Welcome to the Mayor's Office

Thank you for visiting the Ichikawa City Government's website.
I am Hiroshi Okubo, the new mayor of the city who was just sworn in on December 25.

 

Ichikawa City, founded in 1934 as the third city in Chiba Prefecture, has celebrated the 75th anniversary of establishment this year. 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.

 

At present, Japan is facing an enormous socioeconomic crisis, considered to occur only once in a hundred years or so. This is having a profound impact on the finances of Ichikawa City, including a sharp fall in tax revenue.
 Having been put at the helm of the City Government at such a critical time, I am humbled by the enormity of the responsibility placed on me. As I have run private businesses, I intend to actively inject private-sector thinking into city administration using my knowledge and experience. 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.

 

December 25, 2009
Hiroshi Okubo
Mayor, Ichikawa City