Young Mayors of Japan Award: Empowering the Next Generation of Japanese Municipal Innovators

The United States-Japan Foundation (USJF) is launching the Young Mayors Award, a new initiative that spotlights Japan’s most promising young mayors and empowers them to forge global connections through policy exchange and leadership development.

The award recognizes Mayors in Japan under the age of 45 and provides a ¥1 million prize to facilitate a study trip to broaden their perspective in the United States. From urban planning and immigration policy to innovation ecosystems, the program supports cross-border learning that inspires concrete improvements in Japanese municipalities.

“There’s growing concern that an aging political class may lead to policies that prioritize the needs of older generations at the expense of younger families,” said Prof. Charles McClean of Yale University. “Yet young mayors in Japan have been shown to increase investments in child welfare and long-term infrastructure without cutting services for the elderly—offering a hopeful path away from intergenerational conflict.”

By deepening the international perspectives of early-career mayors, USJF aims to foster practical innovation that resonates locally while strengthening the U.S.-Japan partnership from the ground up.

Applications Now Open

• Eligibility: Japanese Mayors under 45 years of age are invited to apply.
• Deadline: July 31, 2025
• Announcement of the finalists: August 31, 2025
• Award ceremony in Tokyo: October 2025 (date TBA)
• Award amount: JPY 1 million

Application Procedure

Please fill in and attach your CV (resume) and Self-introduction video (1-2 minutes in English) to this form.

Selection Panel

• Toshihito Kumagai, Governor of Chiba and former Mayor of Chiba
• Charles McClean, Assistant Professor, Yale University
• Lin Kobayashi, Board member, U.S.-Japan Foundation

Partnering for Impact

The Japan office of the U.S.-Japan Foundation will serve as the secretariat for the program, to promote the award through its nationwide network. The selection process will prioritize candidates with a demonstrated commitment to inclusive, forward-looking governance.

Addressing Shared Challenges

"Our Foundation is committed to helping the United States and Japan work together to address shared challenges," said USJF President/CEO Jacob Schlesinger. "Connecting and empowering local leaders is especially vital at a time when national leadership has become unpredictable and commitments to global cooperation less certain."

For questions, please contact the Japan Office, United States-Japan Foundation at mayors@us-jf.org. For more details on USJF, please visit our website.