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We help promote and support local level internationalization in Japan.

Okinawa prefecture has launched a program that accepts evacuees from Tohoku

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City Recruits Ward Mayor Nationally

In November, Sakai City announced the open recruitment for the Mihara Ward Mayor. It is said to be the first case that a designated city accepted candidates for ward mayor from anywhere in the country.

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“Tokyo School Visiting Excursion” -  to recruit teachers from outside of Tokyo

The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education (BOE) conducts bus excursion tours for young people for a reasonable price. These bus tours are unique because the sites visited are not the usual sites such as; the Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, or the aesthetic water front area, but the city’s schools!

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Bicycle Use in Tokyo

 Nowadays, the increase in traffic accidents involving bicycles is one of the biggest problems in Tokyo. Cases of bicycle collisions with pedestrians, causing serious injuries to the pedestrians, and of bicyclists riding recklessly and being killed by cars are both occurring frequently.

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Joint Local Government Bond in Japan

Now European countries are discussing joint issuance of government bonds. But Germany, needless to say the most financially stabilized country, is against the proposition partly because Germany can issue its government bond for itself at less expensive cost. This is quite a similar situation seen in Japanese local government bond market.

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The Tokyo Shitamachi Bus -The best choice for sightseeing in downtown Tokyo

Speaking of sightseeing in Tokyo’s downtown (Shitamachi), some popular spots are Ueno, Asakusa and Ryogoku. Public transportation in Tokyo is so convenient that you can travel all across Tokyo by railway, subway and bus. However, they are all operated by different organizations such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Metro Company, JR East and so on. Some travelers from foreign countries feel a bit of confusion when they calculate fares or change trains. So the Tokyo Shitamachi Bus could be the solution, since it connects all of the above-mentioned downtown sightseeing spots.

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JLGC NEWS LETTER (Oct 2011) - UPDATE!!

  • CLAIR Fellowship Exchange Program 2011 will be held from Oct 24 to 31
  • JETAA Ottawa - JET Alumni Association for the National Capital Region, Canada
  • Introducing JLGC’s New Director

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Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa will talk about "Post-quake Japan - Reconstruction from the Region"

Kanagawa Prefecture and Embassy of Japan in the U.S. host a talk session in Washington D.C.!

What is going on in Japan after the earthquake - Governor Kuroiwa will talk about the country's present situation, and how Japan is coping in the aftermath.  Japanse Ambassador to the U.S. Ichiro Fujisaki and Governor Yuji Kuroiwa, who runs the local administration of Kanagawa Prefecture, will transmit their messages about Japan's future direction toward reconstruction to the people of the U.S. through speeches and Q&A sessions.

 

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Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education recruits new teachers for Fukushima

In September 2011, Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education (BoE) and Fukushima Prefecture Board of Education signed an agreement so that the Tokyo BoE could conduct the recruitment exam for Fukushima.

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Sakai Knives Penetrate East To West

The quality and nutritional value of Japanese cuisine has become well known throughout the world. And nobody should wonder that the inseparable companion of Japanese foos is Japanese kitchen knives. Especially in New York, Japanese knives are used by not only Japanese but also many Western chefs influenced by Japanese food culture. Among the many producers of knives in Japan, Sakai City is best known as the capital of Hocho (traditional kitchen knives) and Sakai’s Hocho are holding the line against others in terms of their quality and sharpness.

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About Road Parking Circumstances in Tokyo

 

About Road Parking Circumstances in Tokyo

 

In Tokyo, on the street parking for cars is prohibited and is punished by fines and towing away. Also, from April 2009, not only police officers but also private parking attendants are authorized to ticket violators, especially in Tokyo.

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Wish for world peace from Hiroshima

 On August 6, the city of Hiroshima held its annual Peace Memorial Ceremony to pray for the peaceful repose of the victims, for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and for lasting world peace.


Hiroshima’s mayor Kazumi Matsui makes a peace declaration. He is the first mayor of Hiroshima to be a child of A-bomb survivor.

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JAPAN’S “AUTONOMY SETTLEMENT ZONES”

 

Japan is proactively dealing with two crises that portend an uncertain future for the nation. The dual crisis pertains to the country’s growing aging population and its declining birth rate. According to population statistics, three large metropolitan areas, Tokyo, Osaka and Aichi Prefecture will experience severe population declines, especially in their outlying areas where young people have moved away to secure employment in their respective urban centers. As a result of worker migration, birth declination and the rapid aging of the resident populations, Japan is encouraging its municipalities to implement progressive policies designed to slow the flow of the exodus of people from the rural areas.

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Japanese major cities try to export their water / sewage technology

Several Japanese major cities and prefectures are trying to export their water / sewage technology.


Water Supply Tank at Siem Reap, Cambodia
Photo, courtesy of Kitakyushu City


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Tokyo Metropolitan Government Teaches How to Raise a Pre-school Kid

In April 2011, the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education issued its “Educational Curriculum for Pre-school Kids”, aiming to facilitate young kids’ physical and intellectual abilities.

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JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES PROMOTING URBAN RIVER HEALTH

 

Throughout human history, rivers have been an essential component in the successful development of a society’s trade, commerce, wealth and knowledge. We depend on rivers for transportation, to provide food and problematically to absorb and carry away our waste products. Virtually all water pollutants are hazardous to humans as well as lesser species. Some contaminants are carcinogenic.

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Date Masamune who was one of the most famous generals in Edo period helps Miyagi come back from Natural Disasters!!

Miyagi, as many people know, was badly damaged by the March 11th disaster and Tsunami. Fortunately it has been recovering with warm support from all over the world. The priority is recovering the lives of residents and land of Miyagi prefecture. Tourism, however, has suffered and so it is a high priority for Miyagi to attract visitors.

One way is to sell Miyagi’s biggest historical asset- Date Masamune.

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What is the most popular destination for the “Anime” pilgrimage?

For animation aficionado, it is very popular to trek to the places where episodes of famous animations were created. Young, old, Japanese and foreigners, visit these holy grounds and immerse themselves in their favorite episodes.


Hyogo Prefectural Nishinomiya North High-school at Kurakuen, Nishinomiya.
(Alma-mater of Mr. Kitagawa and the presumed model of “Prefectural North High-school” in Haruhi Suzumiya series )

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Avoiding a massive black out - Efforts to save energy by local governments in Japan

In Japan, we are concerned that the electricity supply may fall short of electricity demand this summer since many nuclear power plants cannot be restarted because of objections by concerned local governments. Shortfall in power may cause a massive black out, which will have a large effect on life and economic activities. New Yorkers will remember the blackout of 2004!

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Municipality in Tokyo bans smoking on the street

 

In April 2010, Chiyoda Ward in Tokyo, where the national government offices are concentrated, enacted legislation banning smoking on all streets except within the Imperial Palace.

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Earthquake Support from Hiroshima City

Hiroshima City officials are working in earthquake stricken east Japan.


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Sending local products to where they are needed

Since March 11th, many local governments around Japan have supported the disaster victims with relief supplies and activities. In this effort, Sakai City has attracted much attention by its unique support utilizing its local industries.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ASSISTING EMENGENCY RESPONSE OF DISASTER AFFECTED AREA

Japanese local governments have dispatched many firefighters to the affected area since March 11th.

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JAPAN CREATES A STATUTORY ROUND TABLE FOR NATIONAL, PREFECTURE AND LOCAL LEADERS TO DISCUSS REFORMING GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The National Diet of Japan has passed a law calling for a policy deliberation forum to consist of several Cabinet members and local government leaders.

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