A Fukuokan's Notes from Sapporo

The new Mayor of Fukuoka has been chosen.

People chose the most photoshopped candidate who was a broadcaster at a local TV station (and who woke me up 8am. in a peaceful Saturday morning).

The candidate who I voted for was miserably defeated, as usual.

Maybe there is nothing stronger than being famous, regardless of whether you are famous locally or nation-wide, to be a local politician…

I will never forget what he kept saying during his election campaign. “I’m a layman but please let me be the mayor”. …the least convincing campaign mantra by a would-be Mayor of the city with huge debt (more than 2 trillion yen, nearly 2 million yen per head…). Or has my sense of Japanese language been outdated?    

Anyway, do a good job, new boy!