New Course Held for Local Assembly Members: Former Deputy Mayor Explains "How to Read Municipal Finance and Strengthen Assembly Oversight Functions" [Held July 3rd]

The Japan Management Association (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Gōkū Takahara) will hold a new course for local assembly members, "How to Read Municipal Finance and Strengthen Assembly Oversight Functions for Local Assembly Members," on Friday, July 3, 2026.

This course is designed to enhance the ability to organize policy points, improve parliamentary questioning skills, and strengthen the oversight functions of assemblies, against the backdrop of increasingly severe municipal finances due to factors such as population decline and rising social security costs.

Details and Application Here

■ Background of the Event

In recent years, municipal finances have become increasingly severe due to population decline and the expansion of social security costs. In this context, assemblies are more than ever required to appropriately grasp financial management and fulfill their oversight functions towards the administration.

On the other hand, systematic training opportunities for local assembly members are limited, and the need for acquiring practical knowledge and perspectives is growing. Based on this background, the Association has planned this new course for local assembly members.

■ Features of the Course

This course emphasizes not only understanding the systems of municipal finance but also acquiring practical perspectives necessary for assembly activities.

Systematically understand the structure of municipal finance and the budget compilation process

Acquire the ability to read challenges from financial data (e.g., financial index, operating balance ratio)

Improve "questioning skills" and "oversight perspectives" in assemblies

Strengthen the ability to structurally organize policy issues and connect them to concrete discussions

It includes content directly linked to practical assembly activities, considering the administrative decision-making process and judgment criteria.

■ Features of the Lecturer

We welcome Mr. Makoto Watanabe, former Deputy Mayor of Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture, as the lecturer.

In addition to his experience in policy planning at central government ministries, he has practical experience in financial management and organizational supervision as a deputy mayor. A key feature is his ability to explain based on the internal decision-making processes and the reality of financial management within the administration.

His lectures, which combine a field perspective with an understanding of the system, provide practical knowledge directly applicable to assembly activities.

【Lecturer】

Makoto Watanabe
【Biography】
Former Deputy Mayor of Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture. Held positions including: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (1991), Secretariat of the Minister's Secretariat, Policy Division of the Minister's Secretariat, National Strategy Bureau for Administrative Reform Promotion, Cabinet Office, Executive Committee for Public Interest Certification, Counselor and Director of Brand Strategy Office, Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture, Project Lecturer at the Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Specially Appointed Professor at Kagawa University Business School, and Professor at the Faculty of Regional Revitalization, Shukutoku University.
From 2018, for one term of four years, as Deputy Mayor of Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture, he was responsible for overall municipal administration, including acting on behalf of the Mayor, managing staff and organizations, financial operations, bidding and contract systems, disaster prevention and crisis management, and inter-departmental coordination.

■ Program Outline (Excerpt)

Basic Structure and Challenges of Municipal Finance

Budget Compilation and Decision-Making Process

How to Read Local Allocation Tax and Financial Indicators

Perspectives for Comparing and Evaluating Financial Data

Key Points for Oversight in Assemblies and Approaches to Questioning

■ Event Overview

Course Name: How to Read Municipal Finance and Strengthen Assembly Oversight Functions for Local Assembly Members

~ Series for Improving Assembly Questioning Skills and Organizing Policy Points ~

Date and Time: Friday, July 3, 2026, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Format: Choice of venue / online (Zoom)

Venue: Japan Management Association (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)

Participation Fee: Member ¥36,300 / General ¥39,600 (tax included)

Target Audience: Local assembly members (prefectural, city, town, village)

■ About Course Details and Application

Applications for this course are being accepted on the Association's website. Please review the course details before applying.

Details and Application Here

■ Provision of NOMA's Municipal Solutions

NOMA accurately identifies administrative challenges and supports human resource development that leads to problem-solving.

The Japan Management Association (Abbreviation: NOMA) was founded in February 1949 as the "Japan Management Association" and has consistently focused on enlightenment and dissemination for the modernization and efficiency of management in Japan. Since its establishment, it has been engaged in various activities such as management research and diagnosis, industrial promotion, exhibitions, and study groups.

For local governments, we conduct administrative management courses, dispatch lecturers for in-house training, and provide administrative and financial diagnostics at our offices in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo.

Our administrative management courses plan practical training programs that contribute to the improvement and development of people and organizations, covering areas such as administrative and financial reform, comprehensive plans and strategies, work style reform, utilization of generative AI, reskilling, and time performance improvement.

■ Inquiries

Japan Management Association, Planning and Training Group

Mail: tks@noma.or.jp / TEL: 03-6632-7139

About the Japan Management Association (NOMA)

Since its founding as the "Japan Management Association" in 1949, we have consistently made enlightenment and dissemination for the modernization and efficiency of Japanese management our main pillar of activity.

Basic Philosophy:

NOMA contributes to the development of a sustainable society by promoting harmony between management, people, and science.

Reason for Existence:

Continuously innovating with our customers for the management of Japan tomorrow.

Japan Management Association HP: https://www.noma.or.jp/