Three Candidates Respond to Public Questionnaire on Children and Childcare in Nishinomiya Mayoral Election

Ishii (Yes)
I want to create an ordinance that serves as the legal basis for establishing an independent third-party organization to protect children’s human rights.

Tanaka (Other)
Based on national legislation, I believe we should first confirm the effectiveness of such an ordinance — one that provides a substantive foundation for supporting children’s development — through dialogue with citizens including children, and through parliamentary discussions with council members, before considering its enactment.

Hatamoto (Yes)
An ordinance is a means to an end. The true goal is to create a city where every child can “think for themselves, speak up, and participate in society.”

Ishii (Yes)
We have already undertaken various initiatives to listen to children’s voices, and we will continue to find creative ways to hear from children at every opportunity and reflect their input in policy.

Tanaka (Yes)
I believe this is important from the perspective of civic education as well.

Hatamoto (Yes)
Listening to children’s opinions is not valuable in itself — what matters is the experience of children being involved in their own decision-making and accepting the outcomes. The same applies to government policies for children. Reflecting their opinions means making children stakeholders in community building. The government must be prepared to welcome them as equal partners, not treat them as passive recipients.

Ishii (Yes)
Through learning support programs for low-income families and subsidies for university entrance exam fees, we will ensure that financial circumstances do not deprive anyone of opportunities. The new library will also include a section for young people, providing support for older teens as well.

Tanaka (Yes)
I have been making proposals on this in the city council. I believe we need to address a wide range of issues: support for mothers before and after childbirth, early childhood education support, after-school programs for school-age children, preserving the educational value of extracurricular activities in middle school, securing safe spaces, reducing commuting costs for high school students, and improving the effectiveness of young carer support. To secure the necessary funding, we must undertake thorough fiscal reform based on fundamental city hall reform.

Hatamoto (Yes)
The root of the problem of age-based gaps in support lies in a fixed structure where the government is “the provider” and children/youth are “the recipients.” Rather than dividing by age, we will build a system in Nishinomiya that continuously supports each individual on their journey toward independence.

Ishii (❹Yes ❺Yes)
❹ We will encourage an update in fundamental values so that schools themselves become places children want to be.
❺ There are many different cases to consider, and since the situations are diverse, I believe it’s better to have more options available. We hope to expand on existing programs.

Tanaka (❹Other ❺Yes)
❹ I believe we should take on the challenge of creating an environment where individualized learning can be pursued using AI. The ideal is an environment where all children can develop the “ability to thrive” and adapt to the VUCA era before they enter adult society.
❺ I want to work on expanding child-rearing support centers, improving park environments, enhancing support for Sports Club 21, supporting intergenerational exchange at local children’s cafeterias, utilizing alternative schools for truancy support, enhancing after-school kids’ programs, and preserving the educational value of extracurricular activities.

Hatamoto (❹Yes ❺Yes)
❹ In Nishinomiya, we will work with the Board of Education to introduce a team-based homeroom system where children can choose their own counselor. School rules will be reviewed through dialogue among students, teachers, and parents, asking “what purpose do they serve?” What matters is not changing the system, but transforming school culture — shifting children from “subjects of control” to “agents of learning.”
❺ The goal of truancy support is not “getting kids back to school.” It’s ensuring that every child can learn in an environment that suits them, connect with others, and move toward independence. The government has a responsibility to expand those options.

Ishii (❻Yes ❼Yes)
❻ A society that respects individuality is important. We will continue working toward an inclusive society by promoting mutual understanding.
❼ We will continue working on inclusive education, based on the fundamental principle of respecting each person’s individuality while learning together.

Tanaka (❻Other ❼Other)
❻ I am not considering major changes to current initiatives, but I believe continuous effort is needed to ensure they support children’s development.
❼ I believe inclusive education needs to be implemented from early childhood, including childcare, through public-private collaboration. I think it is necessary to ease additional staffing requirements and provide support for private nurseries, certified centers for early childhood education and care, and private kindergartens.

Hatamoto (❻Yes ❼Yes)
❻ In Nishinomiya, we will start by reviewing school systems and practices themselves: offering uniform options, implementing gender-neutral class rosters and facilities, and creating spaces where children can discuss and shape rules through dialogue. The starting point for eliminating discrimination is institutionally guaranteeing an environment where “being different is perfectly normal.”
❼ The question is not “to separate or not to separate,” but whether an environment exists where every child can safely choose their own learning path. The essence of inclusion is not moving children — it’s changing the environment.

Ishii (❽Other ❾Other)
❽ I would like to explore what forms of improvement are possible and work toward finding the best approach.
❾ I will look into what specific initiatives might be possible.

Tanaka (❽Yes ❾Other)
❽ Not from a bureaucratic perspective, but through my experience as a city council member, I have established a political stance that “there can be no true policy without dialogue with citizens.” I believe the mayor must exercise leadership to instill this awareness in all city hall employees. Dialogue with council members elected by citizens is also important. I want to strengthen collaboration among industry, government, academia, and citizens.
❾ I do not think it is desirable to favor specific organizations. What is needed is information dissemination that enables parents and guardians to accurately understand children’s rights protections.

Hatamoto (❽Yes ❾Yes)
❽ Before promoting civic participation, there is something we need to ask first: why aren’t citizens participating now? It’s because the structure has become fixed — the government “provides services” and citizens “receive” them — and citizens themselves have lost their sense of ownership. What the government should do is not manage these people, but work together as equal partners to articulate the highest-level goals and build consensus through dialogue.
❾ It’s not about the government taking on private-sector information and “delivering it correctly.” It’s about creating spaces where on-the-ground information from children’s cafeterias, free schools, parent groups, and local supporters naturally connects with government institutional information.

【Advisor】Kimihiro Okamoto, Professor Emeritus, Kwansei Gakuin University