Photo/Illutration Ibaraki Governor Kazuhiko Oigawa speaks to reporters at the prefectural government office in Mito on Oct. 11. (Hiromichi Fujita)

MITO--Ibaraki Governor Kazuhiko Oigawa is shrugging off a recent survey that ranked his prefecture as the least attractive in all of Japan.

“There are various ways to see attractiveness and each prefecture has its own uniqueness,” Oigawa said on Oct. 11.

For seven consecutive years until 2019, Ibaraki ranked dead last among the nation’s 47 prefectures for allure and appeal in the Brand Research Institute’s annual online survey.

But after a major promotional campaign, Ibaraki moved up to 42nd last year, relinquishing its “least attractive” title to neighboring Tochigi Prefecture in the northern Kanto region.

Some on social media joked it was unfortunate the prefecture would no longer be able to use the easily recognizable “least attractive” title to promote itself.

But the latest rankings, released on Oct. 9, sent Ibaraki back to the bottom again, reclaiming the dubious distinction.

“Officially, I would like to humbly accept the ranking and make efforts to raise my prefecture’s attractiveness,” Oigawa said.

At the same time, he insisted the rock-bottom ranking carries little meaning for him.

“I anticipated that (the survey firm) would write such a scenario because it is the most interesting story.”

The governor touted the prefecture’s attractiveness, citing the busy local tourist destinations, such as Hitachi Seaside Park, and the fact that more people are moving to the prefecture.

“I couldn’t care less about the worst ranking,” he said. “I would like local residents to be proud of Ibaraki and speak out about its wonderfulness.”

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