Takashima Ryosuke is Japan’s youngest ever mayor
At 27 years old, he is bucking the trend of the country’s gerontocratic politics
After graduating from Harvard University, Takashima Ryosuke could have gone into consulting or finance, like many of his friends. Instead he embarked on an unusual career path for a Japanese youngster. In 2023, at the age of 26, Mr Takashima was elected mayor of Ashiya, a town in western Japan. “Being a mayor seemed like a career that would allow me to impact society the most,” he says.
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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Gen Z mayor”
From the June 29th 2024 edition
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