On March 6, a feedback session was held at Japan House London for the local government executive tour organised by JLGC on an annual basis. During the 2020 Japan Study Tour held this January, eight participants, including British local government senior executives , visited CLAIR Tokyo HQ, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Tsu City in Mie Prefecture, to observe a biomass project, wind power generation facilities, high tech recycling facilities, and other projects supporting the local economy.
The London debriefing session, held each year in part to gain feedback and improve future tours, was attended by over 50 people, including local government employees and Japanese government officials from the Embassy of Japan, as well as Japanese agency offices in London, and UK local government professionals interested in future tours. Past tour alumni participants were also present to share knowledge and learning from Japan.
After a break, a second session was held with a presentation on the theme of resilience in local government in Japan and the UK, and reflecting on learning by Damian Atkinson, Head of Community Engagement (Interim) at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea who took part in a previous tour to Miyagi Prefecture, hit by the earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
Personal connections cultivated through JST are important for training and research for JLGC London Office staff as well as cooperating on future events, and a networking reception was later held in the latter half of the briefing session. JST is also a great opportunity for UK local government professionals to network with Japanese colleagues and other similarly internationally-minded public sector professionals.
JLGC London each year invites senior executives in local government and staff working in the public sector within the jurisdiction of the countries covered by our office (the UK, Republic of Ireland and other countries within Northern Europe) to Japan for a week-long tour and series of seminars and workshops: to exchange best practice, opinions and information on the current state and issues of local autonomy, and to deepen understanding of each other’s local autonomy systems.
This year’s theme was ‘Japanese Municipalities Investing in the Future’ and gave a general overview of local government in Japan, as well as an opportunity to look at the division of roles between different levels of local authorities and the services they deliver.
JST will next be hosted by Shizuoka City, after an orientation on local government at JLGC’s head office CLAIR Tokyo in the capital and site visits to various facilities in Tokyo; past visits have been to Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the city government for one of the world’s largest metropolises.
The Shizuoka City segment of the tour will help participants learn how Japanese cities of varying scale improve local services through a devolved local government system. Participants will see a wide spectrum of best practice and strategies regarding business, the environment and society.
JLGC invites applicants from senior-level staff of UK/Northern European local governments to join this seven-day tour to see how Japan tackles challenges for the future.
The next JST is planned to take place in January 2021 and the exact dates will be announced later in 2020. The applications will open after a final decision on the theme and whether the tour can go ahead, depending on travel restrictions to Japan and viability of the tour under any public health measures in place at the time.
For more information when it becomes available later this year and to receive updates please email mailbox@jlgc.org.uk
