How the prefectural government works

The Iwate Prefectural Government is led by the democratically-elected Governor and Prefectural Assembly. Serving underneath them are around 4,000 civil servants in the head prefectural office and regional branches and bureaus. There is also the Board of Education, police force, and other public commissions which work under the prefecture.

The Prefectural Assembly is made up of 48 representatives elected by the Iwate people. The Assembly hears the will of the people and decides the rules and budget necessary for the prefectural government’s initiatives in order to make an Iwate that’s nice to live in.
The Prefectural Assembly normally meets four times a year, with more meetings when necessary.

• Click here for the schedules of the Governor/Vice-governor/Department and division heads （JPN only）（外部リンク）
• Iwate Prefectural Assembly homepage （JPN only）
• Direct phone line directory （JPN only）

Prefectural departments under the Governor

*All links in Japanese only.

•  Office of Secretarial and Public Relations - This office performs secretarial duties for the governor and vice-governor, takes public comments from the Iwate people, and spreads the word about what’s going on in the government.

• Office of Secretarial and Public Relations

•  Department of General Affairs – This department coordinates the entire prefectural government so that our work goes smoothly. It estimates income and expenditures, and also collects prefectural taxes. Our disaster prevention/mitigation office is located in this department as well.

• Department of General Affairs

•  Department of Policy and Regional Affairs – This department brainstorms policies that will develop the prefecture and make use of our unique characteristics for a healthy community. It is also involved with the international linear collider and other projects to develop the future of Iwate.

• Department of Policy and Regional Affairs

• Department of Culture and Sports - This department develops human resources, facilities, and more to create a welcoming environment for cultural activities and sports. It is also working to hold the Rugby World Cup 2019™ games.

• Department of Culture and Sports

•  Department of Environment and Residential Life – This department works to combat global warming, reduce waste, and protect our environment. It’s also involved in international relations, youth affairs, and gender equality.

• Department of Environment and Residential Life

•  Department of Health and Welfare – This department encourages healthy living, ensures the availability of medical care and a safe, hygienic environment, builds infrastructure for regional welfare, and supports people with disabilities, children and their families, and the elderly.

• Department of Health and Welfare

•  Department of Commerce, Industry, Labor, and Tourism – This department helps to develop strong manufacturing and tourism industries, and works towards the welfare of laborers. It supports companies looking to develop new projects and products.

• Department of Commerce, Industry, Labor, and Tourism

•  Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries – This department supports and guides the people involved with the production, manufacture, and distribution of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products. It also advertises prefectural products so that as many people as possible eat and make our foods and know just how good they are. Moreover, it develops land for agriculture, preserves forests, and builds fishing ports.

• Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries

•  Department of Prefectural Land Development – This department builds and repairs roads, bridges, river facilities, ports, parks, and sewage lines. It also builds prefectural housing and encourages the development of towns that are easy to live in.

• Department of Prefectural Land Development

•  Bureau of Reconstruction – This bureau is the central force responsible for the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and tackles community development, the restoration of industry, and the recovery of survivors.

•  Bureau of the Treasury – This bureau transfers funds in and out for prefectural projects, buys necessary goods, and calculates income and expenditures.

• Bureau of the Treasury

Regional Development Bureaus

•  Morioka Regional Development Bureau – This bureau is responsible for the development of the central Iwate region, and works together with both the cities and rural areas in the region to position the area as a hub for Northern Tohoku. It is working towards a variety of development projects.

• Morioka Regional Development Bureau

•  Southern Iwate Regional Development Bureau - This bureau is responsible for the development of the southern Iwate region. Focusing on manufacturing, it takes a strategic, hands-on approach to administering the region.

• Southern Iwate Regional Development Bureau

•  Coastal Regional Development Bureau – This bureau is responsible for the development of the coastal region, and has put forth many ideas for creating a Sanriku coastal region that produces for the entire world and acts as an exchange hub.

• Coastal Regional Development Bureau

•  Northern Iwate Regional Development Bureau – Responsible for northern Iwate, this bureau uses the resources （technology, know-how, and human resources） of the north effectively to develop the region.

• Northern Iwate Regional Development Bureau

Other related government entities

•  Bureau of Medical Affairs – This bureau works to provide hospitals and medical staff so that our citizens know there are always doctors available.

• Bureau of Medical Affairs

•  Bureau of Public Utilities – This bureau uses eco-friendly methods like wind and water power to create electricity, and supplies water for industrial use to factories.

• Bureau of Public Utilities

•  Iwate Prefectural Assembly – The Prefectural Assembly is made up of 48 representatives elected by the Iwate people. The Assembly hears the will of the people and decides the rules and budget necessary for the prefectural government’s initiatives in order to make an Iwate that’s nice to live in.
  The Prefectural Assembly normally meets four times a year, with more meetings when necessary.

• Iwate Prefectural Assembly

•  Board of Education – Offices include: Office of Educational Planning, Office of School Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Division, Sports and Health Division, Personnel Division, Iwate Prefectural General Education Center, and the Iwate Prefectural Lifelong Learning Center.

• Board of Education

•  Public Safety Commission Police Headquarters – The police combat crime and enforce traffic rules so that we can all live safely.

• Public Safety Commission Police Headquarters

•  Other commissions – Electoral Commission, Personnel Commission, Audit and Inspection Commissioners, Labor Relations Commission, Expropriation Commission, Maritime Fisheries Regulation Commission, Inland Fisheries Management Commission

• Other commissions