Japan’s Shrinking Regions

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:46:17 +0000

Japan’s Shrinking Regions in the 21st Century: Contemporary Responses to Depopulation and Socioeconomic Decline, by Peter Matanle and Anthony Rausch with the Shrinking Regions Research Group, is now available on Cambria Press.

The book brings together the work of 18 international scholars to present the first comprehensive study of regional shrinkage under Japan’s national depopulation. Interspersed throughout with numerous illustrations, it reveals a richly textured examination of shrinkage at the local level, from which emerges the overall story of Japan’s depopulation and its place within the trajectory of world development.

JLGC was involved in the research by Dr Matanle for Japan’s Shrinking Regions in the 21st Century: Contemporary Responses to Depopulation and Socioeconomic Decline.

‘Immerse yourself in Tokyo cool’

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:59:20 +0000

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

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:31:48 +0000

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

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:34:40 +0000

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

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:18:27 +0000

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

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:20:20 +0000

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

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:46:08 +0000

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

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:45:11 +0000

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

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:59:53 +0000

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

Keith Kelly — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:16:45 +0000

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.