Key Facts
• April 13: Takushi Nakamura elected as Sakura City mayor.
• May 26: Nakamura holds first regular press conference since taking office.
• March 2025: Sakura City celebrates 20th anniversary of municipal governance.
• $8.2 million: Total hometown tax donations for fiscal year 2024, a record high.
• $1.9 million: Increase in donations compared to the previous fiscal year.
• 33,000: Number of donation cases, also a record high.
• 70%: Proportion of return gifts related to Nikka Whisky, produced locally.
• Key projects: Redevelopment of Ujiie Station East Exit, new school lunch center, and smart IC on Tohoku Expressway.
• October 2025: Target completion date for Tochigi SC soccer training facility at Kitsuagawa Sports Ground.
Summary
Takushi Nakamura, elected as Sakura City mayor in April 2025, held his first regular press conference on May 26. He emphasized his commitment to addressing challenges with urgency and making Sakura City more appealing. The city, marking its 20th anniversary in March, is advancing key projects such as the redevelopment of Ujiie Station East Exit and a new school lunch center. Nakamura also announced plans to promote local settlement by utilizing areas around Kamisuzaka Station and developing a smart IC on the Tohoku Expressway. Fiscal year 2024 saw record-breaking hometown tax donations of $8.2 million, a $1.9 million increase from the previous year, with 70% of return gifts linked to Nikka Whisky. The city attributes this growth to increased repeat donors, rising demand due to raw material shortages, and new seasonal offerings. Additionally, the Tochigi SC soccer training facility is set for completion by October 2025.
