JLGC NEWSLETTER
Japan Local Government Center (CLAIR, New York )Issue No. 99 / March 2020

1. 2019 CLAIR Fellowship
Exchange Program(Page 1-6)
2.Introduction of New JLGC
Staff (Page 7-15)

1. 2019 CLAIR Fellowship
Exchange Program
The 2019 CLAIR
Fellowship Exchange
Program was heldfrom November 4th toNovember 13th.
This program affords
senior state and local
government officials
an opportunity toexperience Japanese government administration first
hand. This year the program was held in Tokyo andKitaibaraki City.
The theme of the program was “Construction,
Destruction, and Reconstruction: Creating Community
Identity through Art and Recovery from the Great East
Japan Earthquake”. Kitaibaraki City is famous for its
cultural heritage. There is Okakura Kakuzō (also known
as Okakura Tenshin), the founder of the Tokyo School ofFine Arts. Okakura Kakuzō spent his last years in
Kitaibaraki City. Also, there is Ujo Noguchi a poet who
devoted himself to nursery rhymes. The city has used
these cultural assets to promote tourism. At the sametime, the city is working assiduously to repair thedamage done by the Great East Japan Earthquake and

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www.jlgc.org

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Tsunami. Using what it calls “safety and security”, the city believes its rebuilding isgiving the residents an opportunity to develop a new sense of community. Participants
held discussions with their counterparts in Japan. Also, they interacted with local people
and immersed themselves in the traditional Japanese culture of the area (soba noodlemaking, glass making, etc.).

Comments from the participants

Mr. Dean Sauriol
President
Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks andTreasurers of Ontario (AMCTO)
Upon my departure for the 2019 CLAIR Local Government Exchange I really had no idea
what I was in store for and not sure what to think of this venture. I am humbled andpleased to say the 11 days spent in Japan were not only an incredible journey but a life
experience that I will never forget.
I take home tremendous memories, great new friendships from our group, which were aterrific bunch from diverse parts of North America, and a sense of pride to have been partof such a great program. I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen to participate2

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in this exchange with other fun loving and professional individuals The Japan / Tokyo
experience was one of amazement and beauty. From the cleanliness to the structure I
learnt that the issues that we have are both very challenging and similar.
The story of Kitaibaraki City is an amazing story of Construction, Destruction andReconstruction following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Theirstory was not only moving but an amazing one.
Their amazing reaction and accomplishments to this disaster was a great source ofinspiration to me and the others. Mayor Toyoda and his staff of Kitaibaraki City did anamazing job both for hosting us and even better for the incredible work following thedisaster. A thank you must go out to the city for tremendous hospitality. From thecourtesy visits, to the site visits to the accommodations, food and hospitality it was
excellent and nothing could have been done to make it any better.
A warm thank you goes out to the Murata family for hosting me overnight in their homeand making me feel so welcome. From the traditional food to a sip of Sake it was
delightful and so much appreciated. It gave me a tremendous appreciation for theirculture and way of life.
In conclusion CLAIR must be congratulated in creating such a program that allows one to
make lifelong friendships along with providing us with a cultural experience through ourmunicipal work. I will be forever grateful!

Mr. Geoff McKnight
Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Bradford
West Gwillimbury
The Canadian Association of Municipal
Administrators (CAMA)
For the past 25+ years, I have had the good fortune to work for several municipal
governments across Southern Ontario and work with a large number of remarkably brightand passionate professionals. I’ve enjoyed all elements of my career but I have no doubtthat when the day comes to sit back and reflect on my experiences, the CLAIR trip toJapan will stand among the highlights!
The 2019 CLAIR Fellowship Exchange Program provided a unique opportunity to learn

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about Japan’s inter-governmental relationship and programs as well as the country’s richculture and history. To experience this jointly with seven other municipal, state andcounty “enthusiasts” from Canada and the U.S. added immensely to our collective
perspective, learning and enjoyment.

The highlight of the trip were the days spent in Kitaibaraki in Ibaraki Prefecture. The
resilience demonstrated by the city and its leaders in recovering from the Great East
Japan Earthquake of 2011 is remarkable and inspiring.
Our hosts were so gracious and accommodating, and the CLAIR team provided a firstclass experience—an experience that I will not forget!

Mr. Brian Namey
Chief Public Affairs Officer
National Association of Counties (NACo)

During the 2019 CLAIR Fellowship Exchange Program, I had the tremendous opportunity
to see more of Japan than most Americans will ever see. Focusing on the 2011 Great East
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, I gained perspectives on disaster preparedness andrecovery that are relevant to communities around the globe.
Like many American counties that have experienced natural disasters, Kitaibaraki City
has demonstrated the importance of rebuilding not to replace what we had in the past but
to be better prepared for the future. This principle was evident in everything we saw—thefire department and hospital, the sea wall, the roadwork and drainage system and more.
We also saw how Kitaibaraki City has leveraged its assets, including the arts andcommerce, to build more resilient, vibrant communities.
While the Kitaibaraki region is very different from American communities—especiallyhistorically and culturally—the similarities are equally striking. Perhaps most profoundis our passion for serving the public. Japanese officials as well as American county leaders
are passionate about improving residents’ quality of life. Many thanks to CLAIR and ourJapanese hosts for the extraordinary experience.

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Ms. Tahra Johnson
Program Director, Public Health and Maternal& Child HealthNational Conference of State Legislatures(NCSL)
I thoroughly enjoyed the CLAIR Fellowship trip to Japan. It was a privilege and an honor
to be a part of the 2019 program with such an esteemed group of professionals. It was myfirst time in Japan and I enjoyed learning about the cultural differences and similarities.
It was very helpful to learn about the central, prefecture and local government structures
while understanding the multi-dimensional efforts to address rebuilding, recovery andrevitalization after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. I was impressed with the amountof resources dedicated to these efforts by all levels of government.
The hospitality of the people, especially in Kitaibaraki, was outstanding. Even when there
were language barriers, people made us feel welcome and we made connections. Fromsoba noodle making to visiting the fire station and art galleries, I especially enjoyed thewelcome and sendoffs from each of our site visits. Every person we met made us feel
welcome. Thank you CLAIR staff, for making this an unforgettable experience.

Fellowship Exchange Program 2019
Date

Schedule

Accommodation

Nov 4

Arrive in Japan
Orientation

Tokyo

Nov 5

Tokyo Programme
Site Visit : A Walk through Meiji Jingu Shrine
Lecture : “Recovery from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake”
Lecture : Japanese Local Government System
Welcome Reception hosted by CLAIR

Tokyo

Nov 6

Tokyo Programme
Site Visit : National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Site Visit : RICOH Business Innovation Lounge
Opinion Exchange with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Courtesy Visit to Director-General for Policy Coordination(Ministryof Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC))
Opinion Exchange with MIC Staff
Welcome Reception hosted by MIC

Tokyo

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Fellowship Exchange Program 2019
Date

Nov 7

Nov 8

Schedule
Regional Programme (Kitaibaraki City)
Courtesy Visit to the Mayor of Kitaibaraki City
Presentation on Kitaibaraki City
Site Visit : JX Nippon Mining and Metals Corporation
Site Visit : Levee
Welcome Reception hosted by Kitaibaraki City
Regional Programme (Kitaibaraki City)
Site Visit : Kitaibaraki City’s New Fire Department (Fuel Storage)
Site Visit : Futatsujima Highland Park
Site Visit : Kitaibaraki City Hospital
Site Visit : Hirakata Disaster Prevention Collective Home Relocation
Siteand Post-Disaster Temporary Housing
Site Visit : Otsu Harbor, Otsu Fishing Cooperative, Non-Destructive
Radioactivity Inspection Center
Site Visit : Tanitousuisan Co. Ltd.
Site Visit : Kitaibaraki Museum of Fishing History (“Yo-Soro”)

Accommodation

Kitaibaraki City,
Ibaraki Prefecture

Kitaibaraki City

Nov 9

Regional Programme (Kitaibaraki City)
Site Visit : Rokkakudo
Site Visit : Cape Izura Park/Film Set for Tenshin
Site Visit : Tenshin Memorial Museum of Art
Site Visit : Kitamachi Sekimoto Central Road, National Route 6 Nakaso/
Sekimoto Bypass Explanation
Site Visit : Lifelong Learning Center “Trèfle”
Site Visit : Kitaiba
Site Visit : Gallery ARIGATEE
Meet with Host Family

Kitaibaraki City

Nov 10Regional Programme (Kitaibaraki City)
Site Visit : Aquamarine Fukushima (Sanuka Recovery Work)
Site Visit : Iwaki Lalamew

Kitaibaraki City

Nov 11

Regional Programme (Kitaibaraki City)
Site Visit : Museum of Ujo Noguchi
Site Visit : Ujo Noguchi’s Birth Home
Site Visit : Hanakawa Water Purification Plant
Site Visit : Jorenji Temple
Site Visit : Silica Glass Studio (Glass Bead Craft Experience)
Site Visit : Jukkokubori
Site Visit : Jiro Hiruta Sculpture Gallery
Site Visit : Green Workshop (Soba Noodle-Making Experience)

Kitaibaraki City

Nov 12

Regional Programme (Kitaibaraki City)
Opinion Exchange Session
Farewell Luncheon hosted by CLAIR
Return to Tokyo

Nov 13

Departure from Japan

Tokyo
—

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2. Introduction of New JLGC Staff
Miyako KusakabeCounsellor / Deputy Executive Director /Representative of Ministry of Internal
Affairs and Communications

It is my great pleasure to introduce myself to everyone connected to JLGC (CLAIR, NY). My
name is Miyako Kusakabe, the Deputy Executive Director of JLGC as of 16 January.

I have worked for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) for almost 19
years. I have been involved in local administration issues most of the time, and was given
opportunities to work for a prefecture and a city.
Also, I worked for CLAIR headquarters in 2018 as the Director of the Department ofInternational Exchange, Cooperation and Economic Relations. At that time, I joined the 25th
anniversary of the Fellowship Program held in Washington, D.C., in September, and part of
the Fellowship Program held in Okayama Prefecture after that. I greatly look forward toseeing participants of both in North America.

Have you ever watched “Ikiru” (“To Live”) by Kurosawa? The film
is about a boring, inactive local government official who has kept
such a working habit for more than 30 years. One day, he learns
that he has terminal cancer, and reflects on his wasted life. As aresult, he decides to live his own life, mends his ways and becomesan enthusiastic official devoted to supporting the local community.
He wants to create a children’s playground. He dies soon after
completing his project. His co-workers praise his great job at his
funeral, but, soon after that, they are back to normal―that is,their boring inactive way of working. While the movie was createdalmost 70 years ago, the public image of the way local government
officials work has barely changed.

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Even if that was true then, nowadays, Japanese local governments do a wider range of
duties with a smaller number of officials. In addition, local authorities face a big challenge;
depopulation. It has been a problem in rural areas for a long time, but things have got
worse because the total population of Japan has started to decline. That means that ourformer model to counteract rural depopulation with urban growth does not work anymore.
Also, it will be difficult to maintain the same amount of tax income and size of governmentorganization. So, Japanese local governments, regardless of whether or not they are big or
small, now seriously have to think about how they can revitalize their communities anddevelop their economies.
Agendas and interests of local governments in the U.S. and Canada are partly similar andpartly different from Japanese ones. Cultures and values in the three countries areapparently different. Even so, or perhaps because of that, I believe that we can benefit froman exchange of opinions on various local government issues. I do hope to learn a lot from
North America and to give you a new perspective based on my experiences in Japan.
Let me give you an example of these experiences. One of themost notable jobs for me was my three-year experience as the
Director of Planning and Finance for Takaoka City, Toyama
Prefecture. Takaoka is a middle-sizedcity located in central Japan. Commerce
and the metal industry, both of whichhave long traditions, are the identity of
the city. The icon of the city is thebronze Great Buddha statue which was built in 1933. Another famous
point is the high-quality living environment. Takaoka and the cities
around dominate the higher end of “the Liveable City Ranking” every
year because of a low crime rate, good education, relatively roomy
houses, and so forth.
The city was in a phase of great transformation when I was
there between 2014 and 2016, as the new bullet train (Hokuriku
Shinkansen) started operation in March 2015. That has made ahuge impact on the city in many ways, and produced a variety
of different reactions. First of all, the new train made it possible
to come to Takaoka directly from Tokyo in two and a half hours,
whereas it had taken more than four hours and needed a transfer before. Kanazawa, theterminal station and stop next to Takaoka, has attracted a huge number of tourists since
the new train’s launch. Takaoka, on the other hand, has been relatively quiet, even though8March 2020

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the number of tourists increased by 10 per cent. This is sopartly because Takaoka is an industrial city rather than atourist city, but it raised a question about the city’s lack ofan effective tourism strategy.
As it is far from realistic to expect to change the situation
dramatically in a short period, we adopted an incremental
approach. We reviewed our history and tried to find what
was unique to life in Takaoka. Actually, it was not easy to
do this because the local people did not recognize the city’s
Historical streetscape of Kanaya-machi
strengths. Outsiders were able to help us explain Takaoka’s
unique qualities. Then we decided to focus on our historical streetscapes and traditional
manufacturing to enhance the attractiveness of the city. Now
new shops, restaurants and a guest house are open in Kanayamachi, where traditional houses make a beautiful streetscape.
Nevertheless, they are not just for tourists, but also for local
people. The community discussed what they needed in theirneighborhood so that they could balance attracting tourists andmaintaining the living environment. Also, several new places
opened to show off traditional manufacturing workshops. One
company even built a new factory so that it could show how its
products are made. Engagement and understanding of local
business and communities are key.
Metal manufacturing experience The result is not too bad so far. Incoming tourists haveincreased little by little; not phenomenally though. More importantly, stunning people andthings in the city have become more visible, and local people have become aware of what tobe proud of in their city.
Another big change for the city is Shin-Takaoka station,
which was built one mile south of Takaoka station.
Moreover, a mega shopping mall with a huge parking
space was added near the new station. This development
affected the flow of people and did damage to service
industries in “the old town”. Shops and even offices prefer
to move south from the traditional business/commercial
district to the north of Takaoka Station. Last summer, theonly department store in Takaoka finally closed down. As a proud commercial city, somepeople, including local assembly members, regret the decline of the downtown. Also, adecreasing population makes it difficult to maintain an expanded urban area. It has
become a subject of great discussion in the city management, which is still continuing. The
city has not found a good solution to this matter so far.

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This is only a small part of my experiences, but might be a good example to discuss issues
that Japanese local governments face and to think about similarities and differences between
North America and Japan. If you are interested in Takaoka, your questions are always
welcome. Also, JLGC is preparing for an opportunity to let you know more about Takaoka tohave a good discussion later this year. More news will follow.
Concluding my remarks, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your continuing
support for us. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during my tenure, andhope to contribute to a stronger relationship between local governments in North America
and Japan.

Miho Tachi
Assistant Director / Representativeof Ibaraki Prefecture

Hello, my name is Miho Tachi. I came from Ibaraki Prefecture. Since joining the Ibaraki
Prefectural government, I have worked in four departments. First, I worked in the tax
office. My job was to determine the tax to be paid on new buildings. Second was the statistics
department. Third, I worked on tuition subsidies for parents sending their children to private
schools in Ibaraki. Fourth was the regional promotion department, where I was promoting
the northern part of the prefecture. In order to attract people to that part of the prefecture, I
promoted a large scale art festival. We made about 100 art-works and set them up in the town
or in schools that had been closed.
Today, I’d like to introduce Ibaraki to you.
Specific Features of Ibaraki Prefecture
Location
Ibaraki is located in the northern part of the Kanto
region. The distance from the prefectural capital,
Mito, to the nation’s capital, Tokyo, is 60 miles,
while the distance from Narita Airport, Japan’sinternational gateway, to Tsukuba Science City in
Ibaraki is 20 miles.

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Flowers
Kairakuen Garden (Mito)
Plum blossoms mark the arrival of spring in Japan.
Kairakuen Park is home to around 3,000 plums which flower
from late February to March. Kairakuen also features various
attractions which can be enjoyed throughout the year, such as
the Kobuntei Villa and a lush bamboo forest. Tokiwa Shrine
is situated near the main entrance to the park.
Nemophila at Hitachi Seaside Park
From mid-April to early May, nearly 4.5 million nemophila
flowers cover a 3.5 hectare area of hillside in Hitachi Seaside
Park. The sea of blue flowers merges with the sky in an
endless vista. Enjoy a stroll through the flowers, taking in
the views and refreshing sea breeze as you go.
Itako Iris Festival (Itako)
Itako City is a waterfront city surrounded by the ocean on one
side and rivers and lakes on the others. The city is most famous
for its Iris Festival in which nearly one million iris plants fill
the city with innumerable shades of purple. During the festival
from late May through late June, visitors can also see a
traditional ceremony in which a bride in a stunning whitewedding kimono travels by boat to join her new husband’sfamily, as well as enjoy leisurely rowboat cruises on the city’s many canals.
Festival
Ishioka Festival
The Ishioka Festival in September is one the three mostpopular festivals in the Kanto region. You will be awed by thehuge, magnificent portable shrine, where the deity is believed
to temporarily stay, as well as be amazed at the gorgeous
festival floats and spirited lion mask performances. You canalso see sumo matches and kagura (dancing to music), both ofwhich afford you the opportunity of getting a close-up view of
traditional cultural beauty and energy.

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Products
There are more than 200 pottery makers in Kasama,
where many ceramic artists from other areas in Japanand overseas flock to live and pursue their art. Eachpiece of Kasama-yaki pottery reflects its maker’s
creativity and unique style. Some of the designs arequite innovative. You are sure to find many pieces thatappeal to you.
Food
Blessed with fertile earth, the ocean, mountains, and a mild climate, Ibaraki is acornucopia for abundant foodstuffs. Ibaraki boasts the highest production of agricultural
products such as melons, lotus roots, and green peppers nationally. Each region inside theprefecture utilizes their area’s specific characteristics in order to produce various
agricultural and marine products, including sea food such as Kasama open sea clams andangler fish, as well as animal products such as Hitachi beef.

Sake
Blessed with plentiful water sources, Ibaraki has nearly
40 Japanese sake breweries, and among them, Japan’s
oldest sake brewery in Kasama, Sudo Honke, is to berecommended. Come and discover the great varieties ofsake that can be found in Ibaraki.

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Yoshimi Yanai
Assistant Director/ Representative ofTokyo Metropolitan Police Department

My name is Yoshimi Yanai. I’ve been working for Japan Local Government Center sincelast April. I’ve been dispatched to JLGC from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.
This is the biggest police department in Japan. We have more than 43,000 police officers
and about 3,000 civilian staff. The size is a little bit bigger than the New York Police
Department. Anyway, as it just became 25 years since I became a police officer in Tokyo, I
have a bit of knowledge of ‘Deep Tokyo’. If you need to know about famous towns such as
Shinjuku, Asakusa and Ginza, I recommend you get guide books at a book store. Thistime, though I would like to introduce you to a deeper Tokyo, but this is just between you
and me!
’Sento’ (Public Bath)Have you ever experienced a ‘Sento’, a Japanesetraditional public bath? Taking the same big bath withstrangers will surely be an unforgettable memory foryou. You don’t have to go outside of Tokyo, because
there are more than five hundred Sentos in Tokyo tochoose from, and it costs less than $5! Their facilities
have basically only a dressing place, washing spaceand bath filled with hot water, but some have a sauna,
Jacuzzi, and mild electric-shock and daily aroma baths for your relaxation. Soaking in a
hot bath may be a little bit tough for you, (the temperature of the hot water is about 108
degrees Fahrenheit),but drinking cold milk or cold café au lait after bathing is very
special!
The rule for using the Sento is very simple. Take off all your clothes and wash your body
before soaking in the bath. Even if you feel hot, you cannot add cold water. Althoughthese are not at all gorgeous, you can feel local atmosphere with local people.
The history of Sento begins in the 6th century. Originally, bathing was a Buddhist

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religious practice, to purify themselves was one of the important things for praying. Some
temples had steam baths which were provided not only to those praying but also to sickand poor people. Later, the wealthy began to have their own baths in their houses andenjoyed it themselves. Hundreds of years later, the first public baths were built in the
16th century in Tokyo (called ‘Edo’ at the time), and their style gradually changed fromsteam baths to tub-type baths, like today. This type of Sento became very popular and thenumber gradually increased, until at their peak there were about 2,600 Sento in Tokyo
alone in 1965. But since then, the demand for Sento has been decreasing as houses withbaths have been increasing until today we have only about 500!
By the way, my favorite tavern in my neighborhood is next to the Sento, and I sometimes
meet my friends there. On top of that, having beer after bathing is wonderful!

‘Ekiben’ At Tokyo Station
Do you know the word ‘Ekiben’? It is a mealbox (lunch box) exclusively sold to–go at train
stations. Some say that more than 4,000 typesof Ekiben are sold at stations throughout
Japan, but nobody has actually counted. Since
Tokyo Station is one of main stations in Japan,
a large variety of Ekiben are sold there, from
simple ones such as sandwiches and rice balls
to gorgeous ones such as steaks and Unadon(rice bowl topped with baked eels).
‘Makunouchi’ is an ever-popular menu item as a mixed meal box. As some shops comefrom outlying areas to this station, you can enjoy local food from the surrounding region
while staying in Tokyo. The price is usually from $10 to $20.
Let me introduce a typical original Tokyo Ekiben to you. We call this ‘Fukagawameshi’.
This is a kind of rice cooked with soy sauce, clams, and ginger, and was typical for
fishermen in Fukagawa Town. There were lots of fishermen there until 1963, but with thedevelopment of this area, the fishermen have disappeared. This traditional menu also
disappeared for a while, but due to the efforts of the local people, this has been revived
and handed on to a new generation. Anyway, the combination with clams and soy sauce is
excellent! Please try it! Foreign travelers tend to go to restaurants such as sushi bars andramen shops, but by all means try Ekiben once during your stay. Eating them on a long-14

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distance train such as the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) is fun, but is not only way. If theweather is fine, you can bring them to a park or riverbank and it will be a fun memory foryou. However, be careful, because eating them on a regular commuter train is badmanners in Japan.
Stay at ‘Minshuku’ (Japanese-Style B&B)
If you are a little tired of walking the cities and staying in a luxury hotel, I recommend
you go on an overnight trip to western Tokyo. And by all means, I want you to stay at theguest house called ‘Minshuku’ there. Minshuku arevery similar to B&B’s in the US, but most offer
supper. Each one has its own characteristics, suchas food, alcohol, and scenery, so you can choose onethat suits you best.
As you know, Tokyo is a metropolis, but thewestern part has surprisingly rural areas. Ome
City, Akiruno City, Okutama Town and Hinohara
Village are typical rural areas. As there are
historical shrines and temples in those area, you can visit there while enjoying a hike, if
you like. It takes only about 1 hour from downtown Shinjuku by local train and costs only
$10 to get you there. It may not seem like wild nature for Americans, but in this area,
people live quietly in harmony with nature. To stay at a Minshuku is very different fromurban hotels, but you can enjoy local cuisine, sake and stories, which will be offered by
the owner. Actually, I often visit my favorite one, and whenever I visit there I feel like I
came to my relative’s house and I can relax very much.
If you want me to introduce one, I recommend you try ‘Kanzukuriso’ (see attached photo)in Hinohara Village. It has a thatched roof and offers local foods such as wild vegetables
which are taken from around there, konnyaku (paste made from elephant yam), river fishand hand-made buckwheat noodles. As for the bath, you can have a cypress bath that istraditional and very popular in Japan. The fee is reasonable; less than $100 per night,
including dinner and breakfast.
This time, I can introduce only a few things to you in this brief article, but please try atleast one of these if you are interested. I hope it will be a good memory for your Tokyotrip!

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