Issue No. 49

Spring 2004

CLAIR UPDATE

Greetings from the Chairman of CLAIR
The Council of Local Authorities forInternational Relations (CLAIR) was established in 1988 to promote local-level internationalization in Japan. CLAIR uses its sevenoverseas offices: New York, London, Paris,
Singapore, Seoul, Sydney and Beijing, to support the international activities of Japanese local
governments. Selected staff from Japanese
local governments are dispatched to CLAIR’s
overseas offices to conduct research on matterssuch as public sector management, finance andadministration at the local government levelwithin these countries. The Japan Local
Government Center, New York (JLGCNY)
became the first CLAIR overseas office in 1989
and is celebrating its sixteenth anniversary.
International exchange among local
authorities has developed to such an extent that
there are presently over 1,400 international affiliations between Japanese and foreign local
authorities. These include but are not limited to
new sister city relationships and various friendship agreements. The content of international
exchange has also become increasingly diversified with a growing trend to implement projects
that go beyond the traditional objectives of promoting international good will. For example,
local authorities are engaging in international
cooperation projects in the fields of technology
and human resource development. Responding
to these developments, CLAIR is working toenhance its operations to meet and support theincreased needs of local areas in Japan bystrengthening networks among local international exchange associations and cultivating personnel to further the goals and objectives of internationalization.
Decentralization has made many advances
in Japan and local public organizations need tokeep informed by gathering, analyzing and disseminating information about the systems andpolicies of local government in foreign countries. By actively expanding its research,
CLAIR can provide the information to compare
themes of particular interest to local governments in Japan. CLAIR will modernize and use
state of the art technology such as the Internet
and other means of communication to provide
useful and informative findings.
CLAIR is enthusiastically working to
improve upon the success of the Japan
Education and Teaching (JET) Programme. The
overseas Japan Local Government Centers inseven countries promote and provide information about the JET Programme as well as assist
in the recruitment and selection processes.
CLAIR is supporting the development of networks to foster effective links with the over
20,000 JET alumni.
I would like to express my gratitude for theassistance CLAIR has received over the years.
We will continue to work toward achieving yourexpectations and to contribute to the progress ofinternationalization. CLAIR appreciates your

Copyright 2004 Published by Japan Local Government Center

Mr. Takahiro Kiuchi, Chairman of CLAIR.

continued support and encouragement.
Takahiro Kiuchi
Chairman of the Board
Council of Local Authorities forInternational Relations
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CLAIR UPDATE

Greetings from the
Chairman of CLAIR
SPECIAL FEATURE

Minister Asou’s Visit to New York
CORE CITY

Hamamatsu City
GUEST COLUMN

Johana, Toyama – Marlboro, NJ
My CLAIR Fellowship
Experience in Japan
Shinshiro Memories

1
2
3
4
5
6

JLGC UPDATE

Ohio Treasury Hosts
Japanese Government Official

7

GUEST COLUMN

Random Thoughts After
One Year in Office8

Masthead: The sakura, or cherry blossom, is Japan’scherished national flower. Special hanami parties andexcursions are held during blossom time each year.

The Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, Tokyo

SPECIAL FEATURE

Minister Asou pays a visit to New York to meet JET Alumni
by Masashi Takahashi
Assistant Director of JLGC
CLAIR New York organized a roundtable discussion of how the JET Programme
operates and how it might be improved on
May 1st in New York City. Minister Asou of
Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts andTelecommunications made his address inEnglish to the gathered JET Programme
Alumni and visiting Japanese delegates from
CLAIR, including CLAIR Chairman Takahiro
Kiuchi. “I have been greatly
looking forward to seeing
you, to learn more about
how you managed to use
your background of participation in the JET
Programme to benefit you inyour current careers in somany different fields.”

Gannon, an alumni and former AssistantLanguage Teacher (ALT), Ehime Prefecture,suggested the importance of the public diplomacy aspect of the program relative to its
purely educational objectives. Now that heworks for an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan organization dedicated to strengthening Japan’s role in international networks of(MPHPT) and CLAIR to play a more important role in facilitating the relationshipbetween Japanese delegations and former JET
Programme participants to make sure theiralumni will also embrace this role of so-called“hometown ambassador.”

Paige Cottingham-Streater, former ALT,
Mie Prefecture, asked
whether the number of JET
Programme participants
might be increased and theprogram expanded further.
The Minister replied that
because of the current situation in Japan and the policyof concentrating English
language instruction at thejunior and senior highMinister Asou also
school levels, there was very
mentioned that this year
little likelihood that there
marks the 150th anniversary
would be significant demandof the signing of the Treaty
to expand the program onof Kanagawa, the first treaty
the Japanese side. However
between the U.S. and Japan.
he also felt that English eduMinister Taro Asou (front, fourth from left) meets JET Alumni in New York City.
He has great hopes that the
cation should be started at
fellow alumni would continthe elementary school levelue to act as bridges between the two
so
if
we
could
see
this as a trend, the number
policy dialogue and cooperation, he told us
countries to carry this long relationshipof the JET Programme could be increased.
that the impact of the program goes beyond
forward into the future.
the grassroots level, and that it really does
Kimberly Duffy, former ALT, Niigata
have a political impact.
The JET Programme is in its eighteenthPrefecture, asked us to give any follow up or
year since its inauguration in 1987. With
additional information regarding this round
Rosemary De Fremery, former ALT,
nearly 6,100 participants from 41 countries,
table to all the former JET participants in the
Shizuoka Prefecture, stated that many fellow
the JET Programme has become the world’s
United States. Although she knows some ofalumni would like to take on the role of alargest exchange program. Of these parthe questions, raised during the conversation,
local level ambassador: fostering good relaticipants, roughly 2,800 people, or about
cannot simply be answered, she hoped thattions and helping out when there is a visit by46 percent, come from the United States.
not only today’s attendees but all JET particia governor or mayor or citizen’s group frompants could get to know the new directions in
one country to the other. In this regard, she
During the discussion, several topics
which JET Programme will take into the
expected Ministry of Public Management,
were discussed with the Minister. Jamesfuture.
Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications

JLGC Newsletter

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Issue 49

Spring 2004

Other than JET-related topics,
various issues, such as Japanese pop
culture, music, Japanese transportation
system were discussed. Minister Asou
talked about his efforts to keep his
English fluent and when talk turned tohis favorite Japanese pop song “Tomobo”

there was an impromptu a cappellasing-a-long with the attendees.
CLAIR Tokyo, along with CLAIR
New York, will take the time to absorb andimplement many of the ideas fellow alumni
give to make improvements to the JET

Programme. Minister Asou and Mr. Kiuchi
were grateful for the suggestions on how tomanage the future of the JET Programme
and thanked the JET alumni who contributed their time and effort so that
MPHPT and CLAIR will have a key rolein this internationally recognized venture.

CORE CITY

Hamamatsu City
Global City with Cultural and Technological Excellence
Hamamatsu City, with a population ofover 600,000, is the largest city in Shizuoka
prefecture, and is located about the middle
point between the cities of Tokyo and Osaka.
The rich cultural heritage and the modern business of the city make it a unique blend of the
traditional and modern.

piano competitions, the city has a fashioned
itself as the “City of Music” and, as a matterof fact, every piano manufactured in Japan isbuilt in Hamamatsu City.
Act City, a multi-purpose facility strategi-

Culturally, Hamamatsu is
a diverse city. Currently,
there are approximately
23,000 non-Japanese citizens
from 79 countries living in theenvirons of Hamamatsu City.
Sixty percent of these people
are Brazilian. Japanese andnon-Japanese alike find thecity a comfortable place tolive and work. Tourism hasbuoyed economic growth andthe city’s popularity has madeit a destination stop for tourists
and visitors.

Hamamatsu City
SymbolWest of Hamamatsu City is Lake
Hamana, a popular resort and a place of sereneand natural beauty. Lake Hamana is famousfor eel farming and is the home to the
Kanzanji Hot Springs, the Hamamatsu Zoo
and Flower Park and Pal Pal Amusement
Park. This year from April
8th until October 11th, theShizuoka International
Garden and Horticulture
Exhibition – Pacific Flora2004 will grace the lakes
shore, enjoyed by all who
visit the attraction.

There is a sense of
uniqueness about Hamamatsu
City – an interesting blendof Japanese tradition andprogressive ground breaking
Pacific Flora 2004, held from April 8 to October 11, 2004, is a place where nature andinternational projects such as
culture meet.
Pacific Flora 2004. Hamamatsucally located at the Hamamatsu train station, is City has become an essential place to visit on
anchored by a 45 story complex with a hotel,
a tourist’s itinerary while in Japan – and you
exhibition and event hall. In addition there are are never disappointed!
Major companies known for producing
office spaces, conference rooms, a shopping
motorcycles, cars, musical instruments andmall and two concert halls that feature promitextiles do business in Hamamatsu City,
For further information, see thenent musical talent such as the recently held
including Honda, Kawai, Suzuki and
Hamamatsu City and Flora 2004 websites:
5th Hamamatsu International Piano
Yamaha. Hosting a wide variety of
http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp, andCompetition.
international concerts, operas, ballets andhttp://www.flora2004.or.jp/english

JLGC Newsletter

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Issue 49

Spring 2004

GUEST COLUMN(Johana, Toyama Prefecture)- Marlboro, NJ, U.S.A.
A Lasting Friendshipby R. Michael Wirin
Marlboro. Together, we initiated a video-pal
Miyajima (Itsukushima) and Nara, Himeji
A relationship which began when
exchange between the students of both of ourCastle, the beauty and history of Kyoto, andMonbusho (the current Japan’s Ministry ofschools. Students in New Jersey were as surthe mindblowing Takeshita-doori shopping
Education, Culture, Sports, Science andprised to see the school uniforms (gakuseifuku) street of the modern capital, Tokyo. This past
Technology–formerly Ministry of Education)of Japan as were the students of Johaha to see
year, I traveled to Japan with Mayor Matthew
sent me to a small town near the Japan Sea in
our “dress code” (jeans, etc.!) here in the
Scannapieco of Marlboro, his wife, Michelle,
1991 continues to grow—like the branches ofUnited States. But that was only the beginand Council vice-president Jim Mione to sign
a beautiful cherry tree. When I was accepted
an official document commemorating our
into the JET Programme after graduation from ning. Starting in the summer of 1991, a delegation of students and adults from Johana set
Sister-City activities, recognizing the future of
Boston College in 1989, I had a mission: to
our relationship and proclaiming it to thehelp promote international relations and under- out to visit my hometown, as well as Boston,Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington,world community.
standing between our countries, but at the
D.C. Every year since that time, a group fromgrassroots level—without joining the U.S.
Johana has visited the east coast of the United
Even with all the excitement which
State Department! I was afforded the opportuStates, enjoying everything from roadside fruit comes from touring each country’s famousnity to teach English side-by-side with Mr.
sites, the centerpiece of our
Nobuo Ishikuro at Johana Juniorexchange program continues to beHigh School in Johana-machi inthe homestay experiences, both inToyama Prefecture. Not only was I
Johana and Marlboro. Though theable to share the culture of my own
initial exchange experience only
homeland and hometown (Marlboro,
lasts for a short time each summer, a
NJ, U.S.A.), but I was also able todoor has been opened to lifelong
learn many lessons from the people
relationships with new friends andof Johana and the surrounding
family, many of whom keep in touch
Toyama-ken region. I tried manywith phone calls, emails, letters andthings during my time in Japan,
even return visits! Just like theamong them rice-planting (taue),hanami (cherry-blossom viewing)
pickled plum (umeboshi) and ferThe author, Mr. R. Michael Wirin (front, far right), and other delegation
mented soybeans (natto), mountainexperience, where we sit under amembers from Marlboro, New Jersey, USA., visit with friends in Johana,climbing (on Mt. Tateyama),
cherry tree at full bloom, we realize
Toyama Prefecture during the Hikiyama Matsuri (Hikiyama Festival)
Japanese “pinball” (pachinko), calthat the beauty of the cherry blosfollowing the Sister-City signing ceremonies.
ligraphy (shodou), tea ceremonysoms and homestays sadly only last(chadou), Japanese fencing (kendo), and evenfor a short time, yet they are symbolic ofand vegetable stands to the beaches of New
a stint as a cable television reporter! What I
something greater. We know that the opportuJersey to amusement parks and family gatherlearned is that despite our various historical,
nities for exchange and sharing our cultures
ings; from the Statue of Liberty and thecultural and linguistic differences, we are still
will always be there for us to enjoy, just like
Federal Reserve Bank in Philadelphia to
all human beings, very much the same.
the cherry trees which blossom every year,
F.A.O. Schwartz toystore and St. Patrick’s
without fail. Once these seeds have been
Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in New York City.
To prove my point, soon after arriving
planted, it is still up to us to cultivate andIn return, students and adults from this side ofin Johana-machi, I contacted Mrs. Rita Scalzo, the Pacific Ocean have experienced the Peace
appreciate our relationships, and enjoy thema middle school social studies teacher infor generations to come.
Park in Hiroshima, the friendly deer of

JLGC Newsletter

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Issue 49

Spring 2004

GUEST COLUMNMy CLAIR Fellowship Experience in Japanby David MoraCity Manager of the City of Salinas

In October 2003 I had the unique
privilege and opportunity to participate in
the 2003 CLAIR Local Government
International Exchange and Cooperation
Seminar. It was one of the most significant and enriching experiences of mycareer in local government.
As one of ten (10) North American
representatives of the CLAIR New York
office, I was chosen to participate as arepresentative of the International
City/County Management Association.
My interest in the program was based on
working in California local government
for over thirty (30) years, serving as asenior staff member in the City of Santa
Barbara, as well as manager of the
California communities of Los Gatos,
Oxnard, and Salinas. The last thirteen(13) years as City Manager of Salinas has
provided a rich experience in an ethnicallyand economically diverse community of
155,000. The CLAIR Exchange allowed
me to understand and appreciate both thesimilarities and differences of local government management in the United States
and Japan.
The CLAIR program began informally in Los Angeles, California with an orientation and the beginnings of the uniquehospitality experienced throughout theexchange as CLAIR New York staff hosted us the evening before our departure forTokyo. The experience then broadenedwith the seminar program in Tokyo and indepth local government visits and discussions in Aichi Prefecture.

JLGC Newsletter

The Local Government International
Exchange and Cooperation Seminar 2003
held in Tokyo included participation from
CLAIR offices throughout the world.
London, Paris, Singapore, Seoul, Sydney,
Beijing as well as New York all had representatives. The international representation
was richly balanced with participants fromthroughout Japan from numerous local, prefecture, and national government agencies.
The topics and interaction among the participants provided an outstanding intergovernmental and intercultural experience.
What followed was perhaps the most
personally and professionally rewarding
seven (7) days of our local government
careers as we visited Aichi Prefecture,including Inuyama City, the Central
Japan International Airport Project, thesite of the upcoming Aichi World Expo,and the Town of Nagakute. Each of thesevisits allowed the CLAIR participants todiscuss local government management
ideas and experiences with Japanese
local government elected and appointed
officials. All of us were impressed withthe dedication, professionalism, andexpertise evident wherever we visited.
The visit to Aichi Prefecture was not
all official and formal as each CLAIR
participant spent the weekend with a hostfamily. Each of us enjoyed the hospitalityof Japanese home life and had the opportunity to share personal and informal experiences with Japanese families. The hostfamily visits were informative, enriching,
and a highlight of the exchange.

5

The author, Mr. David Mora, City Manager of theCity of Salinas, California.

The only disappointment of the program was that it had to end. The final dinner and celebration in Nagoya was a celebration of new friendships filled with thesadness of departure. The formal ending of
the visit to Japan did not end the exchange,
as it was my personal privilege to be recently visited in Salinas by Kazuhito Watanabefrom the CLAIR New York office. I am
confident that the dialogue and friendships
established during the visit will continue forboth our Japanese hosts and for each of the
CLAIR New York office sponsored participants. To CLAIR and to all of the hosts, I
extend my deepest gratitude for the privilege of participating in such a wonderful,enriching program.

Issue 49

Spring 2004

GUEST COLUMN

Shinshiro Memories
Or; How I spent my summer vacation
by Joe Samalin

My summer in Shinshiro City, Aichi
Prefecture, began with not a little bit oftrepidation and anxiety. Before even arriving in Japan, I was informed that I would
be giving an 1-hour speech in Japanese infront of over 70 politicians and local business leaders from the city in my first week
there. The theme that was chosen for me
was: “Amerika kara mite nihonshakai nofusigi” (Mysterious Japan as Seen From
American Eyes). Although I had experience talking on this topic - even in
Japanese, the setting and length of thisspeech were new. In spite of my anxiety
and a Japanese mistake or two- at one
point meaning to say “tomorokosi ga suki”(I like corn), I actually said “tamanokosi
ga suki” (I like gold-diggers), the speech
went pretty well and set the tone for mythree months in Shinshiro.
My time was spent divided among
many different jobs at the office:
I taught English to elementary school
through junior college students, citizens,
City Hall employees and city councilmen
in Shinshiro City. I gave speeches about
America to the Rotary Club and about
firefighting techniques used on 9/11 at
the Shinshiro Fire Department. I spent
three days working at a local lumber
company learning how houses are made.
I translated everything from medical forms
to folk tales at City Hall and interpreted for
visiting guests. I was a judge at the annual
English contest as well as the annual Ikada
Carnival (Rafting Festival). Out and about
in the city, I was kept on my toes andalways challenged.

JLGC Newsletter

The author, Mr. Joe Samalin (center), with his colleagues in Shinshiro City Hall.

Part of my time at City Hall was spent
preparing for the Newcastle World Summitthat started eight years ago by Shinshiro City,
which means Newcastle in Japanese. Every
two years, eight different towns and cities
named Newcastle from around the world
gather to hold a summit hosted by a different“Newcastle” each time. During the time
between summits, there are student exchanges
and various cultural exchanges between the
Newcastles. I worked hard on the summit
over the summer, handling exchange programs and preparing for the summit that took
place this last February in Newcastle, South
Africa. One of the biggest benefits and lifechanging experiences of the summer was aninvitation to go to South Africa as an interpreter for the Shinshiro delegation.
I was also able to conduct research on
my thesis topic, “Gender issues in Japan;
6especially the problem of sexual violence inJapan”. Not only did I get to interview various people involved with the issue, but thepeople I worked with at City Hall were also
extremely helpful and supportive: giving me
related articles and introducing me to people
working on gender issues. The most rewarding thing by far, however, was the city of
Shinshiro itself and the people with whom I
worked and interacted. People have a great
affection for Shinshiro because the city is part
countryside and part urban with all the benefits of both. The three homestay families I
lived with, my co-workers, the students, theMayor, and even all the people I met randomly on the street or in the Onsen (hot spring)
made my summer an unqualified success.
There are truly no words that would beenough to express my gratitude to Shinshiro
City and CLAIR for the opportunity I
enjoyed this last summer!

Issue 49

Spring 2004

JLGC UPDATE

Ohio Treasury Hosts Japanese Government Official
As the responsibility for international
exchange increasingly falls on local governments in Japan, the Japan Local Government
Center (JLGC) in New York City has developed special training programs specificallyfor their employees to promote “kokusaika”(internationalization).
In 1992, JLGC initiated the Staff Intern
Program designed to broaden the perspectiveof Japanese local government officials living
and working in New York City. In partnershipwith American state and local governments
and their membership organizations including
the United States Advisory Commission on
Intergovernmental Relations, the Council ofState Governments, United States Conferenceof Mayors, the National Governors’
Association and the Illinois Municipal League,these two week internships afford opportunities for JLGC staff to conduct research on key
local government issues while experiencing
American culture. More than fifty JLGC
Assistant Directors have participated in thispioneering experience exchange. Theirresearch interests covered a wide rangeof topics, among them urban search andrescue, forestry management, emergency
medical services, e-government, school
choice, adult education, tax administrationand performance measurement.
The Staff Intern Program is a mutually
rewarding experience for state and local officials from both societies. It encourages open
interaction and collaboration and continues toreinforce the spirit of international cooperationand good will among the governments that areclosest to the people in their daily operations.
When Atsushi Wakimoto, Assistant

JLGC Newsletter

Director of JLGC visited the Ohio State
Treasury earlier this year, an enduring andvaluable relationship between professionalcounterparts was forged through the internshipprogram. Mr. Wakimoto, whose backgroundis in financial management (including positions with Japan’s Nara Prefecture and theMinistry of Public Management, Home
Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications), wasinterested in learning about the state’s cash
management practices and investment ofpublic funds.
The Council of State Governments(CSG) arranged for Mr. Wakimoto to spend
two weeks, starting in Columbus on March
11, 2004, with the State of Ohio Treasury,
which received the 2003 Government

Mr. Kevin Talty (right), Ohio Treasury Director ofOperations, welcomes Mr. Atsushi Wakimoto (left),
JLGC staff.

Finance Officers Association Award of
Excellence in the category of cash management and investing. He visited with the
Auditor of State, the Office of Budget andManagement, and the Franklin County
Treasurer and Auditor Offices. Mr.
Wakimoto also spoke at length with statetreasury directors and staff of the Revenue
Management, Investments, Internal Audit,
7

Risk Management and the Center for Public
Investment Management departments.
Some of the broader issues covered during his visit included the authority and organizational structure by which the treasury operates, the budgetary and governmental oversightfor the office. Treasury functions, staff professional development, and special programs
which the office is currently developing to
improve operations and measure risk were also
covered. Mr. Wakimoto was most interested inprofessional development for staff, particularlyin the area of investments, and the methods
used in transferring knowledge and skill setsfrom one employee to another.
Treasury staff spent much time discussing
methods used to provide oversight and objective evaluation for investment and treasury
management performance. At the conclusionof the professional visit, Mr. Wakimoto told
his hosts: “I learned a lot of very useful applications concerning treasury and investment
management. I’m sure that what I learned in
Ohio will make a contribution to the development of public fund management by Japanese
local governments.”
Ohio Treasury Director of Operations
Kevin Talty summed up his own thoughts on
Mr. Wakimoto’s visit: “Whenever we share ourmethods for conducting government treasury
management business, it encourages us toreevaluate the rationale for our methodology.
More importantly, it provides opportunities tomeet public officials from other countries andto learn their methods for conducting government business while looking for ways toimprove our own processes for efficiency andeffectiveness.”

Issue 49

Spring 2004

GUEST COLUMN

Random Thoughts After One Year in Officeby Anthony Bianchi
Inuyama City Council Member
One year has passed since my election
last April in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture.
I’d like to share some random thoughts I’ve
had since that time.
Upon Being Elected
As someone born outside of Japan, getting to this point was obviously a struggle. But
actually, now I feel that I can sometimes affectthings in ways that maybe some other council
people can not. I mean, if some of the things
that I’ve said or done were coming from a 45
year old former school teacher, a born in Japan“Japanese school teacher”, I’m sure some people may say “Who does he think he is?”People say that my election is a sign that people are hoping for change. I’ve come to thinkthat it is equally accurate to say that people arehoping for representatives who will say what
the average citizen is thinking, but cannot due
to social pressures. Anyway, I believe that thisis my mandate and why I was elected with arecord number.
Too Much Government
There are too many elected officials andtoo many bureaucrats. There is an imbalanceof power, the bureaucracy has too much, andthis power needs to be cut back. Tokyosneezes and everyone gets a cold. With all the
talk about decentralization, why is Tokyo still
telling us what we should be doing, such as
cutting the salaries of our city employees?
Lawmakers in other systems actually makelaws and put forward bills. Most proposals
come from the bureaucracy, and council
people just say yes or no. I think we council
people should be writing these bills andmaking laws, and the bureaucracy should be
implementing them. It’s not to say something

JAPAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER
666 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK, NY 10103-0072

couldn’t come from thebureaucracy, but rightnow, almost everythingcomes from the bureaucracy.
Feedback from theCommunity
We’ve been getting
a fair amount of feedback, apparently morethan some other councilors. One reason isthat our office makes
Inuyama City Council Member, Mr. Anthony Bianchi (left) visits theefforts to communicate
director of JLGC, New York, Mr. Naofumi Hida (right).
with the citizens andmakes it easy for citizens
You can reach me at: mail@bianchito communicate with us.
inuyama.com
Believe it or not, I am the only council member with a web site (www.bianchiTake care.
inuyama.com), and an office that is staffed andAnthony
easily accessible to the average person.
For example, we got a call from a woman
whose son has a learning disability, a problem
not widely accepted in Japan. She said that
although she lives closer to another councilor,she felt that we might be easier to talk to.
This led me to bring up this issue at next
council meeting.
My feeling is that there are too many
“professional politicians”, people who do
this all their lives, but are really out of touchwith the average person. I hope my candidacy
encourages more average citizens to participate
in the system.

Featuredin thisissue:NIIGATA PREF.
TOYAMA PREF.
JohanaInuyama City
Shinshiro
City

MIE
PREF.

Thank you for taking the time to read thisarticle. I would welcome any comments or
feedback.

TEL: (212) 246-5542
FAX: (212) 246-5617

Tokyo

SHIZUOKA
PREF.
Hamamatsu
City
AICHI
PREF.

EHIME
PREF.

E-MAIL: info@jlgc.org
WEBSITE: http://www.jlgc.org