Photo/Illutration Mayor Tatsuo Igarashi of Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Aug. 26 explains the plan to determine the amount of his retirement bonus through online voting. (Mikio Kano)

TSUKUBA, Ibaraki Prefecture--The city mayor here will receive his retirement bonus at the end of his four-year term in November but he is asking the public to decide how much he deserves. 

Tatsuo Igarashi said on Aug. 26 that the amount, which can range from a pittance to a princely sum, will be determined by an online vote by residents.

According to Tsukuba officials, this is the first time in Japan’s history that a mayor’s retirement payout will be decided by residents voting online.

Residents will evaluate the mayor’s performance on a scale of 0 to 100 points in increments of 10, and the average score will be reflected in Igarashi's retirement bonus.

Around 130,000 residents aged 15 or older who have a My Number identification card with a valid electronic certificate are eligible to vote online. Voting will be conducted through the city’s smartphone app.

The amount will be calculated by multiplying the average score by the mayor’s monthly salary.

Under the law, the retirement bonus cannot be reduced to zero, so the payment will range from a minimum of 22 yen (15 cents) to a maximum of 20,394,000 yen.

The city will propose a related ordinance at the September assembly meeting. If it is passed, the online voting will be conducted from Nov. 1 to 11 during Igarashi’s current term.

Tsukuba is scheduled to hold a mayoral election on Oct. 27.

Igarashi, 46, the incumbent who is seeking a third term, will face off against rookie Koji Hoshida, 50, a prefectural assembly member from the Liberal Democratic Party.

Retirement bonuses for mayors are paid at the completion of each four-year term, regardless of whether or not they are re-elected. 

FIRST ELECTED WITH NO RETIREMENT BONUS

Regarding the timing of the online vote after the mayoral election, Igarashi and city officials explained that it was scheduled to avoid influencing the election campaign.

Igarashi pledged to accept a “zero retirement bonus” when he was first elected.

Four years ago, he reduced his retirement bonus from around 20 million to 22 yen.

While some praised that he fulfilled his campaign promise, others argued that rejecting the retirement bonus sets a precedent that could discourage future candidates seeking the office. 

Based on these discussions four years ago, Igarashi said, “We have made a system that appropriately reflects the residents’ opinions."

RISE IN REFUSAL OF END-OF-TERM BONUSES

Recently, there has been a growing trend of mayors refusing their retirement payouts.

In July last year, an ordinance was passed in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, to eliminate Mayor Akitsu Kamoda’s retirement bonus.

On Aug. 9 this year, Mayor Yasuhiro Nakane of Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, announced his intention not to receive a retirement bonus of around 27 million yen, in line with his campaign pledge.

Some have expressed doubts.

In a Tsukuba city assembly meeting four years ago, an assembly member said, “While it’s important to keep campaign promises, it should be carefully considered from a long-term perspective."

In October last year, the Morioka city assembly passed a proposed ordinance amendment to eliminate the 31.68 million yen retirement bonus for Mayor Shigeru Uchidate, who had been elected for the first time.

However, some assembly members criticized the move, saying, “The job is so hard that even the retirement bonus is not enough. They should receive it.”

Others called it “election campaign PR.”

RESIDENTS AGED 15 AND OLDER

The online voting in Tsukuba will be open to residents aged 15 and older.

The mayor said, “I wanted to create an opportunity for young people to think about (politics) and express their views before they reach voting age.”

Since Igarashi took office, the city has introduced online voting using My Number cards for assessing business proposals, and has been testing the system with an eye toward potentially using it in future elections.

Those who have a My Number card with a valid electronic certificate are eligible to vote online.

Those without the card cannot vote.

“I hope that this vote will increase interest in My Number cards and lead to more applications,” Igarashi said.

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