To coincide with the opening of Tradition/Rebellion: Coming-of-Age Style in Kitakyushu, Japan, Mayor Takeuchi Kazuhisa of Kitakyushu City gives a talk on the city’s vision for a sustainable society.
Since the opening of the government-owned Yawata Steel Works in 1901, Kitakyushu has developed into one of Japan’s leading industrial cities, with the steel industry at its core, playing a vital role in the country’s modernization and post-war economic growth. However, in the 1960s, severe industrial pollution caused by factory emissions and wastewater led to significant environmental degradation. The city’s skies became known for their ‘seven-coloured smoke’, while Dōkai Bay in Kitakyushu was referred to as the ‘Sea of Death’.
In response, Kitakyushu City, together with residents and businesses, worked collaboratively to tackle the pollution crisis. The collective efforts led to the development of recycling industries and environmental technologies, transforming Kitakyushu into a globally recognized leader in environmental sustainability.
Today, Kitakyushu is internationally recognized as a sustainable city committed to achieving a carbon-neutral society through initiatives including offshore wind power, hydrogen energy utilization and the promotion of a circular economy.
In this talk, Mayor Takeuchi Kazuhisa discusses the passion and energy behind the people of Kitakyushu, one of the city’s greatest strengths. He shares how the vision, determination and actions of Kitakyushu’s citizens are shaping the city and creating an impact beyond its borders.
The exhibition Tradition/Rebellion is on display in the Gallery at Japan House London from 11 November 2026 to 18 April 2027.
About the speaker
Takeuchi Kazuhisa became Mayor of Kitakyushu City in February 2023. He graduated from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law in 1994 and joined the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). From 2001 to 2005, he served as a visiting researcher at the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) in Washington, D.C., where he conducted research on healthcare and pension systems. From 2011 to 2013, he was seconded to McKinsey & Company as an expert consultant, focusing on health system reform at the regional level and contributing to various public–private partnership projects. In 2015, he became Managing Director and Head of Accenture’s Healthcare Practice.
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Image: The view of Dōkai Bay in Kitakyushu
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