REGINA — Just before returning to Canada to visit his parents for their 70th anniversary, Jon Heese is eager to chat about his journey so far in Japan’s political landscape. Having recently met with a Saskatchewan government delegation while they were in Japan, Heese spoke with various dignitaries, including Premier Scott Moe. Now, Heese is headed to the heart of the Prairies, making a return visit to Saskatchewan, with stops in Regina and then Wymark-just south of Swift Current.
Born in Saskatchewan, Heese’s life eventually led him to graduate from the University of Regina in 1991. He then moved to Japan, where he taught English for six years, including four years in Tsukuba. This gradual change in his life brought him to become one of the few foreign-born politicians in Japan. After teaching, Heese married a Japanese woman, started a family, and ran a bar. However, due to his desire for change and dissatisfaction with the current political policies, he embarked on a journey to elected office.
First, Heese needed to become a naturalized citizen of Japan, which he did in 2007. Then, he got elected to public office for the first time, joining the Tsukuba City Council in October 2008, where he served four terms. Soon, more political opportunities came his way, and Heese became only the third naturalized citizen from Europe or North America to become a Japanese legislator, getting elected in 2022 as an Independent member of the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. Japan is divided into 47 prefectures, which rank immediately below the national government and form the country’s first level of jurisdiction and administrative division.
As an independent party member, Heese often gets asked about being a “lone wolf” and the colour of his skin. He’s not the only politician born outside Japan, but the number is small.
“At present, there are two other politicians, both women, I know of who were born outside of Japan,” he stated. “One is from Bolivia, and the other is from Uzbekistan.”
He also gets commonly asked if he receives a pension for life after one term.
“We get no pension from politics whatsoever,” he explained. “The practice was stopped in 2010. People change careers all the time. What makes a politician so special? That said, my constituents all think I’m getting a pension anyway. They still vote for me.”
Heese added that, as one of five Ibaraki Assembly representatives for Tsukuba, he represents both urban and rural settings, similar to a Canadian Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). Tsukuba is located on the eastern side of Japan, about 75 kilometres northeast of Tokyo.
Heese notes that, unlike in many democracies, Japan does not have first-past-the-post elections at the city or regional levels. Instead, representatives are allotted according to the population size of the various communities.
When asked about his favorite thing about being in Japanese politics, Heese says, “I really like meeting people and discussing their views on life, love, and business. As a stranger, I would likely get a cold shoulder if I were to join a conversation. However, after presenting my business card, it’s quite satisfying to have people open up about their lives.”
Heese enjoys helping people and wants others to be successful in their endeavors. He emphasizes the importance of people being frank with him, as traditionally, Japanese people are reticent to speak their minds.
As a councilor, Heese has traveled to various parts of Japan, visiting factories and learning about industries such as car battery manufacturing for electric vehicles. He has also traveled abroad, using the political activities fund provided to each councillor. Heese hopes that by showing his fellow councillors the world, they will be inspired to bring about change and improve Japan’s challenges, such as immigration.
When asked if he is happy with his current position, Heese replies, “I am very satisfied with my present position. Though I am not in the majority LDP caucus, I have done my best to make friends with many of their members. I am not looking for glory or credit for my ideas, so if one of them will pick one up and bring it over the goal, I will cheer them on wholeheartedly.”
Heese plans to continue making a difference, even if it’s not as part of the majority. He enjoys his job and loves representing his community and constituents.
