Soichiro Takashima

Soichiro Takashima began his career as a TV presenter in 1997 and became the youngest mayor in Fukuoka City’s history at the age of 36 in 2010.Re-elected with record-breaking votes in 2014, 2018, and 2022, he is now serving his fourth term. Nominated for the World Mayor Prize in 2014, he was also the first Japanese mayor to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in 2017.Takashima has leveraged Fukuoka's designation as a National Strategic Economic Zone to implement key structural reforms and deregulation initiatives, including the Startup Visa Programme, corporate tax reductions, and relaxed building height restrictions.He is a pioneering leader in Japan’s startup movement, driving innovative policies and economic growth.