‘Immerse yourself in Tokyo cool’

JLGC will be at this year’s Hyper Japan, where visitors can get a taste of regional culture from Japan. The event is the largest J-culture festival in the UK and as well as being able to “immerse yourself in Tokyo cool”, visitors can also learn more about the recovery of the Tohoku region affected by the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami.

Hyper Japan will be held 24-26 February at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London.

The event is supported by the Embassy of Japan in the UK, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan Foundation and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). JLGC will be appearing alongside JNTO.

Twin Town

JLGC Research and Partnerships Manager Andrew Stevens has an article on the Guardian local government network site looking at the recent history and challenges of council twinning in the UK and assessing the economic and educational worth of UK-Japan local links, which can be read here.

Rural Regeneration in Japan

The research report ‘Rural Regeneration in Japan’ by Prof. Tokumi Odagiri (Professor of Rural Policy and Governance at the Meiji University, Japan and Centre for Rural Economy Visiting Fellow) is available at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne’s Centre for Rural Economy website (PDF report here).

Mersey Paradise

This week JLGC staff visited Liverpool to examine approaches to regeneration in port cities as part of a CLAIR report. While on Merseyside, they heard about plans for a multi-modal Super Port to assist with the regeneration of former docklands and provide economic growth and new employment opportunities. They also undertook a walking tour of the city, including key regeneration projects such as the Knowledge Quarter, North Liverpool, Commercial District, Paradise Street and Baltic Triangle.

German Cities and Regions: JLGC analysis

The final JLGC Monthly Reports for 2011 are available to read here. Topics this month are economic development and tourism promotion by German cities and regions.

Tax Information Exchange Agreement between Japan and Guernsey

Japan and the Channel Island government of Guernsey have this week signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA). The Agreement provides for a detailed mechanism for the exchange of tax information, including local government taxes, with a view to preventing cross-border fiscal evasion and tax avoidance (see also Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release.)

Deputy Lyndon Trott, Chief Minister of Guernsey, said:

Guernsey’s links with Japan have grown through 2011. Just a few months ago we shared our ideas and expertise in fostering innovation and entrepreneurialism with the Japanese Local Government Centre when they visited the Channel Islands. The signing of this TIEA is a further, formal development of the relationship between Guernsey and Japan, a relationship that will clearly go from strength to strength.

The TIEA follows that also concluded with the Isle of Man this summer.

Creative Clyde, Sustainable Glasgow

This week JLGC staff visited Glasgow City Council to examine approaches to regeneration in port cities as part of a CLAIR report. While in the Scottish city, they saw the waterside media village being constructed on the Clyde as part of efforts to bring new business and creativity to a neglected district under Creative Clyde. They also heard about how Glasgow is in the vanguard of smart city living and green energy initiatives through the Sustainable Glasgow partnership.

Osaka election results

By Marie Yoshikawa.

Osaka Prefecture Governor Election

Ichiro Matsui (47) (Osaka Restoration Association) 2,006,195 votes (54.7%) ELECTED
Kaoru Kurata (63) (Supported by various parties) 1,201,034 votes (32.8%)
Shoji Umeda (61) (Independent) 357,159 votes (9.7%)
Osamu Kishida (70) (Independent) 29,487 votes (0.8%)
Masaaki Takahashi (69) (Independent) 27,809 votes (0.8%)
Masaru Nakamura (60) (Supported by various parties) 22,347 votes (0.6%)
Mac Akasaka (63) (Supported by various parties) 21,479 votes (0.6%)

Turnout: 52.88%

Osaka City Mayoral Election

Toru Hashimoto (42) (Osaka Restoration Association) 750,813 votes (59.0%) ELECTED
Kunino Hiramatsu (63) (Independent) 522,641 votes (41.0%)

Turnout: 60.92%

Recovery updates from Tohoku

Iwate and Fukushima Prefectures’ International Divisions have published English language versions of their post earthquake and tsunami recovery updates, detailing local government projects helping communities in the affected areas, rebuilding public facilities and infrastructure, and highlighting some of the natural beauty attractions in Tohoku which are still very much open to tourists.

There are also personal testimonies from people who survived the earthquake and tsunami. The updates from Iwate Prefecture can be seen here and here, and from Fukushima Prefecture here.

Just Dansu

Kaga City in Ishikawa prefecture hopes to lure visitors to its hot springs with its new campaign ‘Lady Kaga’. The pun on its place name and the popular American singer is realised through a female team of 100 brand ambassadors for the Japanese city who will “direct you to an unforgettable trip”. The resort is well-known throughout Japan for its hot springs, traditional ryokan inns and handicrafts, but hopes to secure more global visitors through its campaign.

You can meet the Lady Kaga yourself via the YouTube channel, twitter and facebook page, which have already received considerable interest and sign ups.