an environment where many flowers can be frequently viewed around the city through the collaboration of citizens, NPOs, businesses and administration. Based on the above, the activities for Healthy City Ichikawa will also be promoted.

 

Moreover, in order to make the city more dynamic, it is necessary to stimulate the local economy. Therefore, this year, as in last year, we will work for the development of the local economy so that local companies, industries and shopping centers will profit.

 

Furthermore, for the increase of the safety, comfortableness and energy of the city, we will work to complete, according to the schedule, the public work projects that have been implemented, including the projects to improve the city planning roads, to make school facilities earthquake resistant, to extend the service life of the Clean Center, and to redevelop the Motoyawata A District First Class Urban Area.

 

The environment surrounding the local finance and administration is tough, as the tax revenues have been decreasing due to the slow economy and the aging and declining population. We are determined, however, to work for sound administrative management with a future perspective.

 

In closing, I ask for your increased understanding and cooperation now and in the future and send best wishes to you all on this first day of the New Year.