News

17/09/2013

‘International Conference on Future of Cities’ to be held in Kitakyushu

An ‘International Conference on Future of Cities’ will be held in Kitakyushu on 20 October to discuss how best to achieve sustainable societies and green economies through integrating the objectives of environment, economy and society. The conference will be held as part of a series of events during ‘Kitakyushu Eco Month’ in October to celebrate […]

06/09/2013

Climate leadership by Tokyo wins C40 award in London

This week Tokyo was one of 10 winning cities announced at the C40 and Siemens City Climate Leadership Awards. The inaugural event took place at Siemens Crystal in East London’s Royal Docks, an urban sustainability research facility and exhibition space. The cities represent the strongest project entries in each of 10 sustainability and leadership categories. […]

21/08/2013

‘What can we learn from Japan’s mayoral system?’

This week JLGC’s Andrew Stevens is on the Guardian Local Leaders Network discussing how Japanese mayors function under local autonomy, and how the elected mayor model can lead to globally recognised low carbon and inclusive cities: ‘What can we learn from Japan’s mayoral system?’ Also on the theme of city leadership, last week the BBC […]

09/08/2013

Kobe means business (tourism)

Visitors from the City of Kobe Industrial Promotion Bureau were supported by JLGC this week when they heard from London’s promotion agency and leading exhibition and convention centre on how to better position Kobe as a leading centre in Japan for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE, or business tourism). Visiting London & Partners, they […]

01/08/2013

Japanese city’s financial collapse offers a number of interesting lessons

This week the Guardian Local Leaders Network features commentary by JLGC’s Andrew Stevens on the case of Yubari’s financial collapse and efforts to save it, following recent debate around the impact of Detroit and its epic bankruptcy, among others: ‘Japanese city’s financial collapse offers a number of interesting lessons’ Andrew’s past articles on Japan for […]

29/07/2013

New JETAA Mentoring Scheme

JLGC is proud to support JETAA’s (JET Programme Alumni Association) new mentoring scheme for former JETs, with signing up details as follows: JETAA UK is keen to find new ways to help returning JETs with their job search if/when they return to the UK. One popular idea is to set up a mentoring scheme to […]

22/07/2013

Japan Study Tour 2013 to Miyagi and Tokyo – provisional schedule details

Updated details of the Japan Study Tour (JST) to Miyagi, devastated by the 2011 tsunami and earthquake can now be seen below (subject to amendment).  JST is the annual tour for senior UK/EU local government and related public sector staff, to look at the role of Japan’s local authorities.  The tour is from November 17-23, […]

22/07/2013

Treasures from Hirado

‘Treasures from Hirado’ celebrates the 400th anniversary of the opening of trade and cultural ties between Britain and Japan, and features artifacts never before seen in the UK. Alongside the broader impact of western trade on Japan, the exhibition focuses on William Adams, a native of Gillingham in Kent, who was the first Englishman to […]

15/07/2013

Hyper Japan

JLGC will be at this year’s Hyper Japan, where visitors can get a taste of regional culture from Japan. The event is the largest J-culture festival in the UK. Hyper Japan will be held 26-28 July at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. The event is supported by the Embassy of Japan in the UK, […]

12/07/2013

Brand Japan

Last month the Act on Establishment of the Japan Brand Fund was passed by the Diet of Japan, as outlined this week by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI): As Japan is now facing declining domestic demand along with a decreasing birth rate and an aging population, as well as the market expansion […]