Fukuoka Governor Hattori Emphasizes Commitment to Parliamentary Reform: 'We Will Not Bring Back Nemawashi'
Published
On October 20, Fukuoka Governor Seitaro Hattori held a press conference to reflect on the regular session of the prefectural assembly held in September. During the conference, the Governor reiterated that he would not revive the practice of "nemawashi"—prior behind-the-scenes coordination—in future assembly operations.
"Nemawashi" refers to the custom of discussing matters with relevant parties and reaching a consensus in advance before making formal decisions in meetings. While this method has been common in many Japanese assemblies, Governor Hattori has been pushing for reforms to abolish this practice in order to increase transparency.
During the September session, there were instances of intense debate between the Governor and assembly members. While some pointed out the difficulties in managing the assembly under these conditions, the Governor expressed his belief that "it is important to exhaust all discussions."
Governor Hattori intends to continue making assembly debates public and aims for a style of politics that is easy for the prefecture's residents to understand. His remarks can be seen as a demonstration of his strong determination to establish a new way of operating the assembly, unconstrained by traditional customs.
Sources: 日テレNEWS NNN
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