From newscaster
to mayor of Fukuoka at 36.

Born in 1974. After working as a newscaster at KBC (Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting), he was first elected Mayor of Fukuoka in 2010 and has won four elections in a row.

FACT 01

Age 36

Youngest mayor
in Fukuoka's history

From the camera
to the people.

From reporting the news to moving a city.
A look back at where Soichiro Takashima began.

FACT 02

He even called pro wrestling matches.

He did play-by-play and ring announcing for “World Pro Wrestling.”

Building a “startup city,”
for real.

Building a Fukuoka known around the world for one phrase: “Start your business in Fukuoka.” He made regulatory reform and startup support central to the city's strategy.

“

Building a city that draws people who dare to try and gives rise to new value, starting in Fukuoka.

— Soichiro Takashima

From Fukuoka to Japan,
and the world.

Going beyond the usual role of a regional mayor,
he took on national policymaking and spoke for Fukuoka on the world stage.

FROM FUKUOKA TO THE WORLD

Taking Fukuoka to the world.

Bringing Fukuoka's city management, startups, and regulatory reform beyond Japan, and connecting them with the world.

2022Wrote the picture book “Little Duck's Dream.”

Story and pictures by Soichiro Takashima (Essential Publishing, in Japanese)

A never-give-up story about changing tactics after every failure and, with help from friends, making a dream come true. The cover asks, “Can you respect and support a child's dream, no matter how impossible it seems?” He wrote it hoping it would give parents and children something to think about together.

Kids' site↗