Matsunami, J.2016-11-112016-11-1120162012Matsunami, J. 2012. Long-serving mayors in Japan: an alternative leadership? African Journal of Public Affairs, 5(3): 190-198.1997-7441http://hdl.handle.net/2263/57908There are negative images if one particular politician stays for a long period in one public position. Long-serving is usually associated with nepotism, patron-client relations, corruption, low quality of public service and inefficiency. A survey in two Japanese city halls reveals that civil servants are of the opinion that personnel administration was fair and they were given freedom to implement policies under long-serving mayors. They could keep good relations with local legislative bodies. Thus civil servants did not experience strong pressure from the legislature’s members. Long-serving mayors could use their long-serving experience as political resource. There is an alternative style of leadership at the local government level in Japan. Maybe a bottom-up and consensus-based, i.e., invisible leadership, is old-fashioned. However, an alternative leadership style can provide an alternative, resolving complicated problems through real results.9 pagesJournalenAfrican Consortium of Public Administration © 2012Long-serving mayorsAlternative leadershipPublic administration--AfricaArticle