For two years, starting in 1984, I was the head of the Mie prefectural government's department of general affairs. This period, working in the prefecture about 300 km west of Tokyo, has a special meaning in my life. I was able to leave the walls of the central Ministry of Finance and experience the ups and downs of working in the administration of a totally different locality.
The department of general affairs had nine sections: personnel, welfare, finance, taxes, property management, upkeep and repairs, local affairs, fire and disaster prevention, and education and archives. For the most part, I had no experience in these areas.
