下鶴隆央

Takao Shimozuru is a Japanese politician currently serving as the Mayor of Kagoshima. Born in the Taniyama district of Kagoshima, he graduated from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Law and initially worked as a consultant at Abeam Consulting. He began his political career as a member of the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly, serving three terms starting in 2011. In 2020, he was elected Mayor of Kagoshima and was subsequently re-elected in 2024. During his tenure, he has focused on progressive social policies, including the introduction of a partnership oath system for same-sex couples in 2022.