Fukushima Iitate Village Mayor Kanno's Retirement Ceremony Steering Reconstruction from the Nuclear Accident October 26, 12:41

In Iitate Village, Fukushima Prefecture, where all residents were temporarily forced to evacuate due to the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the retirement ceremony of Mayor Norio Sugano, who returned the residents and steered the reconstruction, was held.

Mayor Sugano of Iitate Village was elected for the first time in the 1996 village mayoral election, and has been working on village development with the motto "Tai" which means "to spare no effort" and "to be polite".



When the entire village was designated as a planned evacuation area due to the nuclear accident, we have been making efforts to return the residents and steer the reconstruction, such as directing the evacuation of the residents.



On the 26th, when the term of office expired, the retirement ceremony of Mayor Kanno was held at the village office from 10 am, and about 300 people including village staff and residents gathered.



Mayor Kanno said, "The heart of the villagers is the face of the village, and with that as the pillar of the village, we have promoted the" Tai Life ". It is important to share the hearts in reconstruction, and for 24 years with a satisfaction level of 200%. It was. "



After that, he told the staff, "As a local government, we have freedom and ideas, but we also have obligations and responsibilities. We want the villagers to work with confidence, pride, and ingenuity for the future."



After this, Mayor Kanno exchanged greetings with each of the gathered people and left the town hall.

Residents "Thank you for your hard work"

Residents who gathered at the retirement ceremony of Mayor Kanno heard voices hoping for their hardships.



A 67-year-old woman living in the village said, "I just want to say thank you for your hard work. I was worried that the village mayor was thin after the earthquake, but he did his best with a smile. It has decreased, but I hope it will gradually get excited like it used to be. "



In addition, a 77-year-old woman evacuating from Iitate Village to the neighboring city of Minamisoma said, "I think it was a lot of trouble to serve as the village chief during the difficult times when there was a discussion about the Great Heisei Consolidation and the nuclear accident. I want to tell you to take your time. In the future, I would like the younger generation of village chiefs to do their best for the village. "

Governor of Fukushima "Resonates with the idea that" helping and supporting each other is important ""

At a regular press conference on the morning of the 26th, Governor Uchibori of Fukushima Prefecture deeply resonated with the village mayor's idea that "help and support are important," and I myself have incorporated the village mayor's thoughts into the prefectural government somewhere. I'm now reminded that it was. "



On top of that, "I have a sincere respect for the fact that my own basic principles of local government policy have been firmly established before and after the nuclear accident. When I met the other day, I said," I will continue to be a villager and keep the area healthy. I want to be a little power, but I want to be a power, "so I hope that he will continue to play an active role in the future."