On March 30, 2025, the first mayoral election in 20 years was held in Nozawa Onsen Village, Nagano Prefecture. Yudai Ueno (43) defeated incumbent Toshio Tomii (75) to win his first term.
[Vote Count]
Winner: Yudai Ueno, Independent, New, 1241 votes;
Toshio Tomii, Independent, Incumbent, 890 votes
Yudai Ueno was born and raised in Nozawa Onsen Village, and started skiing at the age of two, competing as an alpine skier for 20 years. After that, he competed both domestically and internationally as a member of the Japanese national freestyle halfpipe team. He was a familiar face in magazines such as BRAVOSKI and FREESKiiNG.
After retiring from competitive skiing, he returned to his hometown and opened "COMPASS HOUSE," a specialty shop for freestyle skiing and cycling, to revitalize the region. He has developed ski and mountain bike shop and tour businesses, and has consistently worked to promote the natural resources of Nozawa Onsen.
Currently, he operates four outdoor shops in Nozawa Onsen Village, utilizing vacant facilities, and is also expanding employment opportunities.
Furthermore, at the aforementioned "COMPASS HOUSE," they actively incorporated solar panel installations and other measures to realize a sustainable snow resort.
From 2021, he actively worked to further develop the village as a member of the Nozawa Onsen Village Assembly.
He then announced his candidacy for the Nozawa Onsen Village mayoral election in March 2025.
Ueno Yudai listed the following themes as his five campaign promises
Village development
: "Prioritizing the enrichment of daily life. Listening to the voices of villagers and making village administration transparent."
Economic revitalization / Tourism / Agriculture and forestry
: "Promote the utilization of local resources throughout the year."
Improving the education and childcare environment / Promoting human resource development:
"We will thoroughly improve the living environment for young people."
Health promotion / Sports promotion
: "Promoting regional revitalization through sports"
Landscape preservation / Renewable energy:
"We strive to preserve the beautiful natural environment and landscape."
Nozawa Onsen is a snow resort that is currently attracting attention from both within Japan and overseas, alongside Niseko and Hakuba. What is the future of Nozawa Onsen that Yudai Ueno, who has been watching the global snow scene as both an athlete and an entrepreneur, is aiming to realize?
We will be keeping a close eye on Nozawa Onsen in the future
【Information】
Yuta Ueno
https://www.instagram.com/yutaueno/