Setouchi Mayor Kentaro Kuroishi Sets Sail on a Yacht for the YouTube Program 'Mayors Try Doing X' to Personally Promote Local Charms!
As the 40th installment of the YouTube program 'Mayors Try Doing X,' operated by Ichini Inc., Mayor Kentaro Kuroishi of Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, appears. He promotes local charms by sailing a yacht and visiting the Japanese Sword Museum.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 19:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 22:56 (11h 54m after Collected)
Ichini Co., Ltd., which operates 'Senkyo.com,' one of Japan's largest political and election portal sites (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Taku Takahata), is distributing the YouTube program 'Mayors Try Doing X,' where mayors across the country take on various challenges to promote their local governments.
## The 40th installment features Kentaro Kuroishi, Mayor of Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture!
The commemorative 40th installment of 'Mayors Try Doing X,' launched on May 1st, features Kentaro Kuroishi, Mayor of Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, appearing in yacht wear to promote the charms of Setouchi City from the Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum.
Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, is a city adjacent to Okayama City, blessed with a warm and mild climate facing the Seto Inland Sea. It has a history of flourishing as a major production area for Japanese swords in Bizen Osafune and continues to pass down the Japanese sword culture to this day. On the other hand, the Ushimado area is known for its beautiful scenery, called 'Japan's Aegean Sea.' While the history and culture of an old port town breathe here, agriculture and fisheries are also key industries supporting the region. In recent years, the city has been focusing on childcare support and migration promotion, aiming to balance livability and economic viability in its urban development.
In this installment of 'Mayors Try Doing X,' Mayor Kuroishi visited the Japanese Sword Museum to watch powerful sword drawing techniques and performances, and even tried cutting with a replica sword! After appreciating the national treasure 'Yamatorige,' he enjoyed the finest olive oil at Ushimado Olive Garden. He also experienced sailing! And searched for 'Goddess's Heart,' a heart-shaped stone said to bring success in love if touched by two people, on Kuroshima Venus Road.
We also heard about the city planning concept of 'a city where people gather and income increases.'
Approximately 42% of existing national treasure swords are Bizen swords! Bizen Osafune is a major production area for Japanese swords.
Discovered 'Goddess's Heart,' a heart-shaped stone on Kuroshima Venus Road said to bring success in love if two people touch it!
## Background of 'Mayors Try Doing X'
The need for local government PR is now higher than ever. There are two main reasons for this.
One is the necessity to convey the charm of the region to people outside the region, tourists, and media professionals. In April 2024, a private expert group, the 'Population Strategy Council,' announced an analysis result stating that 744 municipalities, accounting for 40% of the total, are at risk of 'eventual disappearance' as the number of women in their 20s and 30s is projected to halve by 2050. To protect their precious hometowns from 'disappearance,' attracting people from outside the region, such as through hometown tax donations, tourists, migrants, and businesses, has become an urgent issue.
The other is the need for local government public relations for local residents. A survey conducted by the 'Bright Election Promotion Association' after the 2023 unified local elections showed that the percentage of voters who responded 'it's difficult to decide who to vote for because I don't know much about the candidates' personalities and policies' was a record low of 54.1%. Mayors of local governments are the closest and most important politicians for local life, yet there are too few opportunities to learn about their work and character.
In response to this growing demand, the YouTube program 'Mayors Try Doing X' was launched in May 2024 to allow people outside the region to learn about its charms, and to increase opportunities for local residents to learn about their mayors and the initiatives of local administration.
We will continue to disseminate the charm of regions together with mayors across the country!
## Biography: Kentaro Kuroishi, Mayor of Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture
Mayor Kentaro Kuroishi
Biography
March 2006: Graduated from the Faculty of Law, Political Science Course, The University of Tokyo
April 2006 - June 2013: Worked at Recruit Co., Ltd.
June 2013 - December 2024: Representative Director and President, WillF Inc.
September 2018 - 2020: Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Kanazawa University
February 2022: Established Howards Inc., assumed position of Representative Director and President
January 2025 - May 2025: Public Policy Secretary to a Member of the House of Representatives
June 2025: Assumed position of Mayor of Setouchi City
## Past Mayors Featured
You can watch previous episodes of 'Mayors Try Doing X' below.
- 'Mayors Try Doing X' Main Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHAYaGZq5IzXj8vUvJuj99xsuCM6VVHh1
- Episode 1: Mayor Kazuaki Tanabe of Koga City, Fukuoka Prefecture https://youtu.be/o8Ei65NuV-A
- Episode 2: Mayor Hisashi Watabe of Higashimurayama City, Tokyo https://youtu.be/OHq-04P2f1Q
- Episode 3: Mayor Gen Nakagawa of Nara City, Nara Prefecture https://youtu.be/fpEczbgJSn4
- Episode 4: Mayor Shunichi Ueno of Satsuma Town, Kagoshima Prefecture https://youtu.be/Cwb6SjYthoo
- Episode 5: Mayor Hidenori Sakaoka of Kyogoku Town, Hokkaido https://youtu.be/ULFvaY8SGRs
- Episode 6: Maruyama of Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture
## The 40th installment features Kentaro Kuroishi, Mayor of Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture!
The commemorative 40th installment of 'Mayors Try Doing X,' launched on May 1st, features Kentaro Kuroishi, Mayor of Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, appearing in yacht wear to promote the charms of Setouchi City from the Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum.
Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, is a city adjacent to Okayama City, blessed with a warm and mild climate facing the Seto Inland Sea. It has a history of flourishing as a major production area for Japanese swords in Bizen Osafune and continues to pass down the Japanese sword culture to this day. On the other hand, the Ushimado area is known for its beautiful scenery, called 'Japan's Aegean Sea.' While the history and culture of an old port town breathe here, agriculture and fisheries are also key industries supporting the region. In recent years, the city has been focusing on childcare support and migration promotion, aiming to balance livability and economic viability in its urban development.
In this installment of 'Mayors Try Doing X,' Mayor Kuroishi visited the Japanese Sword Museum to watch powerful sword drawing techniques and performances, and even tried cutting with a replica sword! After appreciating the national treasure 'Yamatorige,' he enjoyed the finest olive oil at Ushimado Olive Garden. He also experienced sailing! And searched for 'Goddess's Heart,' a heart-shaped stone said to bring success in love if touched by two people, on Kuroshima Venus Road.
We also heard about the city planning concept of 'a city where people gather and income increases.'
Approximately 42% of existing national treasure swords are Bizen swords! Bizen Osafune is a major production area for Japanese swords.
Discovered 'Goddess's Heart,' a heart-shaped stone on Kuroshima Venus Road said to bring success in love if two people touch it!
## Background of 'Mayors Try Doing X'
The need for local government PR is now higher than ever. There are two main reasons for this.
One is the necessity to convey the charm of the region to people outside the region, tourists, and media professionals. In April 2024, a private expert group, the 'Population Strategy Council,' announced an analysis result stating that 744 municipalities, accounting for 40% of the total, are at risk of 'eventual disappearance' as the number of women in their 20s and 30s is projected to halve by 2050. To protect their precious hometowns from 'disappearance,' attracting people from outside the region, such as through hometown tax donations, tourists, migrants, and businesses, has become an urgent issue.
The other is the need for local government public relations for local residents. A survey conducted by the 'Bright Election Promotion Association' after the 2023 unified local elections showed that the percentage of voters who responded 'it's difficult to decide who to vote for because I don't know much about the candidates' personalities and policies' was a record low of 54.1%. Mayors of local governments are the closest and most important politicians for local life, yet there are too few opportunities to learn about their work and character.
In response to this growing demand, the YouTube program 'Mayors Try Doing X' was launched in May 2024 to allow people outside the region to learn about its charms, and to increase opportunities for local residents to learn about their mayors and the initiatives of local administration.
We will continue to disseminate the charm of regions together with mayors across the country!
## Biography: Kentaro Kuroishi, Mayor of Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture
Mayor Kentaro Kuroishi
Biography
March 2006: Graduated from the Faculty of Law, Political Science Course, The University of Tokyo
April 2006 - June 2013: Worked at Recruit Co., Ltd.
June 2013 - December 2024: Representative Director and President, WillF Inc.
September 2018 - 2020: Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Kanazawa University
February 2022: Established Howards Inc., assumed position of Representative Director and President
January 2025 - May 2025: Public Policy Secretary to a Member of the House of Representatives
June 2025: Assumed position of Mayor of Setouchi City
## Past Mayors Featured
You can watch previous episodes of 'Mayors Try Doing X' below.
- 'Mayors Try Doing X' Main Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHAYaGZq5IzXj8vUvJuj99xsuCM6VVHh1
- Episode 1: Mayor Kazuaki Tanabe of Koga City, Fukuoka Prefecture https://youtu.be/o8Ei65NuV-A
- Episode 2: Mayor Hisashi Watabe of Higashimurayama City, Tokyo https://youtu.be/OHq-04P2f1Q
- Episode 3: Mayor Gen Nakagawa of Nara City, Nara Prefecture https://youtu.be/fpEczbgJSn4
- Episode 4: Mayor Shunichi Ueno of Satsuma Town, Kagoshima Prefecture https://youtu.be/Cwb6SjYthoo
- Episode 5: Mayor Hidenori Sakaoka of Kyogoku Town, Hokkaido https://youtu.be/ULFvaY8SGRs
- Episode 6: Maruyama of Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture