Key Facts
• Mayor Takeshi Demachi announced the dismissal of Deputy Mayor Kanji Kawamura by August 31.
• Kawamura initially planned to resign after the September council session, by September 30.
• Kawamura, serving his second term, was appointed in 2020 with tenure until March 2028.
• The decision follows the June mayoral election, where the previous mayor, supported by Kawamura, lost.
• Some council members criticized the move as “too hasty.”
• Demachi emphasized the urgency to implement his campaign promises within his remaining four-year term.
• The city plans to request a replacement from the prefecture, but the position will remain vacant temporarily.
Summary
Takaoka City Mayor Takeshi Demachi has decided to dismiss Deputy Mayor Kanji Kawamura by the end of August, a month earlier than Kawamura’s planned resignation after the September council session. Kawamura, who has served since 2020 and was in his second term, had a tenure set to last until March 2028. The decision comes after the June mayoral election, where the previous mayor, supported by Kawamura, was defeated. While some council members criticized the move as “too hasty,” Demachi defended his decision, citing the need to act quickly to fulfill his campaign promises within his remaining four-year term. The city will request a replacement from the prefecture, but the deputy mayor position will remain vacant for now.
