Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture becomes first local government to adopt 'Work-Style Reform Acceleration Declaration'; simultaneously adopts 'Break Between Shifts' and '100% Paternity Leave' declarations

## Yatsushiro City Becomes First Local Government to Endorse 'Work-Style Reform Acceleration Declaration'

Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture (Mayor: Taisuke Ono), has become the first local government to simultaneously endorse the 'Work-Style Reform Acceleration Declaration,' 'Break Between Shifts Declaration,' and '100% Paternity Leave Declaration,' championed by Work Life Balance Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yoshie Komuro), a firm with experience in consulting over 3,600 companies on work-style reform. A press conference was held on May 26, 2026, to announce the full-scale implementation of these reforms.

Based on the 'Second Yatsushiro City Staff Active Promotion Plan,' the city has been conducting 'Work-Style Reform Acceleration Training' for approximately 100 managers. With this new endorsement, the city aims to realize a results-oriented work environment that does not rely on long working hours.

### Background and Initiatives

Faced with a declining birthrate and increasingly diverse and complex administrative needs, Yatsushiro City views the sustainable provision of high-quality citizen services with limited personnel as a critical challenge. The city has previously established a foundation for a better work environment by implementing remote work and attendance management systems. Notably, the male paternity leave uptake rate reached 80% in FY2025, far exceeding the original goal. However, overtime hours remain an area needing improvement, and the Mayor is now personally leading a shift in work practices.

Future initiatives include:
- Implementation of consciousness-reform training for management, setting business goals for all departments, and incorporating these into personnel evaluations.
- Full-scale introduction of the 'Break Between Shifts' and 'Flex-time' systems starting in FY2027, following a trial period in FY2026.
- Rigorous implementation of 'Proactive Management,' which involves monitoring operational status every two weeks to address mental health and workload distribution early.

### Statement from Mayor Taisuke Ono
'We need to foster an organizational culture of continuous improvement and challenge, and shift away from a reliance on long working hours. This endorsement as the first local government is a challenge to demonstrate an administrative model suitable for the next era. We will expand these efforts beyond the city office to local companies and the entire region.'

### Statement from Yoshie Komuro, President of Work Life Balance Inc.
'I feel the strong executive capability in Yatsushiro City’s initiatives, which delve deep into training, personnel evaluation, and management methods. Initiatives like the break-between-shifts system and the goal of 100% paternity leave are clear expressions of intent and provide significant insight for other local governments across Japan.'