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JLGC NewsLetter No. 68 • © 2010 Japan Local Government Center PAGE 1

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Ifirst got to know CLAIR about 20years ago when I was staying inParis to conduct research on social

welfare in France and a professor froma Japanese university recommendedthat I should definitely visit the CLAIRParis office.

When I met the staff there forthe first time, they gave me anexplanation of local government andwelfare in France as well as someCLAIR Reports and other materials.The CLAIR Reports, analyzing issuesfrom a local government perspective,were fresh and interesting.

For me, as someone whoconducts policy research on topics likelocal and national government financeand social security, information fromoverseas and support for my ownoverseas research activities areindispensable, and CLAIR has becomea reliable partner for me ever sincethose days in Paris. In truth, theCLAIR Reports from the overseasoffices have a very good reputation andhave been invaluable references incrafting the Trinity Reforms and other

initiatives. Over the last 20 years I havealways had the impression that CLAIRhas been doing ambitious andmeaningful work. And now, throughsome strange twist of fate, I havebecome involved in the management ofCLAIR as its new chairperson.

CLAIR was established in 1988by the local governments, workingtogether, with the goals to promote“internationalizing local government”and to contribute to “local autonomy”.It has been funded by proceeds fromthe sale of lottery tickets. I believe it isa valuable treasure for Japan,particularly ordinary Japanese citizens,as a window for them to the outsideworld. CLAIR has built up thisvaluable resource through the labors ofall my predecessors who have worked tocreate relationships of trust withvarious organizations in the manycountries where we have overseasoffices. It has accomplished this inmany areas of activity, includingcoordinating the JET Programme,which is highly acclaimed both in Japanand abroad, conducting overseasresearch, supporting sister city and stateexchange activities, and contributing tomulticultural coexistence initiatives.

There are many people thesedays who say that Japan has no choicebut to deal urgently with the issue of“internationalizing local government”;because of economic globalization,along with falling birthrates and anaging population. In other words, it isthe arrival of a society marked bypopulation decline. CLAIR is at theforefront of research and policyformulation in these areas, drawing onits knowledge of other leading countriesaround the world who are also grappling

with theseissues.

CLAIR’swork tosupport “internationalizing localgovernment”, or, really, to bring ‘aninternational flavor to people’s lives’, isvaried, complex and wide-ranging.Through a network of connections tolocal government chief executives’offices, international relations divisions,international exchange organizations,boards of education and other groups, aswell as through gaining the cooperationof central ministries like Internal Affairsand Communications, Foreign Affairs,and Education, CLAIR headquarters inTokyo works, together with eachoverseas office, to make real the varietyof the international experience for theordinary citizen. We must also neverforget how the many local governments,experts on the ground, and other peoplearound the country work in thebackground to support these aims.

CLAIR constitutes acollaborative infrastructure to promote“internationalizing local government”and to contribute to “local autonomy”.While we feel it has fulfilled this rolewell, we recognize that a mixture ofcontinuity and innovation are necessaryfor continued success, so we willcontinue to carry out organizationalreform.

In closing, I must say howdeeply grateful I am to be able to worktoward achieving CLAIR’s lofty ideals.

JAPAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER (CL AIR, NEW YORK) ISSUE NO.68 SUMMER 2010

ISSUE NO.68 • SUMMER 2010

Towards Global Local Governments .................. 1Words of Welcome from the New Executive Director ... 2A Greeting from the New Counselor .................. 2Mr. Sasaki Returns to Japan ............................ 3Delegates from Miyagi Prefecture visit

the State of Delaware ................................. 4Great Lakes JETAA - JET Alumni Association

for Ohio and Michigan ................................ 5JAPAN NIGHT in Toronto ................................. 6JLGC Toronto Office: Reporting on Canada

for fifteen Years ......................................... 6Settlement programs for immigrants in Canada .. 6JLGC New Staff ............................................. 7JET programme, JET Alumni Association Vital

to the Future of U.S.-Japan Relations ........... 8

Towards Global Local Governments YOKO KIMURA, CHAIRPERSON,COUNCIL OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Hello, Everyone. I’m HotakaKawasaki, a new staff memberat JLGC.

I was born in ShizuokaPrefecture, which is famous for Mt.Fuji. My father liked climbingmountains so much that he moved toShizuoka, and he also named me afterMt. Hotaka, a beautiful mountainbetween Nagano and Gifu Prefectures.(Please search for it on Wikipedia.)

I am interested in visiting, livingand working in various areas aroundJapan. That’s why I took a job at theMinistry of Internal Affairs andCommunications, which is responsible

for the basic administrative systems andfiscal policies of Japanese localgovernments. I have worked in theprefecture governments in Kagoshimaand Yamaguchi, in addition to thenational government in Tokyo. Thesetwo prefectures are well known by theirold, feudal-period names of “Satsuma”and “Choshu”, two of the main forcesbehind introducing Westerntechnology leading to themodernization of Japan about 150years ago. I experienced a lot ofwonderful things in both places.

At the same time, I am alsointerested in living and working

abroad, and Ihad been look-ing for such anunusual chancefor a long timewhile working at “domestic” offices.And now I’ve gotten the chance tocome here, to New York!

At JLGC, I am in charge ofcooperative activities with publicorganizations in the U.S. and Canada,as well as JLGC’s budgeting anddisbursements. I’m very happy andexcited about this precious opportunity,and I’m looking forward to meetingyou sometime!

PAGE 2 JLGC NewsLetter No. 68 • © 2010 Japan Local Government Center

My name is Masaaki Akagiand I have the distinction ofbeing the first executive

director of the Japan Local GovernmentCenter (CLAIR, New York) notaffiliated with the Ministry of InternalAffairs. I have served as a public officialof Hyogo Prefecture government forthirty years. My career work ininternational economic developmentand industrial policy has consumed themajority of my time serving the citizensof Japan. During my first stay inAmerica, I received a Master of PublicAdministration degree from EvergreenState College in the state ofWashington in 1988.

Assigned as the new executivedirector at the Japan Local GovernmentCenter (CLAIR, New York) beginningJuly 20, 2010, I am challenged to carryforward the core missions of CLAIR,New York, in order to empower theexisting relationships between Japan,the United States and Canada. Duringmy stewardship at JLGC I hope to beable to make gainful strides in thefollowing areas:

1. Commission valuable researchprojects that identify best practicesin the field of public management inthe United States and Canada and

to disseminate those models andcase studies to local governments inJapan.

2. Effectively and efficiently manageaspects of the Japan ExchangeTeaching (JET) programing whilesupporting the JET AlumniAssociations in their efforts topromote understanding of Japanand Japanese culture throughout theUnited States and Canada.

3. Promote bilateral cooperationamong Japanese, American andCanadian local governments andgovernmental associations.

4. Accept and initiate proposals thatwould create new and strengthenexisting collaborative partnershipsamong Japanese, American andCanadian local governments.

The United States of America is thelargest market economy in the world.Canada is a major trade partner and astrategic ally for Japan. Japan has thesecond largest market economy and isthe oldest constitutional monarchy inAsia and shares various democraticvalues with the United States and Canada. Productive and stablebilateral relations and the activecooperation between the US-Japan andCanada-Japan are imperative to help

recover from aw o r l d w i d erecession andto safeguarddemocracy inthe world. For the Japanese nationaland sub-national governments thepromotion and diversification of strongbilateral relations will continue to be animportant mission in securing aprosperous and secure future for Japan.

In conclusion, I would like tothank the executive directors, directorsand Japanese and local staff whopreceded me. Their hard work andstellar leadership have positioned JLGCas a prominent organization within theinternational community. I would alsolike to thank the JET alumniassociations in North America, forvolunteering their time, energy andspirit in promoting Japan and Japaneseculture. Finally, I would like to expressmy appreciation to the readers of theJLGC Newsletter for their cooperationand support of CLAIR.

With warm regards,

Words of Welcome from the New Executive DirectorMASAAKI AKAGI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JLGC

A Greeting from the New Counselor HOTAKA KAWASAKI, COUNSELOR, JLGC


Hiroshi Sasaki, executivedirector of the Japan LocalGovernment Center, New

York, for the last three years, hasreturned to Japan. There he has takenup a position in Tokyo at the Fund forLocal Government Employees’ AccidentCompensation. Mr. Sasaki brought toNew York an energetic commitment toimprove the standing of the CLAIR(New York) office in the United Statesand Canada. In his three years plus, hedid just that.

From the beginning, he wasvery engaged with the JET AlumniAssociation. Indeed, Mr. Sasaki’schildren themselves had the benefit oflearning English here in the UnitedStates from a JET alumna. This senseof “one good turn deserves another”,clearly brings hope that the vastnumber of JET alumni, particularly inthe United States, one day will bring abenefit to what has been Japan’senormous investment in culturalexchange. Who knows, as Mr. Sasakisays, maybe a former JET will somedaybecome President. Also, Mr. Sasakihopes that the JET experience willremain with the youth of today always.What better way of continuing this rich

relationship with Japan than to becomelifelong supporters of Japanese-American friendship throughsupporting JET alumni activities. JETalumni, Mr. Sasaki says, are the trueambassadors of cross-culturaldiplomacy.

Another aspect of Mr. Sasaki’stenure in New York was the effort hemade to strengthen the governmentrelationship between Japan and NorthAmerica. He was indefatigable inbringing the Center closer to thevarious government organizations andtheir constituents. One way he did thatwas to emphasise getting the Japaneseofficials to witness first hand, as agroup, the machinery of government inaction. So, there were visits to the NewYork State legislature watching debateson bills being proposed for the State; toAndover, Massachusetts, to witness theunique form of government knownonly in New England as the TownMeeting - and lively that was too, or toEast Orange, New Jersey, to see how alocal government focuses its energy onreviving the community spirit by usingremarkable technology to ensure publicsafety. In addition to the staff of theCenter, Japanese officials from all over

the United States participated. Theseevents are truly a means of engaging allthe governments of Japan (central,prefecture and local) so that they mayenrich their experience of what is newand innovative in governmentadministration.

The theme of learning fromeach other is fundamental to themission of CLAIR’s overseas branchesand, in this area, Mr. Sasaki was alwayslooking for new ways for the Center ’tolearn’ from American governments.One such initiative launched by Mr.Sasaki is a collaboration with the StateUniversity of New York. American andJapanese professors and governmentofficials will discuss both countries’desire to provide services moreefficiently, after which they will preparea report that all can use to see howbetter organising government may helpin responding to the needs of theircitizens more closely.

All in all, though times havebeen difficult fiscally, the Center hasthrived under the leadership of Mr.Sasaki. We wish him well for the future.

Mr. Sasaki Returns to Japan SETH B BENJAMIN, PH.D., SENIOR RESEARCHER, JLGC

Farewell with JETAA New York and JLGC

Visit state capitol of Pennsylvania

JLGC NewsLetter No. 68 • © 2010 Japan Local Government Center

Miyagi Prefecture and theState of Delawareestablished their Sister-

Prefecture/State relationship in 1997and have conducted exchange up untilnow primarily through exchange ofstudents and government workers.Under the slogan of “Realization of aProsperous Miyagi” the Miyagigovernment has developed variousindustrial promotion policies, such asattraction of enterprises and cultivationof local industry. As a part of thesepolicies, the Miyagi government isaiming to promote economic exchangewith its Sister State based on thefriendship exchange the two haveshared up until now. Receivingagreement towards this endeavor fromthe Delaware government, Miyagi setits sights on reforming the contents ofthe two organizations’ “Agreement ofExchange.”

Under these pretexts, adelegation of four members from theMiyagi Prefectural GovernmentDepartment of Commerce, Industryand Tourism visited the State ofDelaware’s Cities of Wilmington,Dover and Rehoboth Beach. The maincontents of the visit are outlined below.

• Signing of a Revised“Agreement of Exchange”

The main purpose of the delegation’svisit, the revised agreement pertainingto the details of exchange betweenMiyagi Prefecture and the State ofDelaware was signed by the Director-General of the Miyagi Department ofCommerce, Industry and Tourism and

Delaware’s Secretary of State. Thecontents of the revised agreementstipulate a continuation of thefriendship exchange that has beencarried out up until now as well as afocus on economic exchange.

• Courtesy Visit to DelawareState Governor Jack Markell

The Delegation paid a courtesy visit toGovernor Jack Markell, who wasappointed as governor of Delaware inJanuary of 2009. By a letter written byMiyagi’s governor, the delegationexpressed Miyagi’s desire to strengthenthe basis of economic exchange betweenMiyagi and Delaware and to promoteexchange in environmental fields, suchas clean energy. The letter also invitedGovernor Markell to visit MiyagiPrefecture this year and expressed a hopeto reform Miyagi and Delaware’s“Sister-State Agreement,” to whichGovernor Markell kindly agreed.Furthermore, the delegation informallydiscussed with the Governor topics suchas “Resolution of the contents ofexchange between Miyagi and Delawaretowards economic focus,” “Introduction

of Miyagi’s Economic RevitalizationPolicy” and “Next steps to boostingeconomic exchange with Delaware.”

• Meeting with the Mayor of Dover

The Delegation also met with CarletonE. Carey, Sr., Mayor of Dover,Delaware’s capital city. Dover is SisterCities with Miyagi Prefecture’sIwanuma City. Recently there havebeen plans to sign collaborationagreements between Iwanuma/Dovermiddle schools and colleges, and MayorCarey expressed his desire to see furtherstrengthening of relations.

• Participation in the RehobothBeach Film Festival

The Delegation also promoted Miyagitourism at the “Rehoboth Beach FilmFestival” held in Delaware’s RehobothBeach, as well as conducting a Miyagi-sake taste-testing and a presentation of“Suzume-odori,” the traditional danceof Sendai associated with MasamuneDate. The dance was performed by“Iroha Mazura,” a dance group wellknown in Sendai, and was very wellreceived by the audience.

Delegates from Miyagi Prefecture visit the State of DelawareTAICHI HANZAWA, ASSISTANT DIRCTOR, JLGC

Governor Markell receive a gift

Director-General Wakoh and Secretary of State Bullock

A welcome reception held in their honor

Iroha Mazura put on a festive performance


US-17 “Great Lakes JETAA” hashad a very busy year! Newofficers were elected and

subchapters were formed in WesternMichigan, Southeast Michigan andOhio. Subchapter representativescoordinated many events for theiralumni including movie nights, applepicking, BBQs, momijigari, nengajomaking, karaoke, cooking lessons andreturnee receptions. A pre-departure Q& A and reception for new JETs werealso well attended by alumni. Membersenjoyed a bonnenkai with special guestsfrom CLAIR New York.

A committee met to writeamendments and updates to outdatedby-laws, and several general meetingswere held. The Great Lakes JETAAalso published a newsletter withcontributions from several alumni.Topics in the newsletter includedsubchapter activities, elections, newJET departures, returning JET alumnigatherings, recipes, a movie review, andan introduction to our new ConsulGeneral of Japan.

The highlight event forthe chapter was “A Feast for theEyes: a Japanese ConfectionaryDemonstration” that was held May 13-16, 2010 in collaboration with theMichigan-Shiga Sister State Board andShiga prefecture. The purpose of theevent was to provide Michiganresidents with an increased interest inand understanding of Japan andMichigan’s Sister State, Shiga.

The first demonstration was

held at the Kellogg Hotel andConference Center in East Lansing,Michigan. Mr. Shoji Nishizawa gave ademonstration of confectionary makingthat was attended by approximately200 people. Following Mr. Nishizawa’sdemonstration, participants drankauthentic Japanese tea while they tastedhis unique and gorgeous Japaneseconfections. The Great Lakes JETAApresident, Amber Arashiro, gave aspeech just after the confectionerydemonstration in which she describedher memories of receiving wagashi asomiyage from co-workers during theJET Program.

The same program was repeatedat the Consul General’s residence inBloomfield Hills, Michigan, and againat the Novi Civic Center. Fivevolunteers with the JETAA volunteeredto set up and sell the wagashi and theGreat Lakes JETAA Michigan vice-president, Faye Valtadores, andsecretary, April Mears, gave speeches tothe audience about their wagashi andtea ceremony memories while teachingon the JET Program.

The Great Lakes JETAA has itsown website (www.greatlakes.jetalumni.org) and aFacebook group page with 100members. Photos of past events and

invitations to future ones can be foundon this Facebook page as well as thewebsite.

The Ohio vice-president, ValerieRambin, and treasurer, Claire Brender,will attend the national conference inNew York in August and are expected toreturn with great ideas to make thechapter even stronger in the future.The Great Lakes JETAA looks forwardto many more opportunities fornetworking and sharing memoriesamong others who remember their JETexperience fondly.

Great Lakes JETAA - JET Alumni Association for Ohio and MichiganAMBER ARASHIRO, PRESIDENT, GREAT LAKES JETAA

Wagashi

Great Lakes JETAA with Mr. Ouchi, one of the demonstrator of confectionery making from Shiga


For many years, the Japan LocalGovernment Center (JLGC)attends the annual conference of

the Federation of CanadianMunicipalities (FCM). Since 2009JLGC has hosted a “JAPAN Night”event. The festivity serves as anetworking reception. This year, incooperation with the Canadian UrbanInstitute, Japan Night 2010 was heldon the evening of May 28th in Toronto.

Guests were welcomed byJLGC’s executive director, HiroshiSasaki and were treated to deliciousJapanese cuisine, a variety of cheesesquenched with Canadian beer andwine. Over seventy people joined theparty; including many who attendedlast year’s event. Everyone shared theirexperiences and many reminisced aboutthe nurturing relationships betweentheir city/town and their sister cities inJapan.

JAPAN NIGHT in Toronto YUKO NISHIDA, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, JLGC

JLGC Toronto Office: Reporting on Canada for Fifteen Years

This past July, Director Uemuraof the JLGC Toronto office andI visited Canada to conduct

research on language learning systemsfor immigrants. During the early1990’s, Canada became aware of twoissues that would affect their labor forceand compromise their nationalstrength; an increasing aged populationand lower birth rates. Therefore, theCanadian Government embarked on anational strategy to attract the best andbrightest immigrants to live and workin Canada. In order to entice andsupport newcomers, the LanguageInstruction for Newcomers to Canada(LINC) program was launched in 1992.LINC allows for the development oflinguistic communication skillsensuring that immigrants are better ableto function in and contribute to society.In the last five years, the Canadian

Government has spent $3 billion tosupport newcomers!

Currently, Japan must confrontthese same issues and can no longeravoid or restrict accepting immigrants,especially to support the workforce.There are a few Japanese mayors fromcities that have large immigrantpopulation who are supportive ofaltering immigration policy.Recently a conference washeld to support immigrantswhere experiences and issueson education, medical careand social security fornewcomers were sharedamong government officials.

What’s good aboutthe Canadian policy? Itrespects immigrants’ nativelanguage and culture whilehelping to ameliorate

assimilation into Canadian society. Theextent of these efforts by Canadiangovernment is reflected partly from thehigh number of immigrants whobecome naturalized citizens; currentlyaround eighty-four percent. Japancould learn from the success ofCanada’s willingness to increase andsupport new immigrants.

Settlement programs for immigrants in Canada KAZUAKI NAKAJIMA, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, JLGC

Newcomer Information Centre in Toronto

Located in the international city of Toronto, JLGC Toronto office has maintained astrong relationship with the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI). Please follow the linkbelow to learn more about JLGC Toronto and CUI.Web: http://www.canurb.org/content/japan-local-goverment-centre

JAPAN NIGHT in TORONTO


Hello, myname isTo m o y a

Suzuki and I amfrom Tokyo Metro-politan Govern-ment.

This year, Tokyo and New Yorkcelebrate the 50th anniversary of theirsister city relationship which started in1960. It is my great pleasure and honorto work here as a representative ofTokyo in this celebratory year. AtJLGC, I am in charge of supportingJETAA USA and research projects fromJapanese local governments.

As part of my every-day life inNew York, I would like to learn moreabout this exciting country and enterinto relationships with many Americanlocal governments.

[Tokyo Metropolitan Government] • Population: 12,993,920 (as of Nov. 1, 2009)• Area Size: 2,187.58 km2

• Transportation from Major City: FromTokyo Station, by train, 30minutes

Tokyo, capital of Japan, is thepolitical, economical and cultural center of thecountry. As well as all the state-of-the-arttechnology, you can also enjoy the history andthe culture from Edo period in 400 years ago.In the Tama area, western part of Tokyo, andin the small islands, a lot of beautiful naturewelcomes tourists.

The city is nominated 3rd place as the“Top 25 livable cities” by ’Monocle’ magazine.And 197 restaurants in Tokyo were introducedby Michelin Tokyo 2010. Come and visitTokyo. You can discover what you want!http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/index.htm

Hello, myname isTa k e s h i

Furukawa fromNiigata Prefecture.It’s nice to meetyou.

My main duties at JLGCinclude accounting, budget and projectreview. I’m also in charge of planning aseminar in Washington D.C. that willhighlight the local government in theUnited States. This seminar willprovide an opportunity for localJapanese government officials livingand working in America to betterunderstand American local government

I look forward to meeting andtalking with many people and wouldlike to learn a lot of things through mywork at JLGC.

[Niigata Prefecture]• Population: 2,380,000• Area Size: 12,582km2

• Transportation from Major City: FromTokyo, by Shinkansen (Bullet Train):100minutes

Niigata Prefecture is located at thecenter of the Japan Sea coast and blessed withan abundance of natural beauty includingbeautiful coastlines, sprawling mountainranges designated national parks, andbountiful rivers feeding into fertile plains.Japan’s longest river, the Shinano, flowsthrough the city.

Niigata is the leading producer of ricein Japan. Niigata’s sake is famous for itssmooth and dry taste because of the quality ofrice and abundance of fresh water. Niigata is awinter wonder land and visitors flock toNiigata’s many ski resorts and hot spring spas. http://www.pref.niigata.lg.jp/en/

I’m KeizoIshibashi fromSakai City.

Located in theheart of HonshuIsland it is said thatthe soul of Samuraiis still alive in the city because the areahas been the capital of samurai swordmanufacturing since the 1300s.

I’m in charge of FellowshipExchange Program which affords seniorstate and local government officials anopportunity to experience Japanesegovernment administration first hand.While coordinating this program, Iwould like to learn why Americans andCanadians are interested in Japan.

[Sakai City]• Population: 838,455• Area Size: 149.99km2

• Transportation from both of Kansai Airportand Osaka Station: 30 minute by train

• Sister City: Berkeley (California, USA)Sakai City has Nintoku-ryo Tumulus,

one of the three largest ancient tombs in theworld along with King Khufu’s Pyramid ofEgypt and the First Emperor’s tomb of ShinDynasty of China.

There is a magical harmony betweentraditional and industrial culture. ManyJapanese traditional cultures, including:Japanese Tea Ceremony, Japanese incense andthe Shamisen a three-stringed musicalinstrument, were born in the Sakai area. Also,components of the popular Shimano Bicyclecome from Sakai. There is a famous Japaneseexpression: ”Mono no Hajimari NandemoSakai”, which means “Everything is fromSakai!”http://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/index_en.html

JLGC New Staff


Published by JAPAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without permission. Printed in USA

3 Park Avenue, 20th floor, New York, NY 10016 • Tel: 212-246-5542 • Fax: 212-246-5617 • E-mail: [email protected] • http://www.jlgc.org

JETAA New York hosted theJETAA USA National Conferencefrom August 12 to 15, with 42

representatives from 18 of the 19 USchapters (except Alaska) and the threeUS Country Representativesparticipating.

Since a review of CLAIR’sactivities for the JET Programme wasconducted by the GovernmentRevitalization Unit in May, andsupport for JETAA was among theactivities under administrative reviewby the Ministry of Foreign Affairs inJune and July, this year’s conference wasfocused much more than usual onexplaining the role of the JETProgramme and JETAA in efforts toimprove the English language ability ofthe Japanese and to promoteinternational exchange in Japan.

The first main session on thistopic took place on the morning ofFriday, August 13. Mr. YasuhisaKawamura, the director of the JapanInformation Center at the ConsulateGeneral of Japan in New York,explained the position of the Ministryafter their recent review. During his talkhe emphasized that the Ministryunderstands the importance of JETAA’svital role in the US-Japan relationshipand will continue supporting thealumni. However, this support will bestrictly limited to activities and eventswhich enable former JETs to bediplomatic assets for Japan, or whichimprove the quality of future JETs. Heconcluded his remarks with his “ThreeCs” for future relations, “Confidence,Caution and Cooperation”, and askedfor pragmatism rather than excessiveoptimism or pessimism in dealing withthe current situation. As to CLAIR’sposition, Mr. Matthew Gillamexplained CLAIR’s current situationand future support for JETAA, sayingthat the continuing fiscal difficulties

facing local governments make itdifficult for CLAIR to promise tomaintain current funding levels in thecoming years. He concluded by sayingit is very important that we gain thesupport of local governments forJETAA activities. These presentationswere followed by a lengthy discussionby attendees on ways to address theissues raised in various criticisms ofJET and JETAA in Japan.

The other main session was onSunday morning, when we had aspecial guest from the Embassy ofJapan in Washington, DC. AmbassadorIchiro Fujisaki had a discussion withthe conference participants forapproximately 90 minutes in whichthey exchanged opinions and ideas onhow to improve the quality of the JETProgramme.

In addition to these, sessionswere also held for chapter issues such asmembership management, eventplanning, leadership transition andsuccession planning, basic fundraising,and career development.

Furthermore, on Saturdaymorning, after a brief, general talk onfunding, a technical session was heldspecifically for treasurers whereparticipants learned detailedinformation on funding policy andadministrative procedures for bothMoFA and CLAIR. Everyone seemedgrateful for the clear explanations ofthese increasingly complicatedprocesses.

One more major topic thatcame up in several sessions wastechnology, and a lot of effort was madeto build on the achievements of theTechnology Regional Conference heldin Portland earlier this year in order toprovide chapters with better, moreeffective and easier to use technologysolutions to their data management andcommunications needs.

A press release was put togetherafter the conference, entitled “JETProgramme, JET Alumni AssociationVital to the Future of U.S.-JapanRelations”. Among other things, therelease says that “JETAA USA came tothe conclusion that the JETProgramme and JETAA are crucial toJapan’s international outreach and toincreasing mutual understandingbetween Japan and the United States.JETAA USA hopes that upon reviewthe Japanese government willrediscover the necessity and value of theJET Programme and JETAA. Japanneeds both JET and JETAA to continuebuilding bridges between Japan and theUnited States.” This press release hasdrawn quite a bit of attention from theJapanese media.

We believe this conference was agood opportunity for JETAA membersto share information on recent eventsand gain a better grasp of the situationregarding the JET Programme andJETAA. It was also a valuable chancefor all of us from JETAA, MoFA andCLAIR to reconfirm our commitmentto working together to maintain andimprove JET and JETAA. We are verygrateful for the participants’ voluntaryinitiatives to support the JETProgramme and improve JETAAactivities.

Lastly, we extend our sinceregratitude to JETAA New York, the threeCountry Representatives, and theConsulate General of Japan in NewYork. This conference would not havebeen possible without everyone’scommitment and generous support.

JET Programme, JET Alumni Association Vital to the Future of U.S.-Japan RelationsMATTHEW GILLAM, SENIOR RESEARCHER, JLGC CHIZUKO KAWAMURA, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, JLGC

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