Monthly Glocal News April 2020

Local Partnership Cooperation Division

Ministry of Foreign A ffairs of Japan

“KIZUNA”- the strong bonds through Thanks from Iwanuma City to South Africa for its “Mori Family” (the exchange between – – recovery support “Arigato” Host Town Kochi Prefecture and Micronesia)

a TV conference between children from Crawford Preparatory Pretoria and Iwanuma Elementary School

fter the Great East Japan Earthquake South African

rescue team deployed a rescue operation in the affect- Mori Koben, photographed in Chuuk in 1940

ed area. Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, which had been severely damaged by the disaster, was registerd Aas a Toky o 2020 "Arigato" Host Town of South Africa for its support. In January 2020, the delegation of Iwanuma City visited South Africa and held a heart-warming exchange including a video conference between the elementary school students of both countries.

Regional revitalization from the perspective of international people Symposium on Mori Koben and Mori Family held in Kochi Pref. -vol.8- by Mr. Eric Matarrese ✈

“Upstream Days” in Kawakami Village, Nara Prefecture

r. Eric Matarrese came to Japan from Los Ange- les 9 years ago. MThen he mo ved to Kawakami Village, Nara Prefecture, in Dinner party with Mori Family and the delegation of Kochi Pref. 2016, as a Local Vitalization Cooperator. Now, he dedi- cates himself to introduce a he exchange between Kochi Pre- lot of charms and the life- Mr. Eric Matarrese successfully tried to fecture and Federated States of style of the village in both make takuan pickles, with the help of a neighbor in Kawakami Village Micronesia began with the arri- Japanese and English. In Ka- val of “Mori Koben,” a Japanese wakami Village, located at Twho move d to Truk Islands, now called the source of the Yoshino River and the Kinokawa River, Chuuk Lagoon, in 1891. More than 2000 Yoshino forestry has a history of 500 years and he feels it is a descendants of Koben, “Mori Family,” still collaboration between nature and human beings. By spending live in Chuuk State. Mori Family use a time with the local people and participating in community fes- Japanese word “KIZUNA,” which means tivals, he discovered lots of precious “treasures.” bonds, when they express the relationship with Kochi Prefecture. Beyond the 150th anniversary of his birth in 2019, “KIZUNA” between the two regions will continue.

Participation in Kasama Ware Exhibition opening ceremony in A Cruise Seminar in London by the group of Lahr, Germany by the Mayor of Kasama City, Ibaraki Pref. -cultural exchange between friendship cities- Japan’s 6 ports – Japan House London-

Kasama Ware Exhibition Kasama Ware presentation Business nagotiations

asama ware is one of the local industries in he affiliated organisations of 6 ports run by Kasama City. The city is known as one of the Aomori Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, largest production centers of pottery in East Sakai Port Authority, Kitakyushu City, Hiro- Japan and the closest to Tokyo. In response shima Prefecture and Kobe City are working Ttogether to attract cruise ships for the purpose of Kto an invi tation from the city of Lahr, Germany, to the opening ceremony of the Kasama Ware Exhibition, the increasing the number of foreign tourists visiting Ja- Mayor of Kasama and his grou p visited Lahr from pan. January 16th to 20th. The article shows how Kasama In February, they held a Cruise Seminar in Japan City faces the future taking on new challenges, with House London in the UK, where the largest number of descriptions on the successful ceremony, deepening cruise shipping companies are located in Europe. friendship with Lahr and Kasama Ware’s aggressive They invited cruise shipping companies and travel development in overseas markets. agencies to explain convenience and tourism re- sources of each port. The participants had fruitful exchanges of opinions at the reception and conduct- ed business negotiations.

外交実務研修員研修 Training program for local governments’ his shop cele- officials by MOFA brates its 17th Vol.8 anniversary. In front of JR AEntheinmnae Shop TShinbash i Station, it SetouKchi aShgunsaaiwkana shows dignified pres- ence that attracts the eyes of people walking by. It is the first two- prefecture-jointly-

lecture Group photo in Switzerland Embassy operated antenna shop in Japan. The charms of Ka- gawa and Ehime prefec- OFA has personnel exchange program tures, facing the beauti- with local governments; some local gov- ful Seto Inland Sea, are ernments' officials are working OJT at represented in a multiple MOFA in Tokyo and at Embassies and Kagawa-Ehime Setouchi Shunsaikan layers. MConsulates i n the world. On Feb 18, local governments’ officials working at MOFA visited Embassy of Now, let's find out var- Switzerland in Japan, and listened to a lecture on the ious seasonal items of relation between the Embassy and local governments Setouchi, invited by its in Japan. Through sister-city relationship and Host sea breeze. Town Initiative, Switzerland promotes exchanges with

Japanese local governments. Ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Embassy is Monthly Setouchi fish lunch set meal setting up “House of Switzerland” and driving a pro- ject “Doors to Switzerland-Japan2020”.