Key Facts
• Takaoka Mayor plans to propose a 40% salary cut ordinance in September.
• Current monthly salary: ¥1,000,000; post-cut salary: ¥600,000.
• Reduction linked to Noto Peninsula earthquake recovery efforts.
• ¥600,000 would make Takaoka Mayor’s salary the lowest in Toyama Prefecture.
• Comparison: Toyama City Mayor earns ¥1,075,000; Funahashi Village Mayor earns ¥650,000.
• Previous mayor implemented a similar 40% cut from 2018 to 2021.
• Only the mayor’s salary will be reduced; no impact on deputy mayor or staff.
• City Council’s largest faction, “Doshikai,” questions the necessity of the cut.
• September City Council session begins on September 1, 2025.
• October City Council elections may influence the ordinance’s approval.
Summary
Takaoka Mayor plans to propose a 40% salary cut ordinance during the September City Council session, reducing his monthly salary from ¥1,000,000 to ¥600,000. This initiative, tied to earthquake recovery efforts, would make his salary the lowest among municipal leaders in Toyama Prefecture. Unlike a similar measure from 2018 to 2021, this reduction applies solely to the mayor, sparing other officials. The proposal has sparked debate, with the largest City Council faction expressing concerns about its necessity. The ordinance’s fate may hinge on the upcoming October City Council elections.
