When it comes to the Nishinomiya mayoral election, even after looking at flyers and listening to what the candidates have to say, it’s pretty common to think “I still don’t really get it.”
We collected questions from our readers—things they really wanted to ask—and put 5 topics to the 3 candidates running for office.
This article is also designed to help you sort out what matters most to you.
*We’ve preserved the original responses from each candidate as much as possible, but Nishitsuu has rephrased some parts to make comparisons easier. Links to the original responses are included within each topic section.
Key points each candidate emphasized in their responses
| Ishii | Tanaka | Hatamoto |
|---|---|---|
| Steadily advance the current improvement plan. Protect what needs protecting while making gradual changes | The current plan isn’t enough. Reprioritize and pick up the pace | Transform the system with data and AI. Reach the people who aren’t being reached |
*These are characteristics Nishitsuu identified from each candidate’s responses
Now, let’s go through each topic!
目次
① How will you fix Nishinomiya’s dire finances?
Among reader questions, we heard things like “Even the city newsletter says deficits will continue” and “What about city employee labor costs?” — so we asked about finances and labor costs.
What are finances and labor costs all about?
This topic relates to how tax money is spent, the details of public services like welfare, and things like wait times at city offices.
The differences
・Ishii → Steadily advance the current fiscal improvement plan. Maintain reserves of ¥15 billion+ by fiscal year 2028 while transitioning to operations that don’t rely on reserves
・Tanaka → The current plan isn’t enough. Reprioritize. First, cut the mayor’s salary to show commitment, then conduct a thorough review of the burden on residents
・Hatamoto → Transform the system with AI and data. Shift the furusato nōzei (hometown tax) structure to a corporate model and redirect freed-up staff to welfare services
Which of these matters most to you?
| Ishii | Tanaka | Hatamoto | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First priority to review | Review programs that have become less effective and redirect resources to new needs | Cut the mayor’s salary by 30%. Conduct a thorough review of resident costs. Use EBPM to streamline low-impact programs | Improve efficiency through AI and DX. Change the deficit structure of furusato nōzei |
| Protect | Childcare, education, healthcare | Childcare, education, disaster preparedness, welfare | Childcare, welfare, education. Support for community mutual-aid providers |
| Labor costs | Not simple pay cuts—improve efficiency through work reform and outsourcing. Also introduce performance-based evaluations | Use DX and EBPM to review all programs. Create a system where high-performing staff are properly recognized | No simple cuts. Redirect staff freed up by AI to welfare and counseling |
| AI | Start with inquiries, document creation, and data analysis, then roll out city-wide over 4 years | Pilot with document creation, inquiries, and admin tasks → expand to front desk and internal operations | Year 1: automated meeting minutes + paperless counters. Year 2: AI-assisted monitoring. By year 4: policy proposals to the national government |
*EBPM = Evidence-Based Policy Making — making policy decisions based on data and results
*DX = Digital Transformation — fundamentally changing how work is done using digital technology
*”Reducing labor costs” doesn’t just mean cutting salaries. All 3 candidates share the approach of “changing how work is structured.” The difference lies in the speed and methods
What all 3 have in common
All 3 candidates agree that simple salary cuts alone aren’t the answer. They also share the same direction of using AI and DX.
② Will childcare and parenting actually get easier?
From readers, we heard things like “We’re ranked 2nd worst for waitlisted children—are you even trying to fix this?“, “Make daycare free for the second child“, and “It’s ridiculous that when your oldest starts elementary school, your third child gets counted as a first child” — so we asked about childcare and parenting support.
What is childcare and parenting support all about?
This is about whether you can work, what to do with siblings, and whether you can afford to have another child. Nishinomiya officially has 76 children on the waitlist, but the actual number of families who couldn’t get a spot is 1,148.
Here are the differences
・Ishii → Continue current support while expanding capacity. Provide broad support through free medical care + reduced school lunch costs
・Tanaka → Make daycare free from the second child onward. Directly reduce household costs to curb population decline
・Hatamoto → First, build a foundation where “there’s someone to turn to when you’re struggling”. Rather than blanket support, reach those who aren’t being reached
*Hatamoto responded that “blanket daycare fee reductions are not a priority right now,” making his approach different from the other two candidates
Which of these matters most to you?
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