四方源太郎

Gentaro Shikata is a Japanese politician currently serving as the Mayor of Ayabe, Kyoto. Born in Nagoya and raised in Ayabe, he began his career in the private sector before entering politics. He served four terms as a member of the Kyoto Prefectural Assembly, representing the Ayabe City constituency, where he was affiliated with the Liberal Democratic Party. Beyond his legislative career, he was a founding member and executive of the NPO Ayabe Welfare Frontier. In 2026, he was elected as Mayor of Ayabe as an independent candidate with broad cross-party support, focusing on local development and innovation.