町長（ちょうちょう、chouchiょう）
- town mayor

The word 町長 町長 (ちょうちょう, chōchō) refers to the mayor of a town. In the Japanese political system, a 町 (machi) is a smaller administrative division, typically smaller than a city (市, shi) but larger than a village (村, mura). The 町長 is the head of the town's government, responsible for the town's administration and representing the town's residents. He or she is elected by the town's citizens.

⚫︎山田さんは〇〇町の町長です。 Translation: Mr. Yamada is the mayor of 〇〇 town. ⚫︎町長は新しい公園の建設を決定しました。 Translation: The mayor decided to build a new park.

You use 町長 町長 when you want to refer to the mayor of a town. It is a formal term, and you would generally use it in news reports, official documents, or when discussing town-related matters. You can also use honorifics like 様 (sama) after the 町長's name to show respect (e.g., 田中町長様, Mayor Tanaka).

⚫︎The word 町長 町長 is typically written using kanji and read as ちょうちょう (chōchō) in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana.

⚫︎The term for mayor in a city (市, shi) is 市長 (しちょう, shichō). ⚫︎In a village (村, mura), the equivalent is 村長 (そんちょう/むらおさ, sonchō/muraosa).

The direct antonym wouldn't be applicable. However, the term refers to a government official, so words describing those they serve could be considered opposite in some contexts, such as 住民 (jūmin, residents).

来週、町長選挙が行われます。 ・Translation: The mayor election will be held next week. ・Explanation: This sentence announces the upcoming election for the position of 町長.

町長は地域の発展のために尽力しています。 ・Translation: The mayor is working hard for the development of the region. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the 町長's efforts to improve the town.

The word is formed from two kanji: 町 (machi), meaning "town," and 長 (chō/chō), meaning "chief" or "head." Together, they literally mean "town chief" or "town head."