Issue No. 48

Fall 2003/Winter 2004

SPECIAL REPORT

Welcome Back Miss Miyagi!
Returning Home after 76 Yearsby Masashi Takahashi
Assistant Director of JLGC
It was a typical January day in New York
City, bright, clear and quite cold. My
Deputy Director, Mieko Sato, and I

were about to embark on a fascinating
journey westward to Larned, Kansas tomeet a special elderly woman with a fascination for dolls, antique dolls to be precise.
Her name is Margaret R. Corbet, and she isan owner of the “Friendship
Dolls”. These special dolls
were exchanged as tokens
of friendship between Japanand the United States over
70 years ago.
This was our firstexperience to visit Kansas,
and I was quite surprised at
how similar the topography
was to my home prefecture,
Miyagi-ken. I gazed upon adiverse landscape comprisedof flatlands, mountain
ranges, rivers and endlessfields of livestock. It
reminded me of home,
and it struck me as coincidental that I would soon be
face to face with a woman
who lived most of her lifein Kansas with scenery
similar to Miyagi.

Miss Miyagi Friendship Doll

Copyright 2004 Published by Japan Local Government Center

Ms. Corbet greeted us witha wide smile and a warm

heart. Her antique shop contained a large
assortment of merchandise, accumulated
over many years, such as pottery, buttons,
stamps, lacquer ware and fine linens thatwere purchased at auction. My curiosity
got the best of me and I asked her; why
did you decide to operate an antique shop?
She responded: “It is my great pleasure tolocate items people are interested in andhave been searching for. I have beenacquiring old items according to my taste
while following the trends and relying on
inspiration – but my experience living in
Gifu-ken, Japan in 1947 rekindled mycollection of Japanese artifacts.”
continued on page 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPECIAL REPORTMiss Miyagi Friendship Doll
PREFECTURE TODAY

Nara Prefecture
CORE CITY

Kitakyushu City
CLAIR UPDATECLAIR Study Program 2003
JLGC UPDATEForum on Emergency Preparedness
Communicating with Origami
Story of Sadako
A Visit to Salinas

1
3
5
6
8
10
11
12

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 REPORT

Welcome Back Miss Miyagi!
Returning Home after 76 Years
continued from page 1
She related the following story. At an auction in 1982, Ms. Corbet saw a Miss Miyagi
friendship doll. There was no backgroundhistory on the doll but she was determined
to obtain one and visited a local library
to research the dolls’ identity.

Boldly she wrote to Shiro Asano,
Governor of Miyagi Prefecture to inform
him of her visit. With the assistance of Ms.
Toshiko Saito and Ms. Tomoko Shizukuishi,organizers of the “Blue-eyed Doll Study
Group” her letter was accepted and they
prepared to host her visit.

at the Sendai Historical Museum in thecapital city of Sendai. The doll visited
the Miyagi Prefecture Government offices
and several elementary schools. It was awonderful opportunity to share the storyof the Friendship Dolls, further mutual
understanding and promote internationalization at the grass roots level.

She discovered that they were“Friendship Dolls” which were
given as gifts to American children
to thank them for their thoughtfulness and message of peace.
Previously, American children in a
spirit of friendship raised money tobuy dolls, later to be called “Blueeyed Dolls” and sent them to Japan
where they were enthusiasticallyreceived.

Ms. Corbet continues toactively promote the story of
the Friendship Dolls, teaching
American children about Miss
Miyagi. In 2000, she sent two
new Blue-eyed Dolls to Monouand Uwamura elementary schools
in Miyagi. “I enjoy showing
Miss Miyagi to American school
children and I enjoy showing mydolls to Japanese children.”
The author, Masashi Takahashi (right), presents an Honorary Associate

Ms. Corbet was determined to Award from Miyagi Prefecture to Ms. Margaret R. Corbet (center) andAs an acknowledgement ofher daughter, Dody Corbet (left) with Miss Miyagi.
return to Japan and visit Miyagiher outstanding contribution toward
In May 2003, Ms. Corbet, her daughter bridging cultures and furthering internationalken with a Miss Miyagi doll. She felt
Dody Corbet and Miss Miyagi embarked
it would be a chance for Miss Miyagi
ization between Miyagi and the United States,on their trip to Miyagi-ken, Japan to fulfill
to return home after 76 years and help
Governor Asano decided to bestow her witha dream. In Miyagi-ken, Miss Miyagi wasbridge cultural relations between Japanan Honorary Associate Award. As the repredisplayed during the week of May 21-25
and the United States.
sentative from Miyagi in the United States,

WHAT ARE THE FRIENDSHIP DOLLS?
The Friendship Dolls were not merely
presents but kinds of messenger of peacefrom American children. Dr. Sidney
Gulick was the main person who believed
American and Japanese children could
learn to understand one another by giving
the Friendship Dolls. The American children donated their own money and raised
funds to buy a total of 12,739 dolls. The

JLGC Newsletter

Friendship Dolls, named as “Blue-eyed
Dolls” by Japanese children, were welcomed in Japan with great parades andparties. Lots of Japanese people thought
writing thank-you letters would not beenough to reciprocate the American gesture so 58 Japanese dolls were sent toUnited States as gifts in return which
include Miss Miyagi. During World War

2

II, Japan’s army ordered that American
dolls be destroyed but it’s been said thatmany Japanese people hid dolls in theirhomes and fields.
After World War II, more than 300 “Blueeyed Dolls” have been found all across theJapan and eight of them have been preserved in Miyagi Prefecture.

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Fall 2003/Winter 2004

I was given the opportunity to meet her and Reference;
present the award. It was a memorable event
American Girl, March/April 1997, pages 28-31.
and an experience I shall never forget.
She graciously accepted the Award andremarked: “While living in Japan in 1947, I
nurtured a growing interest in Japanese culture.
I am very glad to receive this special award
from Governor Asano and I shall makeevery effort to continue to help promoteinternationalization between us forever.”Look Japan, July 1995, pages 30-33.
Friendship Dolls Their “mission of friendship” continues
http://wgordon.web.wesleyan.edu/dolls/index.htm
Report of the Miyagi Blue-eyed Doll Study Group.
Ms. Corbet’s antique shop, “Antiques And
Artifacts” in Kansas.

PREFECTURE TODAY

Nara Prefecture
Nara prefecture is situated at theheart of the Kii Peninsula on the mainisland of Honshu and three-fourths of theprefecture is actually mountains. It is aninland prefecture without coastline, surrounded by Osaka Prefecture, Kyoto
Prefecture, Wakayama Prefecture and
Mie Prefecture. One of the most famous
ancient cities in the world, Nara used to
be an eastern terminal point of Silk Road
about 1,300 years ago. As the first capitalof Japan, Nara flourished with culturalinterchanges between Japan and theOrient. Nara also has a deep connection
with the Emperor’s family.
Nara is home to numerous historicand cultural sites. Two of Japan’s eleven
World Cultural Heritage Sites are locatedin Nara. One is “Buddhist Structures inthe Horyuji Temple” area and was registered by UNESCO in 1993. The buildingsin the area were built around 700 A.D.,

JLGC Newsletterand Horyuji Temple at the center of thisthe birthplace of many religious faiths thatarea is famous as the oldest wooden build- are still practiced today. This region can
ing in the world. Another World Cultural
be called “Scared Sites and Pilgrimage
Heritage Site in Nara is “Historic Assets
Routes in Kii Mountain Range” and isof Ancient Nara”
continued on page 4
which includes
Todaiji Temple
and Heijyokyo
Palace Site, andwas registeredby UNESCO in
1998. This historic area has
been restored
and preserved
to what it used
to be about
1,300 years ago.
In addition, themountainous
southern part ofNara Prefecture
is recognized as
Todaiji Temple silhouetted against a full moon.
3

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Fall 2003/Winter 2004

PREFECTURE TODAY

Nara Prefecture
continued from page 3
expected to be registered as another World
Cultural Heritage
Site of Japan in
2004. Besides theseareas, there are manyother historic andcultural sites to visit
in Nara.

prefecture, the steep geographicalfeatures of the mountains and thegreat volume of water from being

waterfalls, valleys and ravines. There arealso many hidden hot springs where
it was said that historical celebrities
visited. Nara also
has a sanctuary
for wild birds
and one of the
few habitats forplants and animals
indigenous toJapan including
nihonkamoshika(Japanese serow),wild deer, andtukinowaguma(Japanese bear).

Nara is also richin nature. In thenorth, seasonalchanges are often
complemented withhistorical cultural
Due to theevents, highlighting
abundant natural
the magnificent
resources, agriculture
natural beauty of theand forestry arearea. In March, theume (Japanese plum)
popular industries
trees bloom inin Nara Prefecture.
Tsukigase in the
Nara is also
northern part of Narafamous forand is the centerpiece
Yamato Tea,
to a celebration forJapanese persimmon,ayu (sweetfish),the ending of winter.
and Japanese
The blooming sakura(cherry blossoms)
cedars.
and accompanying
For further
festivals in April
information,
in Yoshino region
please see thein the middle of Nara
Nara Prefecture
is a sign of spring’s
Government
arrival. Near the end
web site: http://www.
of year, the brilliant“Historic Assets of Ancient Nara” include Todaiji Temple as part of World Cultural Historic Sites.
pref.nara.jp/
autumn leaves markthe advent of
the rainiest area in Japan have formed
Source: Nara Prefecture Tourist
winter in Tonomine also in the middle
characteristic natural scenery such as
Association.
of Nara. In the southern part of the

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Issue 48

Fall 2003/Winter 2004

CORE CITY

Kitakyushu City
An International Gateway with Local Flair
Kitakyushu was founded in February
1963 as the unprecedented merger of fivecities: Moji, Kokura, Tobata, Yahata andWakamatsu, each with its own long history
and traditions. Located on the northern tipof Kyushu in western Japan, Kitakyushu is
midway between Tokyo and Shanghai, 600
miles away from both cities, and only about
125 miles from the most southern part of
Korea Peninsula. The city has thrived as agateway for trade with Asia for many years
and also developed as one of the majorindustrial cities in Japan. Today,
Kitakyushu has a population of one million
and an area of 120 acres rich in waterfronts
and greenery, with a warm and friendly
atmosphere.
Kitakyushu has implemented a wide
variety of projects to guide it towards
becoming an international city of technology, One of the main projects is international
cooperation. Kitakyushu had experienced
severe pollution during its major economic
growth as an industrial city. The public andprivate sectors worked together to create
partnerships and technologies to overcome
the pollution problem and these are now
being applied to international cooperation
projects. The city has also accepted morethan 3,000 trainees from developing
countries to further promote international
cooperation.
Another unique project is“Kitakyushu’s Eco-Town” project. The
Eco-Town project is aimed toward becoming a society that recycles more and produces less waste. In July 1997, Kitakyushu
was designated as one of the first eco-town
areas by the national government.

JLGC Newsletter

Kokura Castle, located at the center of Kitakyushu, is a symbol of the old-time Japan

Kitakyushu is rejuvenating the local economy through expanded international exchangewith US and Canada as well as Asian countries. The Kitakyushu International
Association (KIA) presents exchange activities
for Japanese and non-Japanese residents
around the city to deepen mutual understanding and friendship and to promote world
peace. It provides necessary information on
daily living, cultural opportunities such as
homestays, foreign language seminars, lecturesand cultural events for those living in
Kitakyushu. KIA aims to create a place where
everybody feels comfortable and appreciates apeaceful global atmosphere.
Kitakyushu International Week is held
ever year in early October under the theme,“The World is a Global Family.” During
International Week, a myriad of events promoting international awareness and grassroots

5

exchange are held at the International Village
Center in Yahatahigashi Ward and at various
locales in Kitakyushu.
Another international event is the
Kitakyushu International Music Festival withchamber music as its main feature. It was
inaugurated in 1988 to commemorate the 25th
anniversary of the City of Kitakyushu. The
outstanding concerts, played by top-levelartists from Japan and abroad, are held every
weekend for three weeks and attract manymusic lovers to the city every year.
Kitakyushu can provide you with various
opportunities so come and see for yourself
what Kitakyushu City has to offer.
For more information and background,
see the Kitakyushu city web-site:
http://www.city.kitakyushu.jp/~english/

Issue 48

Fall 2003/Winter 2004

CLAIR UPDATECLAIR Short-Term International
Study Program 2003 (CLAIR Kokusai Jyuku)
Important things I learned from “Please help yourself” and “NIMBY”
by Toshiko Mitsui
Participating in the CLAIR ShortTerm International Study Program 2003
(CLAIR Kokusai Jyuku) gave me thevaluable opportunity to study not only
the United States local government
system, but also the differences between
our two cultures. I had been to the U.S.
three times prior to this program and did
not expect to discover anything new.
The program had also arranged staying
with three different host families where
I gained new insights that were contrary
to my expectations. It truly made theexperience extremely fruitful and rewarding. Although there is much to tell about
what I learned about local and state
government, I would like to focus onwhat I should keep in mind culturally
when attempting to promote internationalization.

The two phrases andconcepts of: “Please help
yourself” and “NIMBY”(Not in my back yard)
struck me as particularly
important features ofAmerican culture.

-November 7(Stay with a host family: I stayed with 3 host families)

The phrase “Please
help yourself” had such astrong impression on me
because it was the mostThe author, Toshiko Mitsui (right), with her Host mother and her cat.
frequently heard phrase
whenever I changed host families. As aaddition, it was my understanding that aguest, I tried to be as good as I possibly
guest should not step into private areas
could; I tried not to bother my hosts, atesuch as the kitchen so I did not open theeverything that was served, tried to involve
refrigerator nor ask for the beverages in it.
myself in various conversations and did not Believe it or not, in Japan we seldom hearrequest anything even if I needed somethe expression, “Please help yourself” espething or wanted something to be done. In
cially if you are a guest or visitor in someone’s house. This difference in hospitality
Itinerary of the CLAIR Short-Term International Study Program 2003
was a major cultural gap for me. At first,
August 22
Travel to New York.
I took these words as “Please do not botherAugust 22-26
Opening session and orientation at Japan Local Government Center in New Yorkme” so I felt rather unwelcome. However,August 27
Travel to Alexandria, VA
as time went by, I realized that this phrase-September 21
All-day language training(Stay in a hotel)
meant “Please make yourself at home and
September 22All-day language training 3 days a week /let me know if there is anything you need.”-October 10
Meetings and site visits in Washington D.C. area rest of a week
Later, when talking to other program par(Stay with a host family)
ticipants about their host families, I foundOctober 11-17
Meetings on state government (Group I: Austin, TX Group II Atlanta, GA)
out that many of them had similar experi(Staying in a hotel)
ences. It took time for us to understand
October 18-24
Meetings on municipal government (Group I: Seattle, WA Group II Boulder, CO)
the real meaning of what our host families(Staying in a hotel)
were saying, and we almost misunderstood
October 25
Individual Internships (2-week internship in municipal government(s))
the host families’ true hospitality.
November 8

Independent travel (I went Cleveland, OH and Boston, MA)- November16(meetings with municipal government(s) or organization about own theme)

November 17

Closing session at Japan Local Government Center in New York

November 18

Travel to JapanJLGC Newsletter(Staying in a hotel)

6

I learned from this experience thatin order to avoid misunderstanding others,
especially those from different cultural
backgrounds, the most important thing toIssue 48

Fall 2003/Winter 2004

do is talk with one another and ask questions when faced with things that are difficult to understand. I learned that simply
talking together was the most important
step in truly understanding each other.

the difficulties that must be faced when trying to reach a general consensus or agreement. One of the local government officials that I interviewed told me, “To findthe best answer, we spend a lot of time
researching the influences of different projects as well as listening to and talking withvarious groups of citizens. Although it
takes a long time, we believe this processbrings the best and most well received

The first time I heard the phrase“NIMBY” (Not in my back yard) was during an interview about public transportation
with local government officials. The officials explained that on
one occasion when a
new subway station
was to be built, it wasdifficult to for residentsof the area to reach aconsensus because of
the attitude of“NIMBY”. The idea
behind it was“Expanding the railway
system was a good
idea, but not if the new
train station was going
to be built in my neighborhood.” It was very
surprising to hear citizens or groups of citiHalloween pumpkin carving with local town people.
zens express suchstrong opinions against public interest. The
results for the citizens.” This comment
strong will and power citizens possess toreminded me that, as a government
express their beliefs can often move admin- employee, I should also consider various
istration to action, but it can also cause
ideas and points of view when I work. I
friction as well. At first, I could not underwas a little embarrassed for taking thisstand why people said, “NIMBY”, but after “NIMBY” stance as just a selfish comment
being reminded that American citizens arefrom the citizens. In Japan, we are used tofrom all over the world, with each of themgovernment administration making decihaving different ideas, economic situations, sions through a process that, when combeliefs and cultural backgrounds, I realized pared to America’s, tends to be more closed

JLGC Newsletter7

to the public. In the future, this should bea more open process in order to better meetwith public’s interests. Personally, as alocal government employee, this was oneof the most valuable points I discovered
and I will endeavor to keep it in mind forthe future.
These experiences made me rethink
my own attitude towards work. As a local
government official
dealing with internationalization, I havebeen too focused trying to complete projects and their various
aspects just to accomplish the task at hand.
First, I need to workon training myself toinvestigate projects
with different pointsof view. Second, I
should try harder tohelp more people
reach beyond set
boundaries while
avoiding misunderstandings. Finally, I
also need to keep in mind that my job isfor the public’s benefit and therefore, I
should not neglect to listen to the opinionsof others even if they tend to soundnegative at first.
The time I spent in the U.S. taught me
so much. I sincerely hope that next year’s
participants will have a similarly rewarding
experience.

Issue 48

Fall 2003/Winter 2004

JLGC UPDATE

2003 Local Autonomy Forum
Focuses on Emergency Preparedness
The 2003 U.S.-Japan Local Autonomy
Forum, held on November 13th & 14th atthe offices of the Japan External Trade
Organization in Midtown Manhattan, took
“Emergency Preparedness and Local
Government” as its theme. These forums
brings together experts from the U.S. andJapan to discuss a wide range of topics
relating to the various challenges faced by
local governments in both countries. This
was the sixth annual forum whose topics
have included decentralization in Japan
compared with federalism in the U.S., taxation, freedom of information, urban revitalization, and public/private partnerships.
Thursday, November 13th, had opening
remarks and the two keynote speeches. This
year’s first keynote speaker was Professor
Howard Kunreuther, from the University ofPennsylvania. He spoke on forms of

public/private partnership in managing risk,
including factors to take into account when
designing incentive and enforcement structures to compel private sector entities toprepare for and attempt to mitigate potential
disasters. Professor Hideaki Shiroyama
from Tokyo University, on behalf of
Associate Professor Masato Abe also from
Tokyo University, gave the second keynote
speech. Professor Abe addressed the topic
of government’s role in establishing a risk
management system, giving a broader analytical description of public and private sector players. Professor Abe also focused on
how risk is perceived by different parties
and on government’s pivotal, almost managerial, role in addressing issues of risk. In
contrast, Professor Kunreuther gave a morenuts and bolts description of possible measures to be taken, focusing on specific policies and strategies that could be used toOpening Speech by Naofumi Hida, Director of
JLGC.

motivate stakeholders to more effectively
manage their risks.
A buffet reception was held in theevening, giving participants a chance to talkwith one another in a more relaxed setting.
Friendships, some created and somerenewed, provided a backdrop to wide-ranging conversations about politics and life in
the participants’ home communities, helping
to put professional discussions of emergency management in clearer contexts.

Buffet Reception on the opening day of the 2003 U.S.–Japan Local Autonomy Forum.

JLGC Newsletter

8

Friday’s session was a panel discussion
on case studies in emergency management,
moderated by Professor Shiroyama. The
first speaker was Mr. Norihiko Yagi, SeniorDirector of Reconstruction Planning for the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government, whotalked about the city’s new Disaster

Issue 48

Fall 2003/Winter 2004

Prevention Division and efforts to prepare
for and respond to emergency situations
such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, andpossible terrorist attacks. Next, Mr. Masaru
Matsumoto, Manager of the Commercial
Risks Department for Tokyo Marine andFire Insurance, spoke about seismic risk
management for enterprises. This includes
working to evaluate potential earthquakerelated risks, estimating their attendant
costs, and then formulating countermeasures such as investing in earthquakeproof construction or establishing business
continuity plans. The third speaker wasdeveloping relationships among emergency
managers and responders prior to any major
event. Drawing on his experience and perspective gained in the wake of theSeptember 11th attacks and other major disaster response situations for the city, heused many firsthand examples to illustrate
how crucial well-developed lines of communication are in responding effectively to
any emergency situation. The last speaker
was Dr. Frank Straub, Commissioner of the
Department of Public Safety for the City ofWhite Plains, who first outlined the measures his city had taken to enhance theirtive communications built on strong relationships among city officials and with thecommunity. After each panelist made ashort presentation, they discussed somepoints among themselves and invited members of the audience to ask questions.

Keynote speaker Professor Howard Kunreutherfrom the University of Pennsylvania.

Panel discussion on case studies in emergency management.

Mr. Bradford Billet, OBE, Deputy
Commissioner in the Office of the Mayor
for the City of New York, who discussed theimportance of comprehensive preparation
for a wide range of potential emergencies.
One important aspect of this preparation is

JLGC Newsletter

preparedness and then related how this paid
off in responding to the August 2003 blackout. He emphasized the need to prepare andpractice response plans, establish a coordinated incident command structure, train
public safety personnel, and develop effec9

The two days of presentations and discussion were invaluable in bringing together
a broad range of people from academia,
local government, and the private sector
both from Japan and the U.S. to exchange
information and provoke serious consideration of how best to prepare for and respondto emergency situations. The greatest benefit will come, however, from continued
communication and cooperation among theparticipants, as they work to improve theiremergency management capabilities onbehalf of their communities.

Issue 48

Fall 2003/Winter 2004

JLGC UPDATE

Communicating with “Origami”
by Yujiro Toi
Assistant Director of JLGC
Nashville, Tennessee, thehome of country western music
was the venue for the 2003
Congress of Cities, the annual
conference of the National
League of Cities, which took
place December 9-12, 2003.
The Japan Local Government
Center (JLGC) participated as
an exhibitor showcasing our programs and services and introducing the various activities ofJapanese local governments toover 5,000 municipal government officials.
After my arrival to America
in April 2003, I attended theUnited States Conference ofMayors Annual Meeting in
Denver, Colorado where I
learned about the business of
A JLGC staff demonstrates Origami at annual conference of the National League of Cities.
being an American mayor.
However, manning an
exhibitor’s booth and trying toenjoyed the simple things. I am a pretty fair became for me to communicate with them.
explain what I had learned was daunting.
Origami transformed me into a communicapaper folder and always had a fondness for
Although I had been in the United States for making “origami” (Japanese art of folding
tor. It was a great feeling to know that I dida short time, I had many chances to experipaper into decorative shapes and figures).
indeed have something to contribute. I neverence firsthand American hospitality and
The crane is my specialty, so I started makthought that origami could be an effective
friendliness so I felt good about trying. I
communication tool, but I began to thinking paper cranes of all sizes and colors.
was a bit apprehensive mainly because ofWithin the next couple of hours I made over that maybe I had more dormant talents thatmy limited English language ability and I
could entertain people.
one hundred different cranes and people
felt I had little to offer the guests thatwere stopping by to watch and ask for
stopped at our booth to inquire about our
One of the reasons for coming to the
instruction. I was surprised and delighted
organization or wanted to chat about their
United States was to learn not only about
by their interest and their willingness toexperiences in Japan. I had some difficulty
American people and their culture, but also
construct a paper crane along with me.
engaging in conversation let alone answer
to learn about ourselves. I am still working
When I made a paper crane for an elderly
questions about our exhibit. I started to feelon improving my English language ability,
lady and presented it to her, she was
the frustration creeping in.
but now I have the added boost of self
delighted and hugged me. My confidence
assurance attained while making andgrew. As I instructed young and old in the
Then I remembered how much I
talking about origami.
art of origami I was amazed at how easy it

JLGC Newsletter

10

Issue 48

Fall 2003/Winter 2004

JLGC UPDATEThe Story of Sadako
Have you ever heard the story of “Sadako
Sasaki”? For the citizens of Hiroshima City,
they are constantly reminded of her story
whenever they see paper cranes.
She was born in Hiroshima City on
January 7, 1943 and was only two years oldwhen the atom bomb struck on August 6,
1945. At home with her family in Kusunokicho, only 1.7 kilometers (1.06 miles) fromthe center of the blast, she was exposed to
the fallout.

visiting her. When graduation day arrived, thediploma was given to her father. After one
month in the hospital, she enrolled in the samejunior high school as her friends, but she neverattended class.

of cranes always believing and hoping that thisaction would extend her life. But on October
25, 1955, after an arduous eight month struggle, she succumbed to the disease and passed
away surrounded by her family.

On August 6, 1954, she received permission from her doctors to leave the hospital toattend the Peace Memorial Ceremony with herfamily. On the way to the park, however she
had a relapse, fell ill and immediately returned

Her death generated a campaign to build amonument where people could pray for world
peace and for those children who lost theirlives to the atomic bomb. The Children’s
Peace Monument, standing in Peace Park wasbuilt with donated funds fromall over Japan. As the story of
Sadako spread worldwide, theresponse was overwhelming.
Today, approximately 10 million paper cranes are offeredannually at the Children’s
Peace Monument.

At first, there were noapparent injuries and she washealthy and gifted athletically.
Although a little thin, weighing 27 kilograms (59.5 lb.),
she stood 135 centimeters tall
(4.43 ft.) and exuded vigor.
She especially enjoyed running and ran the 50 meters(164 ft.) in 7.5 seconds. She
never lost a race. As a resultof her ability and success she
was chosen to run the relay
race at the Fall Sports Day
and turned in a fine performance. Her dream was tobecome a physical educationteacher in junior high school.

Visitors to Peace
Memorial Park enjoy thevisual delight of thousands ofbrightly colored paper cranes
that are everywhere to be seenin the park. The paper cranes
are part of an ancientJapanese tradition known as
paper folding or “origami”.
10 million paper cranes are offered annually by visitors as a prayer for world peace at the
Today, these paper cranes
Children’s Peace Monument in Peace Park, Hiroshima.
symbolize more than just a
craft; they have become ato her hospital bed. She never experienced the symbol of peace. Paper folding is done in
Nine years later, however, while in the
many countries as a “wish for peace”. The
Peace Ceremony.
6th grade of elementary school, she suddenly
lasting connection between paper cranes anddeveloped symptoms of an illness. In
peace can be traced back to a brave young
One day, a thousand paper cranes arrived
February of the following year, she was admitat the hospital and she was given some of them girl named Sadako Sasaki.
ted to the Hiroshima Red Cross hospital. The
as a get well gift. She was inspired to begin
diagnosis was leukemia.
For more information, please visit:
folding her own paper cranes believing thatwww.cityhiroshima.jp/shimin/heiwa/
Upon hearing the news from their teacher, this would help her recover from illness. She
crane.html
meticulously worked the paper into the shapeclassmates at the elementary school took turns

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Issue 48

Fall 2003/Winter 2004

JLGC UPDATEMy Visit to the City of Salinas
by Kazuhiro Watanabe
Assistant Director of JLGC
A mere twelve miles from the
Pacific Ocean, Salinas is part of theCentral California Coast and is known
as the “Salad Bowl of the World.” With
over 150,000 residents, Salinas blends
yesterday’s charm with today’s modern
conveniences. The world famous
Steinbeck Festival, the California Rodeo,
the California International Airshow and
the National Steinbeck Center are justa few of the attractions in this beautiful
area.
I was impressed with how thecommunity participated in the decision
making process. I attended a city council
meeting to observe local democracy inaction and learned how problems thatcan occur can be solved. For example,
Salinas has a problem with shopping
carts that people leave in residential
areas. City officials proposed imposing
fines. Local business owners and thecommunity actively took part in thediscussion.

The author, Kazuhiro Watanabe (right), with Mr. David Mora (left), City Manager of the City of Salinas,
California.

As another example surrounding amore complex issue, a new parking
garage to accommodate downtown commercial construction was to be publicly
financed by means of local bonds. At
the council meeting, the underwriter’s
representative gave a presentation to thecouncil members and the attending public
on the bond issuance process. This kindof work session, which included detailed
explanations and community participation,
is not normally experienced at Japaneseassembly meetings. It made me reflect on
the independent and autonomous characterof American local government.

I would like to express myappreciation to David Mora, City
Manager of the City of Salinas,
California for extending the invitation
to visit this wonderful city. Mr. Moravisited Aichi Prefecture last year asa participant of the 2003 CLAIR
Fellowship Program and his generous
reciprocity gave me the opportunity tolearn more about the fabric and cultureof the community he serves. Lastly,
special thanks to Assistant City Manager
Green who arranged my meetings andinterviews during my visit. I shallnever forget my stay in Salinas andsomeday hope to have the good fortune
to return there.

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