The Baboose

A translation of Yuri Fujikawa’s homepage

08 Sep 2009 Leave a Comment

by thebaboose in Beautiful Japanese Women, Japan Tags: 20 minuto, aomori politician, beautiful japanese women, Beautiful politicians, Japan, model turned politician, world's most beautiful politician, young female politician, Yuri Fujikawa, Yuri Fujikawa political career, Yuri Fujikawa profile

Introduction
http://www.fujikawayuri.net/greeting.html

To see my translation of Yuri Fujikawa’s wikipedia article, click here.

Time has flown and it is now the second summer since I took a step forward in becoming a Hachinohe city council member thanks to the great deal of support I received from everyone

If I look back at last year, through first understanding the current state of Hachinohe city, I chose and supported the three big pillars of my political activities: child-rearing, medical treatment, and nursing care.

I also chose to specialize on economic problems – carrying on my father’s work.

In addition, as a city council member, I conducted consultations for citizens – among other things – with the cooperation of my father to provide an opportunity to listen to the citizens. I solved the issues that were in front of me, and I poured all my energy into establishing activities in my own special way.

My second year has started and I am resolute on what I must and want to do; I aim towards a more concrete goal everyday and conduct activities towards this goal. From health care and welfare to agriculture, construction, education, finance and other issues, I will extend my hand to the problems that Hachinohe faces in many fronts.

Because I can conduct activities as a council member while in her 20s – and therefore am full with energy and many years of service left – I am aiming to become a council member who is acquainted with and can start a motion in not only the fields I have experience with, health care and welfare, but with all fields.

Using the support and guidance from everyone as a foundation, I will continue working hard to make Hachinohe city a safe and fulfilling city to live in.

Sincerely,
Hachinohe city council member, Yuri Fujikawa
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City Development
http://www.fujikawayuri.net/

環境と福祉を考えた子供からお年寄りまで住みよいまちづくり。

To develop a good city to live in with all people, from children to the elderly, concerned with the environment and welfare.

介護予防の浸透と、介護負担の少ないまちづくり。

To develop a city that is highly aware of minimizing health care needs and which would bear a small health care burden.

家庭と仕事の両立で”親子の夢”が育つまちづくり。

To develop a city that supports the dreams of parents and children through household and work.

Food Development

安全・安心な農作物、水産物の生産をめざします。

To develop a city that aims to produce safe agricultural and fishing products.

農林水産業をトータルで考え、八戸の新ブランドを全国に展開し”長期的な地場産業”の販売戦略を考えていきます。

To take an holistic approach to agriculture, forestry, and fishing; to expand Hachinohe as a brand name throughout Japan; and to think of a long-term sales strategy for local industry.

People Development

将来を見据えた教育、適応力・生きていく力をはぐくむ教育をめざします。

Aim to establish an education system that focuses on the future and raises people to be adaptable to life’s pressures and have a passion for life.

雇用の充実で、”負け組ナシ”をめざします。

Aim to create a city full of employment without “economic losers.”
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Profile
http://www.fujikawayuri.net/profile.html

Fujikawa and MOM, during their 3rd year of marriage gave birth to their eldest daughter.

Antenatal care?

It was discovered that my mother was pregnant with me while she was serving as a Miss nightingale during the election for the DIET. I developed in the womb, listening to the election power (It refers to the situation that my mother was in her third year of marriage with my father, a DIET member’s secretary).

When I was a child, I sat quietly and listened to what the priest said – unlike most young children.

April 1983, I entered into 長者 kindergarten, violet class (After that、
lily class, and hydrangea class

From that time on, I began to love girly things, and grumbled my parents into letting me learn ballet. I also studied calligraphy, how to use the abacus, and took swimming lessons.

On April 1986, I entered into 長者 elementary school.

I presented toothbrushes as a representative of the first-year students as a part of Haginohe’s student lifestyle day. It was quite unpleasant because I was unable to see my feet with a big box holding the toothbrushes for 120 people.

My father was busy as a DIET member’s secretary, and later, busy as a city council member. So he never attended my school entrance ceremony or graduation ceremony, because he was invited as a guest to another school’s ceremony, which he participated in. Also at my music festival, when I acted the lead role in “night crane,” my parents did not show up.

I played the clarinet in my elementary school wind instrument club. I even participated in a national meet. To appear at the national meet, I practiced late after school.

Ballot counting for an election – A quick announcement for an election

I liked elections since I was small. About the time I entered elementary school, I got my parents to take me to the ballot counting whenever there was an election. It seemed like I was unable to sleep until the TV announced a quick report of the votes counted.

On April 1992, I entered into 長者 junior high school.

On April 1995, I entered into Hachinohe East Highschool’s humanities department.

On April 1998, I entered into Teikyo University’s department of literature’s psychology department.

My University days

I entered into the psychology department and I studied a wide range of subjects. My favorite subject was evolutionary psychology.
I wanted to become a parliamentarian’s secretary after graduating University. But, I thought it would be better to learn about society at a company and than enter the political world. After working at a company, I could study politics as a secretary. However, someone advised that it would be better for me to become a council member. My graduation ceremony was held at Japan’s Nippon Budōkan.

In 2003 during the nationwide local elections, I participated, for the first time, in my father’s campaign for Aomori Prefectural Assembly member election. After the election, I returned to Hachinohe.

My first election

When I was 23, my father, who served 16 years as a Hachinohe city council member decided to run for Aomori Prefectural Assembly election. I helped with his campaign. During the election, following my mother’s wishes, I worked as an election car’s nightingale maiden

On October 2003, I entered an advertising firm as a part-time worker for the New Year holiday. I worked as a manager’s assistant.

On February 2004, I entered Hibari no sato: a rehabilitation center for the elderly

On March 2007, my father, Fujikawa fea, I helped with my father’s election campaign (Aomori Prefectural Assembly).

My second election

It was when I just turned 27, and my father ran for an Aomori Prefectural Assembly seat for the second time

The result of the votes…my father failed to get elected for the second time.

My father’s creed stuck with me. With the thought that Hachinohe city needs a politician who “Wants to help people who are in difficult times” in mind, I announced my intentions for becoming a candidate to Hachinohe’s city council election one week later. However, my father and his supporters were against it, and carrying it over to the next day and sticking to it, my father somehow acknowledged my intent for running – two days later.

I became a candidate in Hachinohe’s city council election

I was elected as a city council member (presently in my first term)

家族で記念撮影

Family photos

2歳の時、父のおみやげのぬいぐるみと2歳の時、お気に入りバイクで

A photo of when I was two. I received a stuffed animal from my father
My favorite bicycle.

3歳の時津島雄二先生事務所前で母と

A photo of when I was three. My mother and I in front of —- office

小学校の入学式の日

My elementary school’s entrance ceremony

パグのキレイ高校入学の時に買ってもらいました

My dog pretty, I received it when I entered high school.

Block voting from Japanese fans leads to a Japanese woman being named “the most beautiful politician in the world”

07 Sep 2009 Leave a Comment

by thebaboose in Beautiful Japanese Women, Japan Tags: 20 minuto, aomori politician, beautiful japanese women, Beautiful politicians, Japan, model turned politician, world’s most beautiful politician, young female politician, Yuri Fujikawa, Yuri Fujikawa political career, Yuri Fujikawa profile

To see my other articles on Yuri Fujikawa and other beautiful Japanese women, click here.

I found this article while searching the net. It was interesting and I thought it was worth sharing. Note: I didn’t translate parts I felt to be repetitive.

A Spanish newspaper 20 minutos held a poll for “the worlds most beautiful politician” on its website. A Japanese woman, Yuri Fujikawa (nicknamed: The too beautiful city assemblywoman), a city council member in the city of Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture took the top position out of 65 female politicians from around the world on April 4, 2009.

The on-line vote began to be picked up by the Japanese media from the 3rd – there were even cries from television announcers, calling viewers to vote. However, in response to the results were complaints of block voting on the Internet.

Sankei Sports on April 2, in an article titled “The too beautiful city assemblywoman ranked 4th!” reported that Yuri Fujikawa rose to 4th on “the worlds most beautiful politician” polls on 20 minutos website. Thanks to that report, the poll results were announced on several morning television programs. It was announced by one program that she rose from 4th on April 2 to 2nd on April 3, because of Sankei’s article.

With a wave of support: she reached number one on April 3, with over 90,000 votes, expanding her lead over Peru’s Luciana Leon. Well known in Japan for her beauty, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko was eighth.

The status of the polls was brought up in many bulletin boards and blogs. On the mother of all Japanese bulletin boards, 2 channel, multiple threads erupted into a celebration.

“Lets help Yuri Fujikawa reach number.1!” “Isn’t her cuteness overwhelming?” “AAAAHHHHHHHH number. 1! She’s number. 1!

However, due to the response on the net and media, the win was criticized as being due to block voting. One Japanese poster mentioned, “I would be embarrassed if it was reported that the majority of IP addresses of her supporters were traced to Japan.

Translated from the article here

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This reminds me of American Idol, the year when a talented but not mind-blowing girl from Hawaii advanced far into the finals through block votes from Hawaii. There was uproar from non-Hawaii based fans and from contestants who felt they were robbed of an opportunity because of the massive amount of votes from Hawaii. It was a clear case of supporting “one of our own” to give her an opportunity to become a signed singer.

I understood why there was uproar over it: the singer from Hawaii was clearly the inferior candidate, but still advanced far into the finals. However, she won in accordance to the rules of the competition and the people who complained should have “showed their support” for their favorite candidate, like my mother, who called 20-30 times a night – a waste of money in my humble opinion.

I think it is a combination of national/state pride and living vicariously through the win that drives people to do “extreme volume voting.” Anyhow, who takes those results seriously? And, what would happen if a Japanese entered American Idol?