Tsuyoshi YAMAGUCHI has worked for the municipal government of Fujisawa for well over a decade. He specializes in economic revitalization, promoting the city's shopping districts by developing new business initiatives and coordinating their implementation with local merchants. He stays in close contact with shop owners to monitor the new initiatives' effectiveness.

After leaving university, Tsuyoshi first worked for the city's national registration department, then at the city councillors' administrative office, which oversees the operation of the 40-member council. Here he prepared press materials for assembly meetings and researched the legislative and development plans of other cities in Japan.

He has recently used this research to create plans that focus on the problem of keeping local business vital in an ageing society.

Tsuyoshi has a degree in econometrics from Nihon University.