福田紀彦

Norihiko Fukuda is the Mayor of Kawasaki, currently serving his fourth term after being re-elected in 2025. Before his mayoral career, he served two terms as a member of the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. Educated in the United States at Furman University, he previously worked as a secretary to a member of the House of Representatives. As mayor, he has focused on social welfare initiatives, including achieving zero childcare waiting lists, implementing comprehensive school lunch programs, and promoting a community-based integrated care system for the elderly. He has also championed digital transformation in municipal administration and environmental sustainability, notably through plastic recycling initiatives and the establishment of a local energy company. In 2022, he was awarded an MBE by the British government for his contributions to Japan-UK relations.