Daisaku Kadokawa

Business | Longform Sep 20, 2021

Kyoto is facing bankruptcy. What happens now?

by Eric Johnston

Massive budget cuts have been proposed to stem the losses now that international tourism to the city has all but dried up.

Business Aug 11, 2021

Kyoto's reconstruction plan calls for big spending cuts

by Eric Johnston

Kyoto faces a financial shortfall of nearly ¥280 billion over the next five years, and now day care centers, transport subsidies and the bureaucracy are on the chopping block.

Business | View from Osaka Jul 2, 2021

Amid overspending, Kyoto stares down threat of bankruptcy

by Eric Johnston

Some might attribute the city’s financial woes to COVID-19’s impact on tourism, but the mayor puts the lion's share of the blame elsewhere.

National / Politics Jan 31, 2020

Could growing tourism troubles unseat Kyoto's long-time mayor?

by Eric Johnston

Kyoto voters head to the polls Sunday to cast their ballots in a mayoral election that will have an impact on the city's future policies for domestic and international tourism, at a time when voter concerns about the problems of too many tourists are ...

National Jan 7, 2020

Kyoto mayor says city will require barrier-free rooms at all new hotels and lodging facilities

In order to improve the accommodation experience for people with disabilities and elderly guests, the city of Kyoto plans to require all rooms in newly built lodging facilities to be barrier-free in principle, Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa said Monday. The city, one of the most popular ...

National Jul 1, 2019

Kyoto mayor asks Kim Kardashian West to reconsider choice of 'kimono' for underwear brand

Kyoto's kimono-loving mayor sent a letter to American pop culture icon Kim Kardashian West asking her to reconsider trademarking "kimono" as the name of her new underwear brand, the ancient capital said Monday. "Kimono is a traditional ethnic dress fostered in our rich nature and ...

National Nov 4, 2018

Business and political leaders in Kyoto push for efforts to fight food loss

by Eric Johnston

For Japan to achieve its goal of reducing household food waste by 50 percent by fiscal 2030 compared with 2000, consumers and manufacturers need to change how they think about food, participants at a recent meeting on food loss said. The goal is part of ...

National / Politics | KANSAI PERSPECTIVE Jan 24, 2016

Barring the unforeseen, Kyoto's dwindling voters look set to keep kimono-clad mayor

by Eric Johnston

Given Kyoto's prosperous domestic and international tourism industry, the mayoral election on Feb. 7 is widely expected to be an easy win for incumbent Daisaku Kadokawa, 65, who is backed by the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito and the Democratic Party of Japan. His main challenger, ...