Young Mayors of Japan Award

Forging global connections through policy exchange and leadership development.

The Young Mayors of Japan Award honors the year's most promising young municipal leader in Japan, recognizing innovative approaches to local governance that strengthen citizen participation, drive sustainable growth, and offer models for revitalization across the country.

Award: ¥1,500,000 for a study visit to the United States.
Eligibility: Japanese mayors of cities, wards, towns, and villages under 45 years of age are invited to apply.
Application: Applications will open on Tuesday, September 1. Fill in the application form (to be announced), attaching a CV and a self-introduction video of 1-2 minutes in length in English by Friday, January 29, 2027. Winner is announced in April 2027.

The Award’s Mission

Of more than 1,700 municipalities across Japan, fewer than 100 are said to be led by mayors under 45. The Young Mayors of Japan Award raises the visibility of young municipal leaders with outstanding track records, while supporting overseas study visits to further their impact. In doing so, USJF aims to strengthen the U.S.-Japan partnership from the ground up while contributing to the emergence of more young municipal leaders across Japan.

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SELECTION PANEL

The Award's Judges

Nominations are evaluated by a panel bringing together expertise from local government, academia, and civil society:

Toshihito Kumagai, Governor of Chiba Prefecture and former Mayor of Chiba (2009–2021)
Charles McClean, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Yale University
Lin Kobayashi, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board, UWC ISAK Japan; Trustee, USJF

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LAUREATE SPOTLIGHT

Inaugural Winner: Hiroto Fujii, Mayor of Minokamo City

In 2025, Hiroto Fujii, mayor of Minokamo City in Gifu Prefecture, was named the award's first recipient. First elected in 2013 as one of Japan's youngest mayors, Fujii has overseen population growth despite nationwide decline, steady progress in digital transformation, and new child-rearing and education programs drawing on the city's natural environment and local resources. Under his leadership, Minokamo has also become known for its participatory democracy and the intentional involvement of citizens in local decision-making.

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AWARD CEREMONY

Celebrating Local Leadership in Tokyo

USJF hosted the inaugural Young Mayors of Japan Award Ceremony and Round Table Discussion on October 29, 2025, at the Toshi Center Hotel in Tokyo. The event brought together leaders from government, academia, and the media to celebrate the achievements of Japan's emerging municipal leaders and to highlight the role of local revitalization in strengthening Japanese democracy.

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STUDY VISIT

Lessons from Dubuque, Iowa

As the inaugural recipient of the Young Mayors Award, Hiroto Fujii visited Dubuque, Iowa, from August 1 to 4, 2026. Over four days, Mayor Fujii met with city officials and community leaders to explore Dubuque's long-term sustainability framework, flood mitigation infrastructure, smart city initiatives, and model of open civic participation, bringing back insights applicable to Minokamo's own governance challenges.

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Ready to Nominate?

Applications for the 2026 cycle will open on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Inquiries should be directed to the United States-Japan Foundation at info@us-jf.org.

Young Mayors of Japan Award

Ready to Nominate?

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