A constant theme. That is “life”.

- Governor Yuji Kuroiwa is a well-known former popular TV broadcaster. His transformation from a journalist with a keen eye for politics to a governor who takes on the heavy responsibility of prefectural government caused a great deal of excitement not only in Kanagawa Prefecture but also in the public eye when he first ran for office and was elected for the first time.

Kuroiwa: The first time I was elected governor of Kanagawa Prefecture was in the 2011 April 10th unified local election. The incumbent (predecessor Shigefumi Matsuzawa), who was said to be certain to be re-elected, announced his intention to run for the Tokyo gubernatorial election with just over 20 days left until the election announcement, and suddenly I received a request to run for the prefectural gubernatorial election. It has come. The person who persuaded me most strongly was Mr. Suga (currently Prime Minister), who was then chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Prefectural Federation.
At that time, I had retired from a television station and was teaching at a graduate school while working as a freelance anchor. I did not expect to be endorsed in this election, and this story seemed to come out of nowhere for me.
It was an unexpected request, but what made me decide to accept it was the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred shortly after. As a TV broadcaster, my theme has always been ``life.'' At a time when so many lives are being lost, I feel that it is a ``voice from heaven'' that calls me to take on the position of chieftain who protects people's lives and happy lives. Therefore, I decided to run for office.

- Announced his candidacy just 8 days before the announcement. With the recommendation of the Democratic Party of Japan Prefectural Federation and Komeito Prefectural Head Office at the time, he won his first election after winning what was described as an ``unusually short decisive battle.'' I am currently serving my third term.

- Mr. Kuroiwa has transitioned from being a reporter to being reported on, but in his younger days, when he studied at Waseda University, he was a famous orator who sang at "oren-kai." Speaking of the Waseda University Oral Society, it is a ``gateway to becoming a politician'' and has produced many influential members including five prime ministers.
In other words, did Mr. Kuroiwa's ambition to become a politician begin when he was a student?

Kuroiwa: When I was a kid, I became “Satsuma Hayato”! That's what I thought.

- Hayato Satsuma...? You were born in Kobe, right?

Kuroiwa: My father is from Kagoshima. He is from the pre-war generation, so he has inherited the Satsuma ethos. He was a very strict father who harshly taught me the spirit of civility and altruism. He should give up his life and work for the sake of the world and people. That's Hayato Satsuma, and that blood flows through your veins too. He grew up with that instilled in him.
A profession that serves the public is a public service. Leaving the University of Tokyo, becoming a career bureaucrat, and eventually moving on to the world of politics...that kind of ``old-fashioned'' elitism was the value system of my family.

― So, in response to his father's expectations, he entered Nada Junior High School and High School, which has the No. 1 track record for admission to the University of Tokyo.

Kuroiwa: Well, that's true...but if you were to ask me if I transported it according to my father's ``imprint'', the wholesaler didn't sell it that way.
When I was a child, I was what you would call an honor student, and I thought my strengths were my pen and speech. It's writing and speaking. I was so proud of myself that I felt like, ``When I speak, everyone listens attentively.''

- It's a glimpse of the popular caster of the future.

Kuroiwa: At a school called Nada, most students aim for the University of Tokyo or medical school. Even if they fail during their current career, most people achieve their goals the following year. However, even after being a ronin for two years, I was not accepted to the University of Tokyo.
The life of a ronin while the friends who came to Tokyo together are enjoying university life. And for two years. It was really painful at this time. I had no choice but to endure it. In high school, I was the student council president and stood out among my classmates, so it was even harder.

- An honor student who is skillful at everything feels frustrated for the first time...?

Kuroiwa: In retrospect, it was important for me to realize how painful it was to be the only one left behind.
One of the basic principles of the SDGs is "leaving no one behind," right? If I had remained an arrogant honor student, I wonder if I would have been able to empathize with that.

Kuroiwa: Even if you want to make it happen, there are things you can't do. I learned a lot from that. Thanks to knowing this during my time as a ronin, I have become mentally tougher.
I still felt a bit nervous about going to Waseda University, where I had passed the exam for ``Non-Slip''. However, when I entered the university, an encounter awaited me that would completely change my values. That is the musical research group.
I happened to visit the group, and I was so captivated by the charm of musicals that I found myself singing and dancing on stage. The friends I met in this circle were all different types from my previous friends. That was fun, but it wasn't enough for me, so I also knocked on the door of an oratory society that had ``many famous politicians.''
I was able to lead a fun campus life by joining two different circles. Looking back now, I'm glad I went to Waseda.

- After graduating from university, you joined Fuji Phoneevision. Did you aim to become a political reporter?

Kuroiwa: Not really. Rather, I chose a television station because I wanted to do work that had nothing to do with politics.
This is because, through the activities of the Speech Society, I felt like I got a glimpse of the unpleasant side of politics. The Waseda University Oren Society is by no means a ``politician training school,'' but even though it is a student club, there are factions. They then split into factions and competed for the post of secretary general. It's like the Liberal Democratic Party of the old days. It's a power struggle. I hated that. I thought that "politics" was about correcting things that were wrong and doing work for the world and people, but in the real world of politics, if you don't win that kind of power struggle, "politics" ” is not possible. After realizing this, I decided to stop aspiring to become a politician.
Even in my graduation essay collection for the oratorical society, I wrote, ``Declaration of permanent non-candidacy!'' This became a "violation of the Declaration" 31 years later...
My first assignment at a TV station was in the sales department, which I wasn't expecting. My job is to buy advertising space from sponsors.

- This is the section where you can make money by increasing sales. Wasn't it a valuable experience to be placed in a demanding business setting as a first-year working adult?

Kuroiwa: I think so.

- In your fourth year with the company, you were transferred to the news department, which marked the beginning of your spectacular career.

Kuroiwa: It's outrageous that it's spectacular. I started out as a reporter for the political department, satsuma rounds, night raids and morning raids, and also became a director. It was 9 years after I joined the company that I started appearing on screen as a caster. He was first appointed as the anchorman for the Saturday and Sunday edition of the news program ``FNN Super Time.''
It's a Saturday and Sunday edition, so it only appears on TV two days a week. I was told, ``You can do whatever you want on the other days of the week,'' so I did my own campaign reporting, planning, reporting, editing, and even broadcasting. The theme I worked on was ``emergency medical care''.
Through this research that I started on my own, I learned about the word paramedic. Paramedics are paramedics who have skills similar to those of doctors and are responsible for advanced lifesaving and emergency medical treatment, and in the United States they were certified and achieved great results. In comparison, firefighters in Japan's emergency services are not allowed to perform medical treatment, and are only allowed to provide first aid, which can be done by unqualified personnel. As a result, many people died in ambulances.
The emergency medical campaign to raise this issue received a huge response and continued for two years. This was one of the triggers that led to the enactment of the Emergency Medical Technician Act. We also received awards such as the Broadcasting Culture Foundation Award and the Japan Commercial Broadcasting Federation Award.
The incident was praised as an example of how reporting aroused public opinion and changed the structure of society. You don't have to be a politician to do your part for the world and people! It was the moment when I realized the power of reporting, that you can do politics without becoming a politician.

Kuroiwa: After that, the Sunday morning show ``Hoso 2001,'' which I hosted, was a political discussion program, but in addition to that, I also served as a producer and anchor for the documentary series ``The Inspiring Nurses on the Frontline.'' Although it was broadcast once every six months, it was blessed with high audience ratings and continued for 12 years. By the way, this program has also won the Commercial Broadcasting Federation Award twice.
Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara of St. Luke's International Hospital was a regular commentator on this program. One day, Professor Hinohara approached me about producing a musical. He wanted to adapt a classic American picture book into a stage play, so he asked for his help. People didn't know that I was doing musicals when I was a student, but for some reason that's what happened. I felt some invisible power.
Then, I decided to work hard as a producer. All prefectures are working together to make this happen.

- For us at the Riviera Group, mibyou is an eternal theme. As a company with content and a place to gather, we would like to help with food, leisure, and community.
This summer, we launched the Riviera Life Design Club to help people build a richer life.

Kuroiwa: Life design: From the perspective of life planning, I have high hopes for efforts to extend healthy life expectancy and live a long, healthy and happy life until the end. After being appointed as a professor at the Graduate School of Medicine, I began my research career focusing on the relationship between medical care, welfare, and the press.
Behind the scenes of the popular newscaster's early retirement with plenty of "remaining energy" was his deep interactions with famous doctors who spoke about the philosophy of life.

Kuroiwa: Everything is connected to the present. Mibyo is the idea that there is a continuous gradation between health and disease. Rather than curing the disease after it has occurred, it is important to move the gradation towards health even just a little. To that end, in Kanagawa Prefecture, we aim to improve people's health and longevity through diet, exercise, and social participation, and in 2000 we premiered ``Freddy the Leaf: A Journey of Life''. This work lasted for 15 years, and I think it was the direct trigger for me to become obsessed with the word "life."

- This is a masterpiece that depicts the ``sanctity of life'' through the life of leaves born in spring until they fall in winter, and also teaches the ``cycle'' in which fallen leaves become fertilizer and grow new life. At the 2006 performance, it became a hot topic that Her Majesty Empress Michiko (at the time) attended the performance.

Kuroiwa: Meanwhile, my father fell ill. When he was told that he didn't have much time left to live, the person who took care of him was Amano Akira (Liu Ei), the director of the Medical Research Center for Medical Diseases.
I miraculously recovered from Dr. Amano's Chinese medicine treatment, and this experience led me to become interested in the Chinese medicine philosophy of ``Mibyo.''

``I decided to take a break from my salaryman life at the age of 55,'' he said, leaving the program he was in charge of and shortly after retiring from Fuji Phoneevision. She took up a post as a professor at the International University of Health and Welfare Graduate School, and began her research career focusing on the relationship between medical care, welfare, and the press.
Behind the scenes of the popular newscaster's early retirement with plenty of "remaining energy" was his deep interactions with famous doctors who spoke about the philosophy of life.

Kuroiwa: Everything is connected to the present. Mibyo is the idea that there is a continuous gradation between health and disease. Rather than curing the disease after it has occurred, it is important to move the gradation towards health even just a little. To this end, Kanagawa Prefecture is promoting initiatives across the prefecture to improve people's pre-disease conditions and help them live long, healthy lives through diet, exercise, and social participation.

-Mibyo is an eternal theme for us at the Riviera Group. As a company with content and a place to gather, we would like to help with food, leisure, and community.
This summer, we launched the Riviera Life Design Club to help people build a richer life.

Kuroiwa: Life design: From the perspective of life planning, I have high hopes for efforts to extend healthy life expectancy and live a long, healthy and happy life until the end.

- Speaking of ``life,'' which Mr. Kuroiwa considers an ``eternal theme,'' Kanagawa Prefecture has an ocean that nurtures a variety of life. Mr. Kuroiwa himself mentions diving as a hobby along with musicals.

Kuroiwa: I obtained the license the year I joined Fuji Phoneevision, so it was quite a long time ago. However, it was actually after I became governor that I began to enjoy diving in earnest.
I wanted to deeply understand the sea of ​​Kanagawa. I dived at most of the diving spots in the prefecture.
What I learned through that experience was the beauty of Kanagawa's sea. There are also many fish. Moreover, our oceans experience seasonal changes. I thought I had to protect it.

- Once you get familiar with the natural environment, you will want to cherish it. Not only the sea, but also the mountains, the sky, and life. Our ``Riviera Future Creation Project'' is such an initiative.
One more thing. This spring, the historic boat ``Sinara'' was finally relaunched into the waters of Kanagawa.

Kuroiwa: Congratulations. We are proud that the world's treasure, the Lady of the Sea, is located here in Kanagawa. I have long sympathized with Riviera's philosophy of ``refining good old things with care and preserving them for the next generation.''
Synara will also become a ``magnet'' that connects people, culture, and the world.
Since I became governor of the prefecture, I have been promoting an initiative called ``Kanagawa, a Magnet that Shines Life.'' “Magnet” is the power of attraction. These are various initiatives aimed at creating an attractive Kanagawa that attracts people and things. We are promoting a number of policies, including the promotion of smart energy initiatives, the development of disaster-resilient cities, the development of spiritually rich people who will lead the next generation, and the creation of attractive regions that attract people.

- Riviera is also aligning with the prefecture in introducing thin-film solar power generation and actively utilizing electric vehicles. Malibu Hotel, which opened in March, has also introduced a V3B system that strengthens its ability to respond in the event of a disaster.

Kuroiwa: I am truly grateful that you are working with the prefecture on this pioneering initiative.
Please continue to lend us your strength.