Last week several JLGC staff, including Chihiro Sakurai (Assistant Director, seconded from Tokyo Metropolitan Government, TMG) and Andrew Stevens, were guests of the Senate Chancellery of the Governing Mayor of Berlin (Directorate for Protocol and International Relations) for a visit to examine policies around smart cities, which coincided with a concert and ceremony to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Berlin-Tokyo city partnership.
The event at Berlin City Hall, which commenced a series of activities to commemorate the link, heard addresses from Hella Dunger-Löper (Berlin State Permanent Secretary for External Affairs), Japanese Ambassador Takeshi Nakane and the newly-elected Governor of Tokyo Yoichi Masuzoe (read on his behalf by Ms Sakurai). A recital followed by Japanese violinist Sayako Kusaka and pianist Kotaro Fukuma at the ceremony, which was co-organised by the Embassy of Japan in Berlin. Further events will take place throughout 2014, including a symposium on ‘Smart and Social Cities’ (in association with the Japanese-German Centre Berlin) and bilateral collaboration between Berlin and TMG around the Berlin Marathon (both in September). We would like to thank the staff of the Senate Chancellery, Berlin Partner and InnoZ for their efforts in assembling a detailed and productive programme for the visit.
