15 Whitehall office
Invitation to the Japan Local Attraction Seminar – Explore Hidden Gems with JET Participants
We are thrilled to introduce the first seminar in our new series, the Japan Local Attraction Seminar, hosted by Sarah Parsons, MD of East West Interface, a Leading Expert in Cross-Cultural Communication & Strategy, Research Associate at the Japan Research Centre (SOAS), and CIPR Associate.
This seminar will explore the theme of ‘Japanese History, Tradition, and Festivals’ and will feature current JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme) participants from Shiga Prefecture, Katori City, and Hamada City, who will showcase the traditional festivals and hidden gems of their local regions.
During the Q&A session, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions directly to those living in these areas.
Don’t miss this special chance to explore the lesser-known beauty of Japan! We look forward to your participation.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_04ub3lTkR3uGA0drZjfwgw
Research Secondment from Tokyo HQ
Chisato Kano, was seconded to us this autumn to research the market for local products in the UK. Kano san works in the Economic Relations Division of our headquarters for the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations in Tokyo, seconded from Aichi Prefecture.
Thanks to Marisa Heath, CEX of the Plant Based Food Alliance for discussing her organisation’s work and opportunities around plant-based products for Japanese food brands and an overview of the vegan market in the UK. Thanks also to the staff at Japan Centre for the meeting in support of her research.
JET Alumni Careers Fair 2024
In September, JLGC had the privilege of organising and host a day of panel discussions, workshops and sessions at the JET Alumni Careers Fair 2024, where alumni volunteered their time and focused on guiding fellow Japan Exchange and Teaching Program(me) (JET) alumni on returning to the UK and looking for work in various sectors such as public sector, marketing, travel, recruitment, consulting and others.
JET Alumni volunteered on the day to help recently returned and those planning to return to the UK how they can use their experiences from their JET placements to demonstrate strong behaviour examples and advising on how best to approach structuring their examples for applications and interviews.
The London chapter’s treasurer Hannah (who also did a breakout session on civil service careers) was also able to chat with JET alumni who have recently returned from Japan in an online JETAA-UK (JET Alumni Association of the United Kingdom) Coffee Lounge where she could share my experiences on adapting back into life in the UK.
JLGC is deeply thankful to all JET alumni and other contributors who gave up their time yesterday for this event. It was a huge success and a great turnout of nearly 250, plus some brilliant sessions getting some excellent feedback from participants.
Case Study: The Nationwide Mayumi-chan Exchange Project
Can municipal mascots halt population decline in rural areas?
JLGC colleagues regularly discuss initiatives by their local authority on projects in Japan. A recent office briefing looked at PR initiatives and objectives.
There are literally thousands of municipal mascots (or yuru-chara) in Japan, across the public sector. Motomiya City (population 30,000), the smallest municipality of Fukushima Prefecture in Northeast Japan, has since 2020 embarked on a project to assemble all those with the given name Mayumi across Japan as allies of its own local mascot ‘Mayumi-chan’.
Inspired by local government officer Mayumi-san, who took part in an event by Motomiya City Hall’s Migration and Settlement Division, the Nationwide Mayumi-chan Exchange Project is a fun way to not only promote civic pride in the municipality, but also generate national PR for the city as a place to relocate.
We have now uploaded Motomiya City Government’s recent presentation on the project as a case study to our website (PDF).
JET Welcome Back Reception 2024
On 3 October, the Embassy of Japan, together with the Japan Local Government Centre, London, proudly co-hosted a lively reception to celebrate the return of UK JET Programme participants. This special event brought together recent returnees with JET alumni who have successfully established their careers in the UK, alongside professionals from Japan-UK business sectors, fostering a dynamic space for networking and shared experiences.
Ambassador Hayashi warmly welcomed the guests, highlighting the deepening of Japan-UK relations, symbolised by the State Visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan to the UK last June. He commended the JET alumni as vital bridges supporting this growing partnership and encouraged them to remain connected with Japan through the JET Alumni Association (JETAA).
The JET Programme plays a key role in promoting international exchange by enhancing foreign language education and supporting the internationalisation of Japan’s local communities.
PR Activity
Recent PR support for Japan’s local authorities has included promoting Maebashi’s international competition, the capital of Gunma Prefecture, inviting designers, architects, urbanists, and landscape architects worldwide to join a design competition aimed at transforming the city’s downtown into a pedestrian-focused, creative hub. Inspired by cities like Portland and Melbourne, the competition seeks innovative proposals to reimagine the main street as a “transit mall” that emphasizes walkability, green spaces, and community interaction.
The key objectives are to enhance pedestrian infrastructure, foster an environment where art and design thrive, and support Maebashi’s revitalization as a sustainable “creative slow city.” The top prize is 25 million yen, with four additional prizes of 1 million yen for those who pass the first screening. Information on submitting proposals can be seen here.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government regularly publishes articles about pioneering policies and initiatives, as well as the attractions of Tokyo including its nature and culture, regularly issuing and sending an English newsletter to some 70 leading cities overseas and all the embassies and representative offices in Tokyo, bulletins can be downloaded here. Recent topics covered include:
HENCA Tokyo 2024 hydrogen energy conference / TIME TO ACT FORUM 2024 – Cities Calling for World Climate Action / etc.
Strengthening Bonds through Sports: Paris and Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Connections / TOKYO LIGHTS 2024: A Festival of Lights / etc.
We also introduced Tech Tour SHIGA, a new consulting service launched ahead of the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 to connect overseas companies with industrial sites and cutting-edge technologies in Shiga Prefecture. Whether you’re seeking research partners, suppliers, or insights into innovative technologies, Tech Tour SHIGA offers tailored recommendations to help you build valuable business networks. Free consultations available, but tourism services are not included. Learn more and explore the list of companies at [Tech Tour SHIGA] (website link).
Our ‘Local Eyes Japan’ continues to introduce regional foods of Japan and recipes and promote regional tourism. Recent posts have given recipes from the 47 prefectures; download the recipe card here.
Posts are all from staff and colleagues in the regions of Japan, off-the-beaten-track tips and information that travellers won’t find at the more well-known destinations. Our PR activities are available on our social media channels on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram, and our website blog.
JLGC Online Seminars
JLGC regularly holds online seminars for local government professionals and audiences in Japan led by experts across various topics related to local governance and finance in the UK and Europe.
JLGC was pleased to welcome Ms. Shigeko Maeda, a certified lecturer of the City of Freiburg and business agent of the Freiburg Economic and Tourist Organisation, who gave a lecture on the case study of the environmental policy of Freiburg, an “environmental city” which claims to be the greenest in Germany.
The rise of environmental awareness in Freiburg is said to have been triggered by the opposition to the planned construction of a nuclear power plant in the city’s surrounding area in the 1970s. The presentation introduced examples of environmental policies based on pioneering and long-term perspectives that consider the Freiburg region’s irreplaceable natural resources and culture, as well as the well-balanced lifestyle traditionally cultivated by its people. Through explanations of urban planning, transportation mobility policy, and energy policy, the talk also looked at how the people of this town have thought about and practiced these policies.
A video of the seminar is now available for a limited time on our website, and a permanent detailed report from the seminar will shortly be available for download on our website here (Japanese only, change settings for English).
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showcases Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) on JET
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications oversees the Japanese administrative system and manages local governments, elections, telecommunication, post, and governmental statistics. JLGC and CLAIR HQ in Tokyo report to the ministry as an agency under its jurisdiction. It is also one of the three ministries involved in managing the JET Programme and oversees many aspects of the project.
Explore the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ latest compilation showcasing extraordinary achievements by Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) on the JET Programme. This is an invaluable resource for insights into innovative approaches that can significantly enhance the impact of ALTs in educational settings. If you’re in the role of ALT or seeking inspiration to maximise your contribution, this collection of case studies is must-read.
Explore best practices in ALT utilisation by accessing the English version here:
https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000905422.pdf
Or the Japanese version here:
https://www.soumu.go.jp/kokusai/kouryu_JET_jirei.html
Nikkei Glocal article on 15-minute cities
Is the 15-minute city Japanese? Ahead of his upcoming book tour to London, renowned 15-minute city theorist Professor Carlos Moreno was interviewed for the Nikkei Glocal magazine by JLGC’s Andrew Stevens, who heard more about its Japanese influences.
In their interview for the 2 September edition, consideration was given to the London Borough of Waltham Forest, which is the first and only municipality in the UK capital to formally adopt ‘15-minute neighbourhoods’ into its corporate plan and appoint a council cabinet member for the policy. It has since published a mapping tool to allow residents to determine how close to the 15-minute city ideal their neighbourhood is, for instance by local access to green space, shopping, culture etc.
As the book outlines however, central to Moreno’s thinking on 15-minute cities is the work of Japanese philosopher Dr Kiyoshi Miki and his SEI-KATSU-SHA approach to urbanism, with “sei” referring to life/existence and “katsu-sha” being a person who does or creates. This can be found today in Tokyo’s ‘City By All’ project of urbanist Kazuhiko Washio and has also been influential in other aspects of resident-centred participatory urban planning elsewhere in Japan.
Nikkei Glocal is published by the Nikkei Research Institute of Industry and Regional Economy, which aims to foster creative regions in Japan. Its series reporting on local government initiatives outside of Japan is compiled through the cooperation of Japanese overseas agencies such as embassies, trade missions and international representatives (e.g. CLAIR).
