Hyogo Prefecture, It’s Not Right] “Severe Strain” and “Unusual Stress” Created by Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito’s Transformation

The flagship policies such as the “restructuring and relocation plan for the prefectural office” and “reducing the attendance rate to 40% through remote work” have been unpopular among staff, with notable backlash. Policies aimed at youth and Generation Z, including the governor’s initiative for tuition-free education at the prefectural university, have also seen key personnel, Koichi Kobashi, the director in charge, and Tomoaki Inomoto, the General Affairs Department head, leave their posts.

“Replacing the two executives, Deputy Governor Yohei Hattori, who has a technical background, has been handling the explanations. With key policies stagnating, the governor’s dismissive attitude, saying ‘There are people to take over, so it’s not a problem,’ only seems to mock the staff and residents. In the first place, Hyogo Prefecture faces serious issues such as population decline, and there are voices suggesting ‘different priorities,’” said a committee participant.

The prefectural administration remains chaotic, with municipalities within the prefecture also questioning its credibility. Takaaki Sakai, the mayor of Tamba-Sasayama and president of the Hyogo Prefecture Mayor’s Association, held an emergency press conference, stating, “The prefectural administration plays a crucial role in large-scale urban development that cities cannot handle, and it requires the governor’s leadership.” There is also harsh criticism from the local business community. A representative of a company in Kobe city said,

“Young people’s employment rate in local companies has been decreasing year by year, and the outflow of talent to other regions continues unabated. Although manufacturing is a core industry in Hyogo, the governor is focusing on attracting startup and IT companies, with no significant results. The local business community has not been pleased with the governor’s ‘love for new things,’ and doubts have been raised since his first year in office.”

Yomiuri Shimbun reported that in this fiscal year’s general prefectural recruitment exam, there were 262 candidates who declined to take the written exam, with a resignation rate reaching 40%. The previously mentioned prefectural official lamented:

“The biggest concern right now is the budget preparation. There is a growing number of staff who ‘cannot accept’ the governor making budget decisions. This trend is especially strong among managerial positions. With major executives leaving and working under a governor whose future is uncertain, it is understandable that staff are anxious about the future of the prefectural administration. Even among younger employees, there are growing voices saying ‘The prefectural administration will not progress unless the governor resigns,’ signaling a critical situation.”

When Governor Saito first took office, he highlighted on his SNS that children were expressing the sentiment “Hyogo Prefecture is embarrassing.” He wrote passionately, “I will definitely change this situation.”

Ironically, Hyogo Prefecture has changed. However, it is the staff who support the prefecture who are experiencing the most “embarrassment.” How does the governor perceive this?