Voters in Otsu, Shiga elected Japan's youngest-ever female mayor last week. Congratulations go out to Ms. Naomi Koshi, who is only 36, almost half the age of the outgoing mayor, Mr. Makoto Mekata, 70. Mr. Mekata held the post for two terms supported by the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito. Ms. Koshi ran as an independent supported by the Democratic Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party.
The previous record holder for youngest female mayor was Ms. Kazumi Imamura, who won the race in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture in 2010 at the age of 38. At this rate, a female mayors may be elected in their 20s soon enough!
Shiga's election feels like a changing of the guard that may herald a broader shift in Japanese politics. The governor of Shiga Prefecture, Ms. Yukiko Kada, also a woman, will help establish a synergy in both the city and the prefecture that may indeed be enough to effect real change.