Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries

- Developing new products and production methods

Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries are Miyako's core industries, but they are significantly dependent on the natural environment. Due to the effects of global warming, salmon and saury catches have become scarce in recent years, the kelp forests that serve as food for abalone and sea urchins have drastically decreased, the quality of rice was deteriorated. However, fish and spiny lobsters not previously seen in Miyako have become more common. It is necessary to incorporate these newly emerging natural resources into Miyako's primary industries and develop new products and production methods.

- Collaboration with research institutes

Learning from leading examples of other areas and results from researches is effective, when catching and cultivating fish in new ways, or when trying on new farming practices. My experience in a research institute helps promote collaboration with researchers in the fields of fishing and aquaculture, as well as product development and marketing.

- Supporting new employers

The shortage and aging of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries workers are nationwide issues. Without them, however, the industry would not be sustained anymore. Finding new workers and ensuring new workers stay active are challenges, but we must continue to address them.

Regional Revitalization

- Tourism Promotes Local Growth

With the growth of inbound tourism, tourism is a sector to expand further in Miyako. The number of cruise ships calling at Miyako Port has increased, and independent travelers are more common than ever. However, some doubt about the extent of the economic impact on local shopping districts. To make Miyako's tourism industry sustainable, the industry should give local communities benefits and delights. There's still more we can do, such as developing personnel who can translate foreign languages and promote local attractions, and creating systems to attract visitors to local businesses.

Meanwhile, to maintain and improve Miyako's hospitality, we must be careful about overtourism.

- Utilizing the places, things, and experiences that locals are proud of as tourism resources

Tourists will want to see and experience the things that are cherished in local communities. Miyako has many such places, things, and experiences to be proud of, and I believe we can create more in the future. I would like to encourage everyone to bring these favorite things together and create new tourist spots. I'm thinking about including the Bridge of the Hei-River water gate as a route for the Michinoku Coastal Trail.

Natural Environment

- Measures to Mitigate Extreme Heat

Miyako has always been known for its cool summers, but in recent years, scorching heat waves exceeding 30°C have become usual. It's called "disaster-grade heat", but heat above 35°C should be a "disaster". Working outdoors is dangerous, and evacuation centers called "cooling shelters" have been set up. This "disaster" is not only expected to continue every year, but will likely get worse in the future. In addition to measures to prevent further global warming, urban development is necessary to mitigate the heat through measures such as planting trees and improving road and wall surfaces.

- Global warming countermeasures for maintaining health and industry

Even if you don't suffer from heatstroke, don't you find that the heat reduces your study or work efficiency and prevents you from getting enough sleep? The effects of climate change are already being felt in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries industries, which rely on nature. Miyako's farmed trout-salmon are susceptible to heat, so if high temperatures come early, they will have to be shipped before they can grow large enough. The decline in kelp, a food source for abalone and sea urchins, which I previously researched, is thought to be due to winter water temperatures no longer dropping as low as they once did. While we need measures to survive in a warming climate (e.g., cooling-shelters, developing varieties that can withstand high temperatures), we also need measures to prevent global warming from progressing (e.g., reducing greenhouse gas emissions, absorbing CO2 through ecosystems such as forests and seaweed beds).

- Research and protect Miyako's nature

Miyako's nature is valuable and useful for primary industries, tourism, education, science, and recreation, but it remains poorly understood, with some exceptions. This is primarily due to a lack of personnel and budgets to investigate the natural environment. However, I would like to make an effort to learn more about Miyako's forests, rivers, and oceans and pass them on to future generations.

Promoting citizen's income

- Suppress rising prices and increase real wages

Wage increases over the past three years have been higher than before, but they have not kept up with rising prices, and many people are likely seeing a decrease in the goods and services they can purchase with their salaries. In fact, real wages have been declining for about four years, so I believe life is more difficult than it was before COVID-19. National government should address the main factors behind rising prices— the weak yen raising import prices and wars and conflicts costing more. Policies in the region is also important to achieve a minimum wage that ensures basic necessities of life, including food, clothing, and shelter. Supporting companies to raise wages and improve working conditions is also necessary.

- Supporting the effort by companies to raise wages

Even if a company wants to raise wages in order to secure talented human resources, it may be difficult to do so due to the harsh business environment. In addition, raising wages improves citizen income and enhances the local economy, so it would increase corporate profits. Therefore, I think it is necessary to support companies in raising wages and improving working environments.

- Reducing the burden of childcare and nursing care

Miyako City is working to reduce the burden of childcare and nursing care, but many voices still express their difficulties in expense. I suggest that we all support the elderly who have supported the community and the children who will carry it forward in the future. In this area, the national and prefectural governments also play a major role, and it is important to convey our opinions to them.

Gender Equality

- By 2030, increase the proportion of women in council and managerial positions to over 30% 

Because women rarely represent decision-making bodies in society, their voices are often not fully reflected in local activities and politics. Young people and women hold the key to preventing population outflow and natural decline. In recent years, the proportion of women among candidates for managerial positions at city hall has been increasing, and there seem more women to take the lead in local communities and companies.

   In Japan, these goals (30% by the 30s) were originally intended to be achieved by 2020. If we put them off any further, young people and women may abandon our city. The city council, as a representative body of residents, should lead a role.

- Gender equality starts at home

I agree that gender equality requires improvements in work styles and gender role awareness in communities and schools. I think that it is a good idea gender equality in society starts at home. If men and women can equally relax at home after a hard day out, then work performance should be similar. The model, in which only those who rely on unpaid work at home (housework) can work long hours and advance in their careers, is a thing of the past. This model results in two working persons and only one person's output (salary). Furthermore, compared to the workplace, the home has fewer members, making it easier to initiate changes there.

Human Rights and Peace

- A bright future for children

Making children's futures brighter means working to make the future of the community brighter. Some people say "A country that is cold to children has no future." As the birthrate is declining, I believe that every child can enjoy adequate support. Regarding issues that hinder children's lives and learning, it is important for relevant organizations to work together to address them without isolating those affected.

   Improving the educational environment is also essential. I believe that education is not just about teaching what has been determined, but is a creative activity in which both the teacher and the learner grow together. In order for everyone to express themselves, children, as well as the people who teach them, should have enough room for their mind and body. I recognize that improving the educational environment, including work style reform, should be paid more attention in order to improve the current situation where the shortage of teachers is becoming more serious.

- Ensuring information accessibility

To ensure information is available for a diverse population, we need to introduce voice translation and subtitles, improve the language skills of speakers and listeners (foreign language translation, paraphrasing of administrative terminology, etc.), and introduce or improve information transmission methods and equipment. These measures are necessary to ensure that citizens have reliable access to the information for their daily lives, and that city government is able to communicate with its residents.

- From Miyako for world peace through international exchange

A quarter of a century has already passed since the beginning of the 21st century. International exchange is progressing in both urban and rural areas, and it is not expected to decline significantly in the future. I have the opportunity to speak with people from overseas who live and work in Miyako, as well as visitors on the cruise ship. Even without going there myself, I can hear about life overseas and broaden my horizons.

   It's been 80 years since the end of the war in Japan, but looking around the world, wars have not ended, and the budgets of preparing for them are increasing. It is a fact that when war breaks out, many people die, are injured, lose their homes, and violence spreads.

   If people know each other, they will want to resolve issues through discussion before resorting to violence. No matter how difficult it may be, we should first set the goal of "No War in the Word." I believe international exchange, which allows us to get to know each other, plays a major role.