ISSUE #70

JULY, 2011

JLGC NEWS LETTER
Japan Local Government Center ( CLAIR, New York )issue no.70 July, 2011

Entering the Third Lost Decade orBeginning the Revival Decade of Japan?

Reconstruction Effort :Sendai Airport has recoveredfrom the impact of the Great
East Japan Earthquake

ISSUE NO.70 JULY 2011

Entering the Third Lost Decadeor Beginning the Revival Decadeof Japan? (page 1-2)

Year 2011 is the beginning of the second decade of the 21stCentury. For the past two decades, from 1991 to 2010, Japan
has been in the so-called “Lost Decades.” The bubble economy
burst in early 1990’s and since then, Japan has experienced
almost zero growth in her economy. Once, Japan was one ofrichest countries in the world but her GDP per capita has
nosedived into the high-teens in the world ranking. Outstanding public sector debt exceeds two hundred percent of grossdomestic product. One in four Japanese is over sixty five years
old making Japan the country with the oldest population.
Then, early in the second decade of the 21st century, on
March 11, 2011, disaster arrived in the form of the Great East
Japan Earthquake, the worlds’ largest ever, registering 7.0 on
the Japanese Shindo Scale. The tremors were felt from Hokkaido to Kanto, but especially affected were Aomori, Iwate,Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures. Many prognosticatedthat the future of Japan was dealt a severe setback and thatthe country would enter another lost decade.

JETAA USA:
Bringing Japan Home (page 3-4)
Delawareans Raise Funds for
Sister State in Miyagi Japan(page 5-6)
JLGC New Staff Visits Novi
( page 7-9)

JAPAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER(CLAIR, NY)
3 Park Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10016-5902
212.246.5542 office • 212.246.5617 fax
www.jlgc.org

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ISSUE #70

JULY, 2011

Entering the Third Lost Decade or
Beginning of the Revival Decade of Japan?

Japan Local Government Center, CLAIR-NY,
was established in 1988, just prior to the burst of
the go-go Japanese economy. For two decades,
JLGC has been promoting the globalization of Japan, through various programs, such as the Japan
Exchange Teaching Program (JET), promotion ofinternational cooperation by local governments, theCLAIR Fellowship Program, and information gathering and dissemination on best public administration practices. In particular, Japan could not haverealized her industrial and cultural globalization
without the JET Program.
I disagree! On the contrary, I believe, 2011
will be the beginning of the revival decade of Japan. Here’s why. First, average household net financial assets exceed two hundred thousand dollars representing more than sufficient savings tooffset the governments’ debt. Second, life expectancy in Japan is the longest in the world and thehealthy aging population will create new markets
and contribute to the labor market. Finally, during the past two decades, Japan has been successful in globalizing its markets; increasing its supply chain of manufacturing resulting in the second
largest amount of cultural exports, after the United States. As Japan continues to encourage talented foreign nationals to work in Japan, the strong
will of the Japanese people will effectively and efficiently use its resources to resurrect herself fromthe past two decades’ stagnation.

In the first JLGC Newsletter of fiscal year
2011, JLGC would like to extend its appreciation to
the fellows and friends of JLGC for their commitment and steadfast loyalty. JLGC pledges its best
effort to overcome the many challenges that face
Japan, and continue its passionate contribution topromote mutual understanding between Japan andNorth America.

July, 2011
Masaaki Akagi, M.P.A., Executive Director ofJapan Local Government Center; CLAIR, New YorkJAPAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER (CLAIR, NY)

Please visit our website at www.jlgc.org for more information

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ISSUE #70

JULY, 2011

JETAA USA:
Bringing Japan HomeWe all come home from JET feeling a bit lost atfirst. As we reestablish our lives in the US, we realize that we were part of something much bigger
than just ourselves and our ALT or CIR position.
We realize that there is a mechanism available athome which we can seize and utilize to continue
the personal relationship we built with JET, Japanand our local community during our time there.
JETAA USA is the instrument we use to bring Japan home. JETAA is our vehicle to give back toJapan in ways that may not otherwise be possible
in our professional lives.
My personal desire to give back to Japan encouraged me to get involved with JETAA first with mylocal chapter (Rocky Mountain JETAA) and thenat the national level as a Country Representative.
Working as a JETAA US Country Representative
has allowed me to foster projects and relationships
in a broader sense that promote US-Japan relations via JET alums.
It seems we never have enough time to get our entire wish-list completed, but here are some major
projects we’re working on this year:

JETAA USA National Conference at New YorkJETAA USA is responding to Japan in the wake of
the Great East Japan Earthquake. We have established an Earthquake Relief Fund whichJETAANY laid the groundwork for. The Fund hasreached $60,000 (as of June 10) as a result of individual donations as well as fund-raising efforts by
US JETAA chapters and we are continuing to grow
the Fund. US chapters voted that the money
raised go toward an education-based project thathelps to rebuild the community in the affected area. JETAA USA established a committee made up
of JET alumni who have been an integral part ofour organization as well as having professional
backgrounds that lend themselves to directing theFund. We hope to continue to work with CLAIR,
MOFA and AJET on this project to ensure its success.

JAPAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER (CLAIR, NY)

Please visit our website at www.jlgc.org for more information

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ISSUE #70

JULY, 2011

JETAA USA: Bringing Japan Home

Many US chapters have been working with localorganizations to help raise funds for charitablecauses in response to earthquake relief. In a briefpoll taken in May, we assessed that US JETAA
chapters working alongside local community
groups (such as local schools and universities, Japan-America Societies, US city governments, etc.)
helped raise $343,000 so far.

We have also established the JETAA- Sister City/
Prefecture Project aimed at connecting US JETAAchapters to their respective sister cities/ prefectures. Chapters have the tools to work with US
Country Representatives and CLAIR NY to contact
their respective sister city/ prefecture counterparts
and build a relationship. We hope that this translates into US JETAA chapters working with local
Japanese governments to strengthen ties on a
grassroots level: something close to every JET’s
heart. We welcome contact with JETAA chapters
initiated by local Japanese governments too!
JETAA USA is looking forward to advancing theseprojects and other initiatives at our National Conference in Washington, DC. JET may have been
the starting point for our relationship with Japan,but JETAA facilitates the evolution of that relationship, allowing us to give back to Japan in ways
we weren’t able to before.

At the reception held at
the Japanese ambassador’s residence

Jessyca Wilcox
JETAA USA Country Representative 2010- present
JET Program Coordinator (Denver) 2008-presentJAPAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER (CLAIR, NY)

Please visit our website at www.jlgc.org for more information4ISSUE #70

JULY, 2011

Delawareans Raise Funds for Sister State in Miyagi
Days after the major earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit northeast Japan, Delaware Governor Jack Markell and Secretary of State JeffBullock launched a statewide fundraising effort for
Delaware’s sister state, Miyagi Prefecture. The
State of Delaware established the fund at the Delaware Community Foundation, and in less than 24hours the Delaware Fund for Miyagi, Japan (the“Fund”) started accepting credit card donations
online (see http://delaware.gov/HelpMiyagi/) throughthe Delaware Community Foundation’s website.
All donations raised for the Fund will go towards
the relief and rebuilding effort in Miyagi. State
officials are in contact with counterparts in Miyagi
to determine funding opportunities. The intent of
the citizens of Delaware is to fund a portion of aschool, hospital, playground, or other project thatwill benefit the children of Miyagi.
Since the inception of the Fund we have hit ourgoal and raised over $100,000 from individuals,
businesses, schools, and non-profits. Many of thecontributions have been small, such as individuals
giving $25 from their week’s paycheck or small
businesses donating $50 or $100.

The Luncheon Fundraiser in Dover Downs on April 14th

The success of the fundraising initiative is due tothe grassroots and community lead efforts fromDelaware schools. Students as young as elementary level started their own fundraising at theirschool, many doing coin drives at during school
drop-off and pick-up times. An elementary schoolwith some of Delaware’s youngest students (3 and4 year-olds) in Wilmington began a “Pennies forMiyagi” penny drive that raised almost $500. Students throughout Delaware hosted similar coindrives or origami-folding events at their schoolsthat individually raised over $1000 per school.
Additionally, Delaware students have written hundreds of handwritten letters and cards to students
in Miyagi encouraging them to be hopeful and to
let them know that others are thinking of them.
The letters were delivered to community centers inMiyagi and distributed to youth in the Prefecture.

JAPAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER (CLAIR, NY)

Please visit our website at www.jlgc.org for more information

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JULY, 2011

Delawareans Raise Funds for Sister State in Miyagi Japan

Most significant about the Delaware and Miyagi
sister state relationship which started back in1997 is the high school student exchange programthat sends a handful of students from southern
Delaware to Miyagi, and vice versa. Dover, Delaware’s capital city, is a sister city of Iwanuma, andDover-area students live with families in Iwanumafor 10 days during the exchange program (to see
pictures from the exchange programs, visit theDelaware Fund for Miyagi Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/DelawareForMiyagi).

Delaware is nearly the same total square area asMiyagi, although Miyagi has more than double thepopulation of Delaware. So when one of the mostpowerful earthquakes ever hit the northeast coastof Japan including Miyagi, many of us could begin
to imagine the impact of such a large disaster on asmall area.
The Fund will continue to accept donations
through the summer, and will likely be closed out
in mid-Fall when the Delaware Secretary of Stateplans to visit Miyagi and take with him many well
wishes from the entire Delaware community.

Dana Rohrbough is Deputy
Principal Assistant in theOffice of the Secretary ofState in Delaware and has
coordinated Delaware’s
fundraisingeffort forMiyagi Prefecture.

“Pennies for Miyagi” on May 20th

JAPAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER (CLAIR, NY)

Please visit our website at www.jlgc.org for more information

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ISSUE #70

JULY, 2011

JLGC New Staff Visits Novi, MI
Takahiro Ito, Assistant Director
Representative of Miyagi Prefecture

Naomi Maki
(Hiroshima City)
Takahiro Ito(Miyagi Prefecture)

Shosaku Hosoda(Ministry of Internal Affairsand Communicaitons )Katsuyuki Imagawa
Satoko Kaneshi(Okinawa Prefecture)(Tokyo Metropolitan
Police Department)

JLGC new assistant directors visited the city ofNovi, Michigan with our deputy executive director, Hotaka Kawasaki on May 4-7, 2011.
The city of Novi is located in southeastern Michigan and has a population of about 55,000. There
are a number of Japanese companies doing business in Novi, resulting in a strong relationshipwith Japan. Mayor David Landry and other hospitable Novi residents graciously opened up theirhomes providing JLGC visiting staff with a valuable home stay experience where they could observe and participate in American family life.
Following are personal greetings from our new
assistant directors and their impressions of Novi.

Hi, everyone. My name is Takahiro Ito. I am fromMiyagi prefecture where a massive earthquake andtsunami struck on March 11. Miyagi has been recovering with thehelp of people in theU.S., specifically inthe state of Delaware; Miyagi’s sisterstate. As Miyagi’srepresentative basedin New York City, I
shall do my best tomaintain connection
Local Miyagi Marketplace Recoveringwith Delaware statefrom the impact of the earthquake
officials.
I arrived in New York with my wife and youngson. In my two year stay at JLGC I hope to gain
valuable knowledge about state and local government in the United States while enjoying the fullexperience of American culture.
In Novi, I learned a great deal about the successful
management of a small-mid-sized Americancity. In particular, I was impressed by their public
library and high school. While visiting these newly
constructed buildings, I witnessed advanced technology used to encourage children to participate indiscussion and think freely. My visit to Novi convinced me that state of the art public policies andpractices are very much a significant part of how
American local government operates. When mybusy schedule allows,I hope to return to thecity of Novi.

With Mayor David Landry, City of Novi

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ISSUE #70

JULY, 2011

JLGC New Staff Visits Novi, MI

Naomi Maki, Assistant Director

Satoko Kaneshi, Assistant Director

Representative of Hiroshima City

Representative of Okinawa Prefecture

Hello, my name isNaomi Maki from theCity of Hiroshima.
Hiroshima was featured in the Lonely
Planet’s Cities Book
as one of the 200
most attractive cities
in the world! I’m incharge of the CLAIR
Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima
Fellowship Exchange
Program which affords senior state and local government officials an opportunity to experience
Japanese government administration first hand. I
look forward to meeting with many people andfinding out a lot of things.

Hello, my name is
Satoko Kaneshi, from
Okinawa prefecture
government. I am incharge of the JET
program in JLGC,and liaison work fortourism. Okinawa is
the only subtropicalBeatiful Ocean in Okinawa
area in Japan, and it isfamous for its beautiful
beaches with white sands where people enjoy diving, snorkeling, and marine sports. I believe that
Okinawa has the most scenic beaches in the world.
Also, Okinawa has strong ties with the UnitedStates and so I would like to work as much as possible to make the most of my opportunity in the United States.

It was a valuable opportunity for me to talk directly with Mayor Landry. The mayor is elected
directly by the people of Novi, yet he receives nosalary for his services. In addition to his responsibility as mayor, he also maintains a law practice. In Japan, mayors are compensated with significant salaries. I was impressed that the reason
why he became mayor was not due to ambition
but because he loves the city of Novi! His caring
demeanor and charming personality encourages
excellent human relations. He embodies many of
the fine attributes that characterize the citizensof Novi.

I felt that Novi is quite a unique city. An international city that accepts foreign workers and companies, Novi officials provide foreigners with Midwestern hospitality and a comfortable living environment. I believe this is the main reason why foreigncompanies decide to locate their branch factories
and offices in Novi. All of the Japanese workers I
met there praised Novi city’s warm and congenialatmosphere. I enjoyed my time there and am especially thankful to my host family for taking the time
to take care of me. Their heartfelt welcome and hospitality made me feel at home in Novi.

Visiting Novi Civic Center
Satoko Kaneshi, Naomi Maki,
Ms. Koehler (host), Mayor Landry

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ISSUE #70

JULY, 2011

JLGC New Staff Visits Novi, MI

Katsuyuki Imagawa, Assistant Director

Shosaku Hosoda, Assistant Director

Representative of Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department

Representative of Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

My name is Katsuyuki
Imagawa from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department,
where I have worked
as a detective for morethan ten years. I have
served in the orgaTokyo Metropolitan
Police Department
nized crime control bureau investigating
crime activities of the “YAKUZA” and other international crime organizations. My main task in
New York City will be to exchange information
with NYPD regarding international crime activity
and counter terrorism strategies.

Hello, my name is Shosaku Hosoda from The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communicaitons (MIC). MIC has jurisdiction over various systems
involved in the fundamental
framework of the nation, including administrative organizations, the public service personnel system, local adminThe Ministry of Internal Affairs
istration and finance, firefighting and disaster preven- and Communications
tion, information and communications. I was in charge of managing the JET Programme at MIC nine years ago. At JLGC, I’m mainly responsible for accounting and the JLGC fiscal
year budget. By working at JLGC, I hope to meetand communicate with a variety of American andCanadian state and local government officials.

Although I’ve just arrived, New York City hasoffered a few surprises. For example, on the weekend you can encounter more tourists than native
New Yorkers walking the streets and window
shopping. On a particular Sunday, I ventured out
for my first subway ride and felt quite comfortable among the other tourists holding subway
maps and asking each other directions to famoussites. I suppose this is what makes New York City
exciting and I am confident that during my stay I
shall become an experienced subway and bus rider.
During my brief stay in thecity of Novi, I particularly enjoyed experiencing the daily
lives of Midwestern Americans.
They were hospitable and friendly and I enjoyed visiting with
police officials and sharing information about crime fighting at
the local level.

My impression of the citizensof Novi was that they exuded
good will and hospitality andwere immensely proud of
their city. I was impressed bytheir ability to collectively
boost economic development.
I visited many public facilities; including a high school,
hospital and various public
Visiting the Novi city council
works sites. This opportunity
enabled me to understand thedifferences between the U.S and Japanese systems,policies and practices of local administration.

Won the Prize at
5K Run in Novi

Published by Japan Local Government Center
3 Park Avenue, 20th floor, New York, NY 10016 / Tel: 212-246-5542 / Fax:212-246-5617 / E:mail: jlgc@jlgc.org / http://www.jlgc.org

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