[Legislative Activity Record No. 11] Legislative Activity Report No. 3 has been published

I am Jun Igarashi, a member of the Sannohe Town Council.
I have published the "Legislative Activity Report (No. 3)," which summarizes my activities for the latter half of 2025.

One of the themes this time is wildlife damage, which is becoming increasingly serious within the town.
In the document, I have organized the total damage caused by bears, wild boars, and deer, along with the current situation in the town using figures, and I have also introduced countermeasures from Koumi Town, Nagano Prefecture. The content conveys that wildlife damage should be viewed as a matter of "regional defense capability," and that
daily awareness and community-wide efforts are important.

Rather than just introducing my personal activities as a council member, the report is structured to
"help town residents easily understand what issues Sannohe Town currently faces and what the council is discussing."

In this article, I am releasing the full text of the manuscript that served as the basis for that activity report.
The legislative activity report itself was edited into a single B3-sized sheet to be inserted into the paper and distributed.
Because the content inevitably had to be compressed due to space limitations on the paper, I decided to publish it here on note in a format where it can be read as a full text.

Of course, I would be happy if you could also take a look at the activity report, but
I would be grateful if you could also read this note.

As I always say, a council member's compensation is paid from public funds, which means your tax money.
That is precisely why I believe I have a responsibility to clearly communicate "what I am doing" and "what thoughts drive my actions."

I would be happy if reading this article makes you even a little bit interested, thinking, "Wait, what about the council member in my own neighborhood?"
And if you are willing, please tell your local council member that you "want them to share information."

I believe that such interactions will be the first step toward making local politics more of a "personal matter."

To protect the agriculture that supports the town's industry and the safety of the townspeople
- Thinking of wildlife damage countermeasures as "regional defense capability" -

Since the beginning of this year, there have been successive sightings of bears, wild boars, and deer in Sannohe Town, which is affecting not only agricultural crops but also the lives of the townspeople.
In particular, on November 9, a human injury caused by a bear occurred within the town, which was reported in national news. This shows the reality that wildlife damage, which was previously considered "a matter for deep in the mountains," is now happening "right next to our daily lives."
In the agricultural sector, damage to corn, fruit trees, and rice continues, casting a shadow over the farmers' motivation to continue farming. In Sannohe Town, damage by deer is still minor, but looking at the national level, while damage by bears is about 700 million yen and wild boars about 3.6 billion yen, damage by deer is prominent at about 7 billion yen (FY2023, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries), and the possibility that it will expand rapidly in the future cannot be denied. Preparation from an early stage is the key to preventing the expansion of damage.
While "point-based control" using conventional traps and electric fences has a certain effect, it cannot cope with wide-area damage.
Beyond agricultural damage, from the perspective of crime prevention and disaster prevention, it is required to think about how to protect the entire region.
On November 17, I visited Koumi Town, Nagano Prefecture, with the Construction, Agriculture and Forestry Standing Committee. In Koumi Town, they are promoting the development of deer fences using wire mesh about 2 meters high as a town-only project, and some farmers in the introduced areas said that "damage has become almost zero."
The installation is done by the farmers themselves, and the town only supports the materials. The sense of crisis and the initiative of the region, which shared the seriousness of the damage, supported the results.
What I felt through the visit is that damage countermeasures are not just about technology, but that "building regional awareness" is the key. In Sannohe Town, because the damage is still limited, there is a current situation where a sense of crisis is difficult to spread. However, it will be too late after the damage becomes apparent, and establishing a community-wide system from the prevention stage is a future challenge.
Preventing agricultural damage is protecting the foundation of hometown tax donations, and it is directly linked to protecting the safety and peace of mind of the townspeople.
Toward a town that can act "to prevent damage," not "after damage occurs."
Positioning wildlife damage countermeasures as a "defense capability" to protect the lives and livelihoods of the region is what is required of Sannohe Town from now on.

Hearing the real, honest opinions of the child-rearing generation

In October, we held a roundtable discussion for the child-rearing generation and heard real voices about daily anxieties, burdens, and the difficulty of knowing where to go for consultation.
Many mothers felt that the major issue was not whether systems and support "exist or not," but rather "that it is difficult to understand how they are delivered."

It was also pointed out that there are few places to talk casually and that information does not reach them in a form that suits their lives,
which revealed the need to build a mechanism to support child-rearing as a whole community.

I will carefully apply the voices obtained at this roundtable discussion to future council activities.

For details, please see my past blog, "What lies beyond 'administrative support' as seen through discussions with the child-rearing generation."

Record of activities and learning outside the town

At the end of October, as an opportunity for learning outside the town, I participated in the "Regional Revitalization Forum in Aomori," co-hosted by Aomori Prefecture and the Japan Center for Regional Development. I gained many insights from lectures on regional development and advanced case studies.

Professor Taro Taguchi of Tokushima University presented the perspective that
what supports a region is not the population size, but the "quality of relationships." It was also pointed out that modern regional communities have changed significantly, and
while "geographical communities" such as neighborhood associations and residents' associations were once the mainstream,
"theme-based communities" that share values and purposes are now spreading.

Such learning becomes an important perspective in organizing issues and considering policies in Sannohe Town.
It was an opportunity to feel once again the need to rethink how we create regional connections.

For details, please see my past blog, "Rethinking the 'form of connection' rather than population - Learning from the Regional Revitalization Forum [Part 1]."

The "Special Committee on Settlement of Accounts" to Review How Town Money is Spent

The "Special Committee on Settlement of Accounts," which inspects how Sannohe Town's money was spent over the past year, was held in September.
In this committee, council members receive explanations from town staff regarding the expenditure details and results of each project, and confirm whether tax money was used appropriately through questioning. It is an important venue not only for looking at numbers but also for finding points for improvement that will lead to the town's future.

For the 2024 fiscal year, the general account had revenue of 7.14037 billion yen and expenditures of 6.7836 billion yen, resulting in a surplus of approximately 299.5 million yen.
Regarding revenue, while hometown tax donations increased by approximately 70 million yen compared to the previous year, town tax revenue such as fixed asset tax has decreased.
As for expenditures, hygiene expenses centered on medical care and welfare increased, while livelihood expenses such as child-rearing support decreased slightly.
While fiscal management is generally stable, the situation where approximately 75% of revenue depends on national and prefectural subsidies and local allocation taxes continues, and how to secure the town's own revenue sources remains a challenge.

In this review, I paid particular attention to the nature of subsidies that are paid to the same organizations for almost the same amount every year.
There are some that continue based on "precedent from the previous year" without the purpose or effectiveness of the project being sufficiently verified, so I asked questions to confirm whether they are being used in accordance with their purpose and whether they have become stagnant.

Specifically, regarding the tourism promotion project subsidy (5.85 million yen) to the Sannohe Town Tourism Association, I pointed out that since much of the subsidy is used for personnel expenses, there is insufficient response on weekends and holidays when tourism demand is high.
The town responded that they "recognize the issue and would like to proceed with improvements with the Tourism Association," and the Mayor also replied that "strengthening SNS dissemination and the hospitality system is necessary." I feel that it is necessary to re-verify how effectively the subsidy is being used for the purpose of tourism promotion.

In addition, regarding the Sannohe Regional Future School project subsidy (1 million yen), I also confirmed the differences from school classes, the continuity of the content, and the methods for evaluating results. It was explained that 28 people participated last year, and as a place to learn practical content that cannot be covered in class, there have been results such as passing certification exams and winning prizes in competitions, and that new themes such as AI are also being incorporated. In educational projects, it is required not only to continue them but also to update the content to match the times and visualize the results.

The Special Committee on Settlement of Accounts is not just a place to confirm expenditures as "things that are finished," but a starting point for leading to the next policy improvements.
Moving forward, I will continue to carefully verify subsidies that have been continued in the same way every year from the perspective of "is this suitable for the current Sannohe Town?" and "can it be used more effectively?" and aim for parliamentary management that is open to all town residents.

Intent and Summary of General Questions

What are General Questions?
A "General Question" is a venue where council members ask questions and make proposals to the executive branch, including the Mayor, regarding town policies and general administration. In Sannohe Town, this opportunity is provided four times a year in March, June, September, and December, when regular sessions are held.
Below is a summary of the themes of the general questions I raised from last December to September of this year, their intent, and their content.

① Regarding the vision for Sannohe Town aimed for by the new Numazawa town administration (December 2024 Council)
At the first council session after the new Mayor took office, I asked about the future direction of Sannohe Town.
Amidst the progress of population decline and the declining birthrate, I asked about concrete measures to make it a "town where people want to give birth and raise children," and how to realize a "profitable municipality."
The town indicated its intention to promote "town development where each and every resident is the protagonist" based on the 5th Comprehensive Promotion Plan, and in the field of education, it replied with a policy to encourage migration and settlement through the enhancement of child-rearing and educational environments, such as expanding entrance celebration money and strengthening English education.

② Regarding agriculture that supports hometown tax and wildlife damage countermeasures to protect the safety of residents (June 2025 Council)
To protect fruit trees and rice cultivation, which are the foundation of hometown tax, I asked about countermeasures against damage caused by increasing bears, deer, and wild boars.
The damage extends not only to agricultural products but also to residential areas and parks, and urgent response is necessary from the perspective of ensuring the safety of children and the elderly, as well as crime prevention.
In addition to the local countermeasures using traps and electric fences used so far, I proposed the introduction of "area-wide pest control" that surrounds the entire region. I requested the establishment of model districts utilizing national subsidies, and the town replied that it would proceed with consideration in cooperation with the cooperation team and residents.

③ Regarding measures against extreme heat in agriculture and the development of a sustainable working environment (September 2025 Council)
Amidst the deepening high-temperature damage and decline in productivity due to the recent extreme heat, I asked about the impact on fruit trees, vegetables, and rice cultivation, and the development of a working environment that protects the health of agricultural workers.
I proposed support measures tailored to the actual situation on the ground, such as support for the introduction of air-conditioned clothing and heat-shielding materials, and the development of work guidelines utilizing the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT).
The town indicated a policy to continue support for the introduction of materials and to strengthen training and awareness-raising.
※WBGT: An index that indicates the risk of heatstroke, including not only temperature but also humidity and sunlight.

Based on voices from the field and issues seen from comparisons with outside the town.
While listening to the voices of residents and incorporating insights gained from advanced examples in other regions,
I will continue to make policy proposals in the council chamber, aiming for a safer and more sustainable Sannohe Town.

Finally

Thank you very much for warmly watching over my legislative activities and efforts in town development again this year.
The voices and opinions I receive every day support my activities and are the strength that moves me forward.

Please feel free to send your opinions and impressions in the comments section or on social media.
Thank you for reading until the end.

This blog will be the last update of the year.
May the new year be a healthy and peaceful one for all of you.
Have a happy new year.