Politics Former lawmaker's secretary becomes Japan's youngest mayor

Kawata was backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, junior coalition partner Komeito and the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. Born in nearby Nara city, Kawata graduated from the economics faculty of Kyoto University before entering the Kyoto city government to work as a caseworker for those seeking public assistance. She said the problems encountered by her family in obtaining educational support for her younger brother, who had an intellectual disability, stimulated her interest in politics when she was in senior high school. Kawata said she entered politics to "prescribe" policies that can cure various societal problems. The mayoral election was necessary because Fumiaki Horiguchi, 71, resigned due to failing health. When picking a successor, Kawata's name came up because Horiguchi said that despite her young age, she had experience working in social welfare.

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