ISSUE #84

MARCH 2016

JLGC NEWS LETTER
Japan Local Government Center ( CLAIR, New York )Issue no. 84 March 2016

1. CLAIR Fellowship Exchange Program 2015
The CLAIR Fellowship Exchange Program
2015 was held from October 18 to October 28 in 2015.

CLAIR FELLOWSHIPISSUE NO. 84
MARCH 2016

This program has been affording seniorstate and local government officials an
opportunity to experience Japanese government administration first hand. This year the program washeld in Tokyo and Miyagi Prefecture.
Theme: Rebuilding and Revitalization in Miyagi, Japan

1. CLAIR Fellowship
Exchange Program 2015
(Page1-7)
2. New York Times Travel
Show 2016 (Page 8)
3. Intern Report (Page 9)4. JETAA Alaska

Miyagi was damaged by the terrible
earthquake and tsunami disaster on
March 11th, 2011. Now Miyagi is striving
to rebuild itself and is planning the revitalization of its regional economy. It appreciates all the great support it receives
from everyone in the world and would like to share its vision of“Creative Recovery”.
Participants exchanged their opinions, especially on rebuilding
from a disaster. Also they experienced the beauty of Miyagi scenery and immersed themselves in traditional Japanese culture.

-Tohoku Tomo ( Page 10-11)
5. Tohoku’s Recovery andReconstruction from theGreat East Japan Earthquake (Page12-13)

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

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ECEMBER
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2015

Ms. Mary Wild
Chief Financial Officer, National
Conference of State Legislatures

In October of 2015 I had the distinct pleasure ofparticipating in the annual CLAIR Local Government Exchange and Cooperation Seminar that
toured locations in Tokyo and the Miyagi Prefecture. While some of my NCSL colleagues had participated in previous year’s events, I really didn’t
have any idea of the breadth or depth of the experience and how it would shape my understanding of natural disasters and the resilience of
the Japanese people.
Starting in Tokyo and learning about the Japanese system of government gave all of us a goodfoundation to use in understanding the inspections we were to make in the upcoming days.
And the next 9 days went by far too quickly.
Our trips to each area affected by the Great East
Japan Earthquake Disaster of 2011 allowed us to
see the destruction first hand and understandthe herculean efforts required to rebuild and restore buildings and communities. We also saw
how local, prefecture, and central governmental
units work together to continue the reconstruction efforts.
By far the most important take away from thetrip for me was learning about the culture of theJapanese people. From the exactness of scheduled visits to the exchange of business cards, alldetails were planned and executed with great
precision.

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We learned together about opportunities to planfor natural disasters and received practical information and suggestions to take back to our respective organizations.
I would like to express my appreciation to the
Miyagi Prefecture government and the CLAIR
staff for their hospitality and suggestions thatmade the trip a once in a lifetime experience!

Mr. Kamanzi Graham Kalisa
Director of Overseas Voting Initiative, The Council of State Governments
How do I even begin to describe my trip to Japan
with JLGC’s 2015 CLAIR Fellowship Exchange
Program? It was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life to learn so much in such a shorttime from Japanese public policy leaders as well
as everyday Japanese citizens. If there were aword to describe Japan as a whole, it would be
respectful. Japan is a country that maintains aculture that displays reverence of fine food as
the food is meticulously prepared andserved. The country also maintains a sense ofreverence for nature, rules and humanity as
clearly evidenced by our group’s visit to Miyagi
Prefecture, to learn lessons from the March 11,2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami. I
would like to thank the Japan Local Government
Center and the Council of State Governments forproviding me with this incredible experience. I
will continue to share my Japanese experience
with my colleagues, friends and family.

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Mr. Riki Hokama
Past President, National Association of Counties

I participated in the CLAIR study tour of
Miyagi Prefecture, an area that was devastatedin March 2011 by a Magnitude 9.0 earthquake
followed by a tsunami. There were over
10,000 human deaths, destruction of over
83,000 residences, and heavy damage to over
155,000 residences. The highest casualties
were among the elderly. Major damage wasfrom the tsunami flood. For example in Onagawa Town, the tsunami wave was as high as a 5
story building, and 3,000 out of 4,500 buildings were destroyed. The 10-year Disaster Recovery Plan implementation is mid-way in thethree stage program- “Restoration” (20112013), “Reconstruction” (2014-2017), and“Development” (2018-2020).

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the Sendai Airport as a “concession-type” private finance initiative (PFI) is an example ofsuch a public-private partnership. This model
could also be adapted to finance and manage
the re-building of major public facilities, including expressways, airports, museums, andhousing.
 The attitude of government officials and residents is to be better prepared for the next disaster and keep lessons learned on the “top ofmind”. I was very impressed by the resilienceof residents and how they put the welfare ofneighbors ahead of individual needs.
In closing, I’d like to thank CLAIR for the opportunity to participate in this study tour of Miyagi
Prefecture. It was an eye-opening and memorable
experience!

Mr. Pete Auger
City Manager, City of Novi, MI

Here’s a few impressions gleaned from thisstudy tour:Strong government leadership is evident in
the recovery efforts. Government officials
work closely with residents to understandand maintain a balance between preserving historical assets and constructing a
new disaster-resistant community development model. Government officials receive high marks for the timely, efficientand compassionate response in the disaster recovery.
The repair and/or rebuilding of infrastructure and major public facilities involve creative public-private initiatives that allow
national and local governments to tap into
private sector expertise and share the burden of financial costs. The management of

What a great experience. This trip lived up to everything I thought it would. The people in Japan
were very hospitable, overly polite and very efficient. Everything was laid out for us and we were
kept on schedule the entire time.
Our tours, or inspections, were all very informative and we had great access to decision makers
at all levels of governance. It was very humbling
as we studied what happened on the eleventh ofMarch 2011. I was also impressed with some key
decisions being made moving forward that will
help reduce the loss of life in future events.

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Ms. Melodee Colbert Kean
President, National League of Cities

Once in a lifetime you get the opportunity to experience the beauty and amazement of anothercountry. You get the chance to gain a better understanding of her governmental structure and tobe the recipient of her gracious hospitality. Suchan opportunity was afforded to me through theamazing offering of the Japan CLAIR Exchange
Program.
This exchange meant a great deal as my city also
was hit with a natural disaster, an F5 tornado,
May 22, 2011, just two months after Japan’s greatearthquake and tsunami. I had the opportunity
to witness the resilience, determination and rebuilding strategies implemented there, and tocontrast and compare our recovery plans. One
thing we have in common recovering from suchdisasters, is the fortitude and drive to rebuild andredesign our cities to be even better than before,
and to withstand the future impact of events ofsuch magnitude. This can only be accomplishedthrough a can-do attitude, which is clearly evident in Japanese citizens. The focus of city leadership is critical in guiding the citizens towards
the vision of redesigning and rebuilding of communities once again to become thriving businessand residential areas.
From the beautiful landscapes of the garden areas, the breathtaking water views and temple visits of Matsushima. To the amazing rebuilding efforts underway in Onagawa, the serene view

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overlooking Sendai and the ever present gracious hospitality of the CLAIR staff, the assistants and the citizens, this Exchange was packed
with education, appreciation and amazement.
Thank You for an amazing experience to sharewith my hometown, Joplin (Mo), my National
League of Cities family and my family!

Mr. Khashayar Alaee
Sr. Management Analyst, City ofPalo Alto, CA
On behalf of the International
City/County Managers Association and the City of Palo Alto, I would like tothank CLAIR for providing me an experiencethat has had a profound and positive impact on
my life. It was truly a privilege to visit Japan tolearn about the government structure and actions taken to recover from the Great East Japan
Earthquake. The staff at CLAIR were very gracious and did an outstanding job with our itinerary. I am eternally grateful.
The trip was an emotional rollercoaster for me.
At moments I was excited to meet with government officials, tour sites, learn about operational issues as well as the culture nuances. But atmoments, it was also very sad. For example, visiting Onagawa and standing in the city center
while watching YouTube clips of the tsunami
really placed the disaster in perspective. To thisday, I think about that moment and what thepeople of Japan have gone through. The experience was life changing. Japan will always have a
special place in my heart.

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Mr. Chris Wray
President, Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario
It was indeed an honour to participate in the2015 CLAIR program and exchange. My experience in participating in this program created memories that will last a lifetime and will
no doubt be one of the top accomplishmentsof my career.
The highlight of the exchange was certainly
the people who were involved. From ourwonderful hosts, to people we met along theway; somehow this allowed me to grow as aperson. There are few words that can describe how well we were received from thetime we arrived in Japan. Our hosts werevery well organized, friendly and accommodating. The CLAIR staff made sure that we
made the most of the short time that we werein Japan and I will never forget their efforts.
The theme of this exchange; recovering fromthe Great Eastern Japan Earthquake was ofparticular interest to me as my own community has had its share of challenges due to natural disasters; although certainly nothing likethe magnitude of what we witnessed on theexchange. The measures taken by such alarge metropolis like Tokyo were indeed impressive as were the types and complexity ofthe technology used.

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The efforts of the people of Sendai City and
Miyagi Prefecture to recover from such adevastating event were indeed impressive
and spoke highly of the resilience of theJapanese people. In particular I could not
help but be moved by the story of the small
town of Onagawa. Only slightly larger thanmy own community, we witnessed a recovery in action, an entire town being reconstructed from the debris and devastation
left behind by a natural disaster that many
people will never experience. Lastly, ourtour of beautiful and historical Matsushima
was a true experience on how a town sodependent on tourism can rise from devastation to offer a unique experience that canbe found in few places around the world.
I will never forget the many stories that weheard and experienced during the exchange
and I won’t forget the friendly, accommodating nature of the Japanese people, inparticular our CLAIR hosts and the many
employees of Miyagi Prefecture. Most importantly, I won’t soon forget that while in
Canada we plan for possible disasters ineach and every community across the country, in Japan those same plans are being
made for a disaster that is on the horizon.
I am humbled and truly grateful for my experience.

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Mr. Dale Mikkelsen
Director of Development, Simon
Fraser UniverCity Community
Trust

It’s now been about 3 weeks since my returnback to Canada from the 2015 CLAIR Local Government Fellowship Exchange Program. While
only back a short time, I already miss, withfondness, our hosts from CLAIR, and the individual venue hosts that we met throughout ourjourneys from Tokyo and throughout the
Miyagi Prefecture. I honestly did not knowwhat to expect from the exchange program
when I was first contacted by the Canadian Urban Institute as a potential representative, given our experience at UniverCity in Burnaby, BC,
Canada with building sustainable and resilient
infrastructure and communities. I was unsure
what I may be able to specifically contribute toa part of Japan that is still recovering from thedevastation of the Japan Great East Earthquake
and Tsunami of 2011.
Well, I was right. I could not have known what
to expect. However, what I received was 10days of profound learning, sharing, and understanding – both of a remarkable culture and anamazing government structure and relationshipwith its people. Through the lens of disasterand devastation and the urgency to rebuild, wewere privileged to see Japan at it’s most raw
and vulnerable state.

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When we hear of Japan as being “internal” and“private” we think of it as “closed”. Rather, it is
not demonstrable or overt in its emotion andexpression – but by no means is it closed anddoors and hearts were opened to us. Throughthe stories we experienced during our journey, I
not only learned about how government can andshould respond to disaster, but I also gained arespect for the Japanese way.
The immediacy of response.
The discipline and control of those affected.
The deep care for the most vulnerable – theyoungest and the oldest.
The respect for loss, coupled with the need for
immediacy.
The support for strong leadership.
The willingness to accept change.
The understanding that forward is the only direction in a time of rebuilding.
At the end of the trip, I hoped that I was able tooffer some insight and some thoughts from ourpractices here in Canada and at UniverCity. I
hoped I was able to speak to innovative infrastructure, decentralized systems, and sustainable building. But all of that had little on what I
took away from the trip – the importance andvalue of people and the respect for their leadership by those being led, if they are treated welland fairly. This is the lesson from Japan for me
and something the Japanese do so well. I canonly hope the CLAIR Fellowship Exchange Program continues each year, and that 9 or 10 lucky
people from North America will also seize thisopportunity to learn so much and be treated so
well.

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Mr. Jeff L. Reeb
Office of Emergency Management, Los Angeles
County, CA

As an emergency manager for Los Angeles
County, one that noted seismologist Dr. Lucy
Jones with the US Geological Survey has described as …the most seismically at risk large
urban area in the United States…, it was withkeen interest that I departed for the CLAIR
Study Tour of Japan. Japan is recognizedworldwide as the most earthquake preparednation on earth. To study and learn from thebest on how they responded to, and are recovering from, the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami would be an invaluable
opportunity for me as an emergency management professional.
Over the course of nine days I was educatedon the governmental structure of Japan, andon how the central government and the prefectures in concert with the local municipalities are rebuilding the areas devastated by
the tsunami.

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Also, how they are not just rebuilding what
was there, but are reaching forward to build
to the future and ensuring that the reconstructed communities are more inviting andsecure, and how they are investing acrossthe social and economic strata to stimulate
the reestablishment of local economies in theaffected areas so that those displaced by thetsunami can return to their communities andprosper. As important as these examples arein providing recovery models that can be
replicated in Los Angeles, I was also exposedto the wonderful people of Japan. The CLAIR
staff who conducted the Study Tour were
outstanding ambassadors for their nationand the CLAIR Local Government Exchange
and Cooperation program.
The Tour concluded with an opportunity toshare the numerous lessons learned and insights gained between the Tour group andthe senior leadership of the Miyagi Prefecture Government. This two way exchange
validated the principle that government
leaders worldwide face similar challenges
and through mutual cooperation and collaboration we can share the best practices
which will allow us to improve the quality oflife for the people we serve. For this rare andvaluable opportunity, I am extremely grateful to professionals at CLAIR and the Miyagi
Prefectural Government of Japan.

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2. New York Times Travel Show 2016
Fumiko Tatemichi, Assistant Director, Representative of Hiroshima City
The New York Times Travel Show was held at the Jacob Javits
Convention Center from January 8th to 10th. Over 500 exhibitors including hotels, tour agencies and train companies fromall over the world attended this event and showed off theirtravel information. JLGC staff members also attended thisevent on January 10th as part of the Japan Booth of JNTO andintroduced their home areas.
During this event, not only a lot of people who are planning to go to Japan but also those
who are simply interested in Japanese culture visited our booth in order to get a variety of
information.
Of course, the famous cities for tourists are Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. However, we are also
eager to introduce local cities which are not well-known yet, but are worth a visit. So, thistime we focused on four sites, Miyagi, Wakayama, Hiroshima and Matsue City. Some people
don’t know where these cities are located, how to get there, or how long it takes from Tokyoor Kyoto, so we explained to them by using a map of Japan and brochures sent from eachcity. Since the Shinkansen (bullet train) runs through many prefectures, Miyagi is just 1.5hours from Tokyo and Hiroshima is 2 hours from Kyoto. It is fast, safe and comfortable, and
it is always on time, which is an important point, especially during a trip. Wakayama Prefecture, located south of Osaka, is surrounded by both beautiful mountains and the ocean, and
it is blessed with good food such as fresh seafood and juicy fruits. Also, they created theirown ramen style, called Wakayama-ramen. Matsue City (Shimane Prefecture) is locatednorth of Hiroshima and is surrounded by waterways, so it is called ”The City of Water”.
Matsue Castle has just become a National Treasure in
2014. Also, they have created their own traditional Japanese sweets, called Wagashi. These types of Japanese
sweets are amazingly fine and beautiful.
I was impressed to know that so many people were considering Japan as their next trip destination. We are always
happy to share information about Japan and hope many
tourists visit Japan in the near future.

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3. Intern Report
Hiroaki Hagiwara, Representative of Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
This past October, I spent an unforgettable month exploring and learning about New York as a trainee. It was my first time living overseas for so long and I could not have been more excited for the opportunity to visit all of the wonderful and historical sites surrounding me.
[Bridges in New York]In a book, on TV, on a postcard, or perhaps in person, chances are many haveseen or heard of the world famous Brooklyn Bridge in one way or another.
From reading many guidebooks, I too, knew of its excellent design and world-renowned significance as one of history’s remarkable architectural achievements. I had been longing to visit the bridge since I was a teen, but seeing theactual bridge with my own eyes surpassed my expectations.
The moment I found out that I would be staying in New York, I told myself that this was my chance
to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, and that is exactly what I did. To say that my experience wasamazing does not reflect the grandeur of the bridge.
To top off my excursion, I also walked across the Williamsburg Bridge and drove across the Manhattan Bridge on an open top bus. These bridges were just as impressive, constructed with such detail
despite their large scale. The bridge technology is comparable to modern day designs, which makes
it quite amazing that these were built over 100 years ago. To say the least, I was extremely impressed with the bridges of New York.
[Bridges in Tokyo]
After returning to Japan, I began to reflect on myhometown and decided to visit two famous bridges inTokyo: the Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo Gate Bridge.
The Rainbow Bridge is a suspension bridge crossing
the northern end of Tokyo Bay between Shibaura Pierand the Odaiba waterfront development in Minato, Tokyo. It was completed in 1993. It carries three transportation lines on two decks. The upper deck
carries the expressway, while the lower deck carries the Yurikamome rapid transit system, walkways, and prefectural road. The Tokyo Gate Bridge, which was completed in 2012, is one of the newest bridges in Tokyo. The truss cantilever bridge stretches across Tokyo Bay, and is distinguishable
by its unique appearance, looking like two dinosaurs facing each other.
The photo was taken from a manmade island called Sea Forest, which adjoins Tokyo Gate Bridge.
Sea Forest was created as a project to turn an artificial island into a forest, and though it is not open
to the general public yet, I had the opportunity to visit through an event. This is one of my favorite
roads to drive through because it is traffic free.
The island will eventually open up as a park, and for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 areas will serve as
the grounds for events such as cross country, rowing, canoe kayaking, and mountain biking. Sea Forest is sure to be a new sightseeing spot and I could not be more excited!

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4. JETAA Alaska-Tohoku Tomo
Christopher Vaughan, President, JETAA Alaska
On March 11, 2011, Monty Dickson was one of two teachers with
the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program killed in the Tohoku
earthquake and tsunami. While I did not know Monty personally,
Monty was from Anchorage, Alaska, which is where I also
live. While attending the JETAA National Conference in Seattle,
Washington, in September 2014, I had the opportunity to view thefilm, Tohoku Tomo, which is a documentary telling the story of truefriendship and commitment to Japan’s recovery by the international
community following the earthquake and tsunami. It was a combination of wanting to share Monty’s story along with the Tohoku recovery efforts, which would eventually lead to a local film screening
here in Anchorage.
On February 29, 2016, the JET Alumni Association of Alaska hosted the screening of Tohoku Tomo at the BP Energy Center in Anchorage. The screening exceeded our expectations
with a near full capacity of almost 120 people. Before the start of the film, we had thepleasure of showing a video message from CLAIR New York, which was well received byeveryone in attendance. After the screening, we held a question & answer session withthe film’s producers, Wesley Julian and Daniel Martin, along with a preview of the 113
Project. The 113 Project is a series of small videos that focuses on more stories of friendships and recovery in Tohoku with hopes of creating an interactive website that attracts
visitors to Tohoku to volunteer and / or visit there on vacation. During the filming of the
113 Project, Wesley and Daniel met Teiichi Sato, a seed shop owner in the city of Rikuzentakata. Mr. Sato previously took part in Monty’s weekly English conversation classes andthe two of them got to know each other quite well. Mr. Sato provided a message to Montyas part of the video, which everyone was able to view for a few minutes as a preview. Monty’s sister, Shelley Frederickson then gave a moving and heartfelt presentation
about her brother and the city of Rikuzentakata, which is where he was assigned as a
JET. The evening ended with a reception hosted by the Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage, which allowed the guests to become more acquainted with one another. The reception resulted in a great turn out with many people staying, and guests were able to discuss further about the film with each other and also with Wesley and Daniel. New friendships were formed, and a sharing of Japanese culture and spirit was able to take placewith all that had opportunity to attend the screening.

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This screening could not have been possible without the generous support of all the local
JETAA Alaska volunteers, CLAIR New York, Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage, and the Japanese Society of Alaska. It was such a pleasure to have everyone so engaged with the film andeach other. While the screening has ended, JETAA Alaska looks forward to continuing toshare these stories of Monty and Tohoku while also doing our part to be a bridge between Japan and our local communities here in Alaska.

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5. Tohoku’s Recovery and Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake
Koichi Matsuda, Assistant Director, Representative of Iwate Prefecture
Five years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11th, 2011.
Most of the infrastructure in Tohoku (the hardest-hit prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima) has been restored. Housing reconstruction is in progress. The number of people
still not returned to the disaster area has decreased from over 470,000 to about 174,000
as of February 12th, 2016.
Compared to Iwate and Miyagi, the reconstruction of Fukushima will take a longer time.
However, there are some signs of positive developments there as well as the level of radiation from the accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant reduces naturally and because of the decontamination efforts. The evacuation
order for Tamura City (as of April 1st, 2014), Kawauchi Village (as of October 1st, 2014),
and Naraha Town (as of September 5th, 2015) has been lifted.
Also, the Tohoku region continues to work on providing more and more accurate information about the safety and healthy quality of its products (particularly agricultural
products), whose reputation had suffered from the disaster. This should encourage visitors to come to the region as well as people purchasing and enjoying the region’s foods.
Because the local governments’ ultimate goal in the reconstruction efforts is to revitalize
local areas, Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima are focusing on reviving the region’s industry.
We hope that the prefectures will be able to attain the goal.
Reconstruction progress over five years in the Tohoku region- A few facts:○ Providing Health and Living Support
・The number of people having not returned to the affected area has decreased fromover 470,000 to approximately 174,000 as of February 12th, 2016.

Sanriku coastal road (Highway)

Public housing in Rikuzentakata, Iwate

Source: The Iwate Nippo Co., Ltd.

Source: The Reconstruction Agency

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Restoration of Public Infrastructure & Houses○

・The removal of disaster debris has almost been completed.
・Approximately 9,000 new homes will be completed (45.2% of all planned homes) by theend of March 31st, 2016.
・Over 17,000 public housing projects for the disaster-affected area will be completed(59.2% of all planned public housing projects) by the end of March 31st, 2016.
○

Recovery of industry and jobs (As of January, 2016)
・74% of the Tsunami-affected farmlands have recovered sufficiently to be cultivated once
again .
・85% of seafood processing operations have restarted businesses.
・Approximately 45% of companies have recovered to their pre-earthquake level of activity.

・Job-offer rates have recovered to more jobs per job-seeker (from 0.45 to more than 1.00)
in the three prefectures.
For more information, please look at the Reconstruction Agency’s website:
http://www.reconstruction.go.jp/english/topics/Progress_to_date/index.html
Fukushima Prefectural Government, Situation of evacuation zones:
http://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp.e.od.hp.transer.com/site/portal/list271-840.html
The Reconstruction Agency, The road to recovery: http://www.reconstruction.go.jp/english/

New shopping street in Onagawa, Miyagi

Sanriku Tetsudo Railway in Iwate

Source: The Reconstruction Agency

Source: The Sanriku Tetsudo Railway

JAPAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER (CLAIR, NY)

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

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