In the past, there was a governor who, while getting a haircut, saw a mother and child selling evening newspapers in the mirror and wondered what kind of life they were leading.
In the autumn twilight of 1918, Governor Ichizo Hayashi of Osaka Prefecture was getting a haircut at a barbershop near Yodoyabashi Bridge in Osaka.
Reflected in the mirror was a mother of about 40 and her daughter selling the evening edition of the newspaper.
After his haircut was finished, Governor Hayashi bought an evening paper and spoke with the mother.
Afterward, he stopped by a nearby police box.
Governor Hayashi ordered the police officer at the box to investigate the family circumstances of the mother and child who were selling the evening papers.
A few days later, he received the report of the investigation from the officer.
The mother's husband had fallen ill, she had three children, and they were barely making a living by selling evening papers.
The children could not afford school supplies and were not attending school.
Governor Hayashi thought that there must be many other such impoverished families, so he decided to investigate the living conditions of the residents within his jurisdiction and, based on that information, provide support to those in need.
To that end, he established a system of regional commissioners to properly grasp needs in the community and deliver appropriate assistance to those who required it.
Similar initiatives began in Okayama Prefecture and eventually spread nationwide.
In 1936, the "Regional Commissioner System Ordinance" was enacted, making it a nationwide system.
At Yodoyabashi in Osaka, there stands a monument to Governor Ichizo Hayashi based on this episode of the mother and child selling evening papers.
There is also a monument to Ichizo Hayashi at Kumamoto Castle. When I wondered why, I learned that Governor Ichizo Hayashi was from Kumamoto.
Incidentally, Mamoru Shigemitsu was Ichizo Hayashi's son-in-law.
He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the end of the war. On September 2, 1945, he signed the Instrument of Surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
Mamoru Shigemitsu was from Oita Prefecture.
He was a diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and when he was stationed in China, he was caught in a bomb attack in Shanghai and lost his right leg, which was replaced with a prosthetic.
Another Foreign Minister who was caught in a bomb attack and had a prosthetic right leg was Shigenobu Okuma, who was from Saga Prefecture.
Immediately after Shigenobu Okuma was attacked by the bomb, Kanehiro Takaki from Miyazaki happened to pass by the scene and provided first aidto him.
The connections in Kyushu are strong, aren't they?
The welfare commissioner system, which has continued for over 100 years, is becoming difficult due to a shortage of people to take on the role.
There is also a debate about whether they should be paid a salary rather than relying on well-intentioned volunteers.
I think it is very difficult to maintain a system that has lasted for over a hundred years.
In the past, there was a governor who saw a mother and child selling evening papers in a mirror and wondered what kind of life they were leading.
Until before the war, governors were dispatched from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare was also
created by splitting off from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
When I had just joined the ministry, I was told about the "Three Loves" philosophy of the former Ministry of Home Affairs.
1. Love your work
2. Love your wife
3. Love your region
1 means to give your all to your current job,
2 means to cherish your family,
3 means that although you may be transferred often, you should learn to love the region where you live and work.
Some of you may have moved to new workplaces in April.
I hope you will commit to the "Three Loves" philosophy,
and I wish you great leaps and success in your new workplaces.