Reform leader - Hidden leader

Japanese: 革新首長 - かくしんしゅちょう

…Mayors of cities, towns, and villages also campaigned on the principle of “local autonomy directly connected to the central government” and tended to be subordinate to the central government for the sake of regional development. However, as the problem of urban pollution intensified, “progressive leaders” who advocated “direct ties with the residents” were born in various regions. They implemented policies that led the nation in areas such as pollution, welfare, and urban planning, and actively promoted resident participation in the formulation of these administrative and municipal plans. …

From [Independent]

...The reasons for this are (1) the strong character of candidates as representatives of local interests, (2) the underdevelopment of local party organizations, so the increase in votes that can be expected from official endorsements is not large, and (3) the history of the birth of progressive local governments. For about 10 years from around 1965, progressive mayors were elected in succession in various regions, but this was often due to electoral cooperation between progressive parties such as the Progressive Unity Party, the Socialist-Communist Alliance, and the Socialist-Political-Democratic-Citizen Alliance. Furthermore, intellectuals such as scholars, bureaucrats, and freelancers were put forward as independent candidates, and they gained widespread support. ...

*Some of the terminology used to refer to "innovative mayors" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…市町村長も〈中央に直結した地方自治〉を選挙で掲げ，地域開発のために中央に従属する傾向にあった。だが，都市公害問題の激化を機として，〈住民との直結〉を掲げる〈革新首長〉が各地に誕生した。彼らは公害，福祉，都市計画等の領域において国を先導する施策を実施し，またこれらの行政や市町村計画の策定に住民の参加を積極的にすすめた。…

【無所属】より

…その理由として，(1)候補者が地元利益の代表という性格を強くもつこと，(2)政党の地方組織が未発達なため，公認によって期待できる得票増が多くないこと，(3)革新自治体誕生の経緯，があげられる。1965年前後から約10年間，各地で革新首長の当選が相ついだが，これは革新統一，社共共闘，社公民共闘など革新系諸政党の選挙協力によるものが多い。そして，学者，官僚，自由業などの知識人を無所属の候補としてかつぎだし，広範な支持勢力を獲得するものであった。…

※「革新首長」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について | 情報

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