The United States-Japan Foundation (USJF) will host the inaugural Young Mayors of Japan Award Ceremony and Round Table Discussion on October 29, 2025, from 5:00–6:00 PM at the Toshi Center Hotel in Tokyo. The event will honor Mayor Hiroto Fujii of Minokamo City, Gifu Prefecture, recipient of the Foundation’s new award recognizing Japan’s most promising municipal leaders under the age of 45.
The ceremony will bring together leaders from government, academia, and the nonprofit sector to highlight the role of young mayors in shaping Japan’s future. Following the presentation of the award, USJF will convene a round table discussion titled “Challenges and Opportunities of Elected Office in Japan,” featuring distinguished panelists:
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Moderator: Lin Kobayashi, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board, UWC ISAK Japan; Trustee, United States-Japan Foundation
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Hiroto Fujii, Mayor of Minokamo City, Gifu Prefecture
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Toshihito Kumagai, Governor of Chiba Prefecture
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Dr. Charles McClean, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Yale University
“Local government leaders are essentially the CEOs of their cities,” said Lin Kobayashi, “By celebrating the achievements of young mayors, we hope to raise awareness of their impact and inspire more talented individuals to dedicate themselves to public service.”
In addition to the round table, Dr. Charles McClean will present new findings from his research on “Silver Democracy”—an examination of how demographic change influences Japan’s political priorities and policymaking at the local level.
The event marks the first public ceremony of the Young Mayors of Japan Award, a new initiative by USJF designed to encourage cross-border learning and leadership development among Japan’s next generation of municipal innovators.
Attendance is by invitation; limited seating is available for members of the press and interested stakeholders. To request attendance, please contact info@us-jf.org.
About the United States-Japan Foundation
The United States-Japan Foundation (USJF) is a private, independent grantmaking organization dedicated to strengthening ties between the United States and Japan. Through initiatives in education, policy dialogue, and grassroots exchange, USJF fosters mutual understanding and collaboration to address shared social challenges. Learn more at https://us-jf.org/en.