15 Whitehall office
JLGC Seminar 2023: Carbon Neutral Cities in Japan and the UK
November 22, 10.00-12.00 (GMT), Online
Policies to promote carbon neutrality among local and regional governments are increasingly important to reach national net zero targets, with Japan and the UK both committed to achieving these by 2050. In particular, it is in their urban areas where innovative practices and cross-border collaborations can be found.
The JLGC Seminar is an annual opportunity for policymakers and researchers to address the most pressing challenges facing local governments in both countries, this year focusing on carbon neutrality in local government projects, following our annual Study Tour to Japan for UK local governments on this theme earlier in the year.
Join us on November 22 from 10.00 to hear from Japanese experts including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokorozawa City Government and the University of Tokyo Institute for Future Initiatives, with UK panellists including Core Cities UK/3Ci, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Local Government Association and London & Partners.
Information on how to join the seminar will shortly be made public. For more details on how to register, please follow our social media on Facebook, X and LinkedIn.
Surveys and Research
JLGC continues to support internationalisation efforts and research by various local governments in Japan. In recent months, several commissions have included:
- Zero Emission Vehicle Taxation in European countries
- Birth rates in the States of Germany and policies tackling shrinking populations
- Supply point provision for Electric Vehicles in English Regions
- Berlin’s Startup Ecosystem
- Projects tackling flooding in Europe
- Problem debt management among UK water companies
JLGC Online Seminars
JLGC welcomed Ms Kimiyo Nabeshima to present on ‘Global Research on Overseas Urban Planning, Regional Development and SDGs: Town planning from UK examples of community revitalisation’, about UK town planning for a sustainable society with case studies of regional revitalisation in local cities that can be used as templates in Japan
Ms Nabeshima is a city planner at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) with a master’s degree in city planning from the University of Manchester, currently working in city planning for local authorities in the UK, as well as consulting, researching, writing and lecturing.
JLGC hosts regular online seminars for professionals in Japan, which can be seen here (Japanese audio only; YouTube subtitles can be set to display English)
PR Activity
Recent PR support for Japan’s local authorities has included details of the latest Tokyo Metropolitan Government International Affairs Email newsletter and promoting the visit by the Lord Mayor of the City of London at the Tokyo-London Green Finance Seminar 2023.
Our ‘Local Eyes Japan’ continues to introduce regional foods of Japan and recipes as well as promote regional tourism. Recent posts have given recipes from the 47 prefectures, the downloadable recipe card with links to all the recipes can be accessed 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. All promotions by the office can be seen on our social media channels on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram, as well as on our website blog.
JLGC at Japan Matsuri
JLGC joined the exhibitors and performers to celebrate a day of Japanese food and culture when the much-loved Japan Matsuri returns to Trafalgar Square on Sunday 1 October for the first time since 2019! A regular fixture now in the London calendar, this free annual festival brings people together to enjoy Japanese food, music, dance, and activities for all the family.
Alongside a huge selection of Japanese food and drink and cultural activities, plus an incredible line-up of performances from the likes of Joji Hirota and the London Taiko Drummers, Awa Odori performed by the Japan Association, JLGC’s stand provided tourist information directly from the regions of Japan, as well as give visitors a chance to pick up some unique free gifts and goods from the 47 prefectures and brochures and offer advice on travelling inside Japan. This year’s festival saw a huge turnout of around 44,000, and the JLGC stand was the busiest it had been in years, with particular interest in destinations away from Japan’s ‘golden triangle’ (Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto), as well as specialist themes such as arts and crafts and industrial tourism.
JETAA UK chapters’ events throughout the country
Attention all JET Programme Alumni! JETAA UK continues to organise events throughout the UK for JET alumni. Details are posted regularly on the JETAA UK website here at www.jetaa.org.uk as well as interviews and articles on UK-Japan relations, reviews and job listings. With chapters in Scotland, the Northeast of England, the Northwest of England, the Midlands and London, it’s an excellent opportunity for alumni to connect, network and reminisce about life in Japan on the programme. Search for your local JETAA chapter on Facebook, for further details of local and national events.
Japan Study Tour 2024, close of applications and future tour details
Applications have now closed for the annual tour of the Japanese public sector visiting a host authority in the country. 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.
Details of the next tour in 2025 will be available on our website page in the new year and on our LinkedIn page, follow via the link for future details as soon as they are available HERE.
