Hidenobu Takahide

Who was Hidenobu Takahide?

Hidenobu Takahide was a Japanese bureaucrat and politician from Yūbari, Hokkaidō.

After graduating from Hokkaido University, Takahide joined the Ministry of Construction in 1952 and was appointed as the ministry's administrative vice minister in June 1984.

In March 1990, Takahide ran for the Yokohama mayoral election to succeed Michikazu Saigō, who died during his mayoralty the previous month. Backed by the Liberal Democratic Party, he was elected mayor and served for 12 years. He was installed president of Japan Association of City Mayors in June 2001.

Takahide lost to Hiroshi Nakada in the mayoral election held on 31 March 2002, despite the backing from four major political parties, the local office of the Democratic Party of Japan, and industrial and labor organizations. Five months later, he died of esophageal hemorrhage at age 73.