JLGC welcomed four staff from Japanese local authorities as part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ (MIC) annual ‘Mushashugyo’ (literally samurai training) study programme, offering overseas training for local authority officers to research specific themes overseas in the UK and Europe. MIC is the parent ministry of JLGC, responsible for local government in Japan. The four staff were in the UK using the JLGC office in London as a base from May until the start of September.
Park Hill redevelopment in Sheffield
Mr Seisaku Higaki from Hyogo Prefecture, Mr Tomoyuki Ose from Hida City in Gifu Prefecture and Ms Tomoko Yoden from Itami City, also in Hyogo Prefecture, were in the UK and Europe looking at regeneration in new towns, promoting Japan to overseas visitors from a local government perspective and social care for adults in communities respectively. Mr Shinya Yoshino from Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture was based in Derbyshire for the County Council’s twinning link with Toyota City which came about through Toyota Motors UK basing their European manufacturing there.
While in London the staff were given training and lectures on dealing with public sector organisations in the UK, assistance with contacting relevant offices and were also able to get involved with JLGC’s PR activities in promoting Japan’s regions and cities at events such as Hyper Japan.
Mr Hagaki was able to use JLGC’s network of local government contacts and colleagues to visit a range of public sector organisations working on housing and regeneration, such as Sheffield City Council and Urban Splash, to see the redevelopment of Park Hill flats, the largest listed building in Europe which in recent years has been renovated after a period of decline and notoriety. Similar visits were arranged by JLGC and Mr Higaki at other organisations in Sheffield as well as London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Glasgow. Additionally, other Mushagyo programme participants were assisted by JLGC in their research subjects.
JLGC has a number of programmes and activities throughout the year supporting research by Japan’s local government. As well as city research, the London office provides regular briefings service and public affairs advice on all areas of economic development and public administration. Japan’s local and central government regards promoting regional revitalisation as a key policy goal. As a membership organisation, JLGC helps our member authorities across Japan face challenges in tackling demographic change and improving quality of life for residents.
JLGC would like to thank the many organisations that have hosted and given a warm welcome, as well as considerable time and assistance to the Mushashugyo participants and continued support for us and links between the United Kingdom and Japan at the local level.
