Council of Local Authorities for International Relations(CLAIR)
Sogo Hanzomon Building
1-7 Kojimachi, Chiyoda
102-0083 Tokyo, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-5213-1730 • Fax: +81-3-5213-1741
Website: http://www.clair.or.jp/e/index.html

Hokkaido

Japan Local Government Center(CLAIR, New York)

Aomori
Akita

自治体国際化協会ニューヨーク事務所

Iwate

Yamagata
NiigataMiyagi

NaganoFukushima

ToyamaIshikawa

Tochigi

Fukui
Hyogo
Tottori

Shimane
Okayama
Hiroshima
Yamaguchi

Shiga

Gunma

Kyoto

Ibaraki
Saitama
Chiba

Tokyo

Fukuoka
Saga
Nagasaki

Gifu
Aichi
MieNaraOsaka
Wakayama
TokushimaKagawa
KochiEhime
Oita

Kumamoto
Kagoshima
MiyazakiKanagawa
Yamanashi
ShizuokaOverseas Offices

LondonOfficeOkinawa

ParisOffice

Beijing OfficeM

M

Grand Central
42 St

W 38th St

New York
Office34thPenn Station
W 34th St
M 34thHerald Sq

Sydney Office

Japan Local Government Center (CLAIR, New York)W 36th St
M

Singapore
Office
3rd Ave

W 40th St

5th Ave

6th Ave

ydwa
Broa

7th Ave

BryantPark

Lexington Ave

M

New York
Office

5 Av

Park AveM

42 St
Bryant Pk
M W 42nd St

Madison Ave

Times Sq
42 St

Tokyo Headquarters
Seoul Office

Empire State
Building

M 33 St3 Park Avenue, 20th Floor,New York, NY 10016-5902
Tel: (212)246-5542 • Fax: (212)246-5617
Email: jlgc@jlgc.org • URL: http://www.jlgc.org
https://www.facebook.com/japanlocalgovernmentcenternewyork

Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme

Who Are We?
Our mission is simple: The Japan Local Government Center (JLGC) exists as part of an ambitious experiment undertaken

One of the world’s largest and most successful exchangeby the prefecture and local governments of Japan to expand their world-view, promote Japan’s sub-national governments

programs, the JET Programme has been sending college grad-and share what’s best in public administration with their counterparts all over the world. The Council of Local Authoritiesuates from around the world to Japan since 1987 to teach infor International Relations (CLAIR), JLGC’s parent, was formed by and for Japan’s prefectures and local governments inpublic schools and support internationalization, while alsoorder to create this higher profile in the world and engage in this exchange of ideas on the issues today that sub-national

learning about the country. JET and its alumni associations aregovernments all over the world must face.

an invaluable resource for Japan and its relationship with theBeginning in 1988, CLAIR created seven offices around the world of which JLGC was the first in 1989. Located in Newworld. JLGC supports our colleagues in the Ministry of Foreign

York City, JLGC serves North America (the United States and Canada). Our office consists of Japanese officials, dispatched

Affairs (MOFA) to promote JET and recruit highly qualified

from the national, prefecture and local governments. Spending two years, situated in New York, these officials learn aboutapplicants, and CLAIR Tokyo is responsible for placing overthe systems of government in the United States and Canada. At the same time, they will undertake in-depth research on

5,700 JETs in schools and government offices around Japan

specific topics of government administration. These officials are assisted by a small coterie of local staff.

and supporting them during their time there.

Teaching English in a Japanese School

In order to maximize the potential for Japan’s prefectures and local governments on the world stage, JLGC works to develop
a strong relationship with governments and the organizations that support them in North America. These include, in theUnited States, the National Governors Association(NGA), the National Conference of State Legislatures

There are now well over 70,000 JET alumni around the world,(NCSL), the Council of State Governments (CSG), theand over half of these are American and Canadian. They are

National Association of Counties (NACo), the Unitedserved by more than 50 JETAA chapters globally, including 19

States Conference of Mayors (USCM), the Nationalin the US and 7 in Canada, as well as many subchapters andLeague of Cities (NLC) and the International City/County

chapters in development. The JET Programme depends on theManagement Association (ICMA). In Canada, we work

JET alumni community to promote the program, prepare newwith the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), the Federation ofJETs to live and work in Japan, and provide career, networking,Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA), the Association
2019 Fellowship Participants in Kitaibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture

JET Alumni Association (JETAA)“Japan Day” cultural event at Central Park
“Japan Day” cultural event at Central Parkand other support to former participants. JET alumni also “bringJapan home” to their countries after returning from Japan andof Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO)

are invaluable partners in teaching the world about Japaneseand the provincial governments.

culture. JLGC oversees CLAIR funding for alumni chapters in

There are a variety of ways in which JLGC supports the interests and activities of Japan’s prefectures and local govern-

North America and partners with them to support a broad array

ments, from delegation visits to research requests. Nevertheless, one of the most significant methods of cementing a vibrantof activities.

and close relationship with governments in North America is the CLAIR

Sister City / Sister State Aﬃliations

Fellowship Programme. This is an annual event, beginning in 1993, thatoffers officials from state/provincial and local governments the opportunity toIn 1955, the first sister city agreement was signed joining St. Paul withvisit Japan. Covering about 10 days, the participants will spend some time in

Nagasaki, and currently Japanese prefectures and municipalities have aTokyo to meet national government officials and learn about the structure oftotal of 1,762 formal city and state relationships around the world.

Japanese government. Then, they will travel to a prefecture or local govern-Through our partnerships with Sister Cities International and the JET

ment to experience first-hand local Japanese government administration.

Alumni Association chapters around North America, JLGC helps support

Moreover, the participants are invited to immerse themselves in Japanesethe 455 relationships with the US and the 71 with Canada.

social and cultural daily life by staying with a local family.
2019 New York Times Travel Show

Sister city activity between Hanamaki City andCity of Hot Springs