By Tomomi Abe

Hokkaido is facing a serious fiscal deficit caused by sluggishness of the Hokkaido economy and a reduction of subsidies from the national government. On February 7, the Hokkaido Governor, Harumi Takahashi, decided on a 10-year plan called, "New attempt for administration and finance reform." The parts of the plan are as follows: 1) a 10 percent reduction of the salaries of 81,700 prefectural government employees, Hokkaido police officials, and school personnel for two years from April, 2006, 2) a 30 percent reduction of prefectural government employees―about 6,000 people―over the next 10 years, and 3) jobs that were previously done by approximately 3,500 prefectural officials will be given to the private sector over a period of five years.

This financial reconstruction plan will take 10 years, but even if Hokkaido can make up the deficit, Hokkaido will still have financial problems in the future. Of course it is important to get into the black, but Governor Takahashi's financial plan will lead to other problems. The Hokkaido government practiced reducing prefectural officials' salaries in 2003 and declared, "We will never implement a reduction policy like this again in the future." However, the governor has decided to go ahead with this new policy. The government said that it will not reduce salaries again after 2008, but this is hard to believe because they have said this kind of thing before. As a result, government officials and others who will have their salaries reduced are worried.

In addition to a reduction in salary, the number of government officials will be reduced, and it is thought that this may cause some negative effects for the administration in the future. For example, 22 percent of current prefectural government employees will lose their jobs over the next five years. If this happens, will there not be a lack of services for Hokkaido citizens due to the reduced number of government employees? Is a reduction of salaries and downsizing of the current prefectural government really the answer? Are there any better ways to put Hokkaido back in the black?　

Even to the untrained eye, this is not enough, and we in Hokkaido need to consider other ways to strengthen our economy. First, I suggest increasing profits by focusing on tourism. The Hokkaido government has tried to improve certain areas of tourism, including construction of a shinkansen line and by increasing the number of international flights. However, this is not enough. The government should utilize the private sector and Hokkaido citizens more to promote Hokkaido on a world-wide basis. For example, sightseers from overseas to Hokkaido are important. Thousands of Australian tourists flock to Niseko, a resort town in Hokkaido, every year, and the numbers are increasing. Storekeepers in Niseko have studied English for tourism. In recent years, sightseers from Asian countries to Hokkaido have increased as well, and we need to make them feel at home. Hokkaido citizens need basic conversation skills in English and Chinese when the sightseers go shopping or become lost. The citizens of Hokkaido should improve their basic foreign language skills in order to satisfy sightseers to Hokkaido. In addition to the policies the government has decided on, the citizens of Hokkaido must unite and help with the development of Hokkaido's tourism industry if the Hokkaido economy is to return to the black.

Another important thing the government needs to do is promote Hokkaido's resources to the rest of Japan. The agriculture industry is significant for the Hokkaido economy. For example, a new type of rice is currently being developed in Hokkaido. Making Hokkaido appealing to the rest of Japan depends on how the government cooperates with the private sector with this kind of project. We can say the same thing about the fishing industry because Hokkaido is surrounded by seas. Hokkaido citizens can see processed goods made in Hokkaido not only at sightseeing places nowadays. The resources made in Hokkaido are becoming brand name items. I hope that the government does more to promote Hokkaido products to all parts of the country.

Finally, the most important thing is that if the Hokkaido citizens do not show their love of Hokkaido, the tourism industry and the economy in general will never grow. We must not forget that the citizens of Hokkaido are known for being kindhearted and it is this kindheartedness that will lay the groundwork for a prosperous Hokkaido.