At the ICMA Annual Conference

ISSUE NO. 59• FALL 2006 [JLGC UPDATE] JAPAN NIGHT! / [Column] SCI Annual Conference ....................................................... 1 [SPECIAL FEATURE] Downtown in Japanese Cities............................................................................... 2 [JETAA ACTIVITIES] 2006 JETAA USA Conference Focuses on “Community”........................................ 4 [JETAA ACTIVITIES] JETAA Canada National Conference 2006 ............................................................. 5 [JLGC UPDATE] The Governors Meet in Charleston, South Carolina...................................................... 6 [JLGC UPDATE] “Strong States’ Strong Nation" - The 2006 National Conference of State Legislatures..... 7 [PREFECTURE TODAY] Seeking the Heart of MIYAGI ............................................................................. 8 J APAN L OCAL G OVERNMENT C ENTER ( CLAIR, NEW Y ORK) JAPAN NIGHT! at the ICMA Annual Conference JLGC UPDATE his year, at the ICMA annual conference in San TAntonio, Texas, we hosted a reception for former CLAIR international fellows and friends of the Japan Local Government Center in New York. Managers and staff of the ICMA organisation were feted with sushi and drinks to celebrate our strong and thriving relationship with these most important local government officials. Mr. Hirai, the executive director, expressed his delight at being able to say ‘thank you’ and ‘welcome’ to more than 40 people who attended. He commented on how essential the work of city managers is to their Japanese counterparts. SCI 50th Anniversary Conference The annual conference of Sister Cities International was held in Washington, Masthead: D.C. from July 13th through 15th. The Tsuwabuki, Mr. Shinji Hirai, Executive Director of Japan Local Government Center, and two JLGC or Farfugium, blooms officials attended. in late autumn or early This year’s conference commemorated the 50th anniversary of President winter in Japan. It is often Eisenhower’s statement that defined citizen diplomacy as the basis for sister cities cultivated as the undergrowth of a relationships. Many people involved in the sister Japanese garden. In the language of cities movement, including two city mayors and flowers, volunteers from Japanese municipalities, came it signifies together and celebrated the past 50 years and pledged the next 50 years for world peace at this modesty. historical event. Mary Jean Eisenhower, President and CEO of People to People International, and the granddaughter of President Eisenhower, gave the celebratory speech. Mary Jean Eisenhower giving the celebratory speech Published by JAPAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without permission. Printed in USA 666 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10103-0072 • Tel: 212-246-5542 • Fax: 212-246-5617 • E-mail: [email protected] • http://www.jlgc.org JLGC NewsLetter No. 59 • © 2006 Japan Local Government Center PAGE 1 Downtown in Japanese Cities Dr. Miki Yasui / Associate Professor of Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan SPECIAL FEATURE E Japanese downtown now Sprawl is not a discriminating phenomenon. Perhaps best exemplified by the suburban sprawl experienced by American cities, random and uncontrolled growth has had a debilitating effect on urbanism worldwide. The economic and social decline of cities, especially their downtown areas has generated a resurgence of policies to stem outward growth and have spawned movements to engender “smart growth” and “compact cities”. Japanese cities are no exception. In Japan, Machidukuri {community development} Three Laws were passed in 2000 to remedy haphazard development and to economically and socially redevelop depressed downtown areas. The Town “Vehicle-Free Street,” six week experiment in Tenjin, Fukuoka Center Revitalization Law, the Large- Scale Retail Stores Location Law and the square meters and initiated policies to to put into action ideas and programs revised Town Planning and Zoning Act assist local governments in their efforts that would better serve the community were enacted to provide new methods to revitalize depressed downtown and its residents. Presently, there is a for economic and social development business districts. The revised laws growing movement among some through comprehensive planning and intend to bring attention to the concept advanced town centers to secure the zoning. of “town centers” by introducing the necessary financial resources to meet the “Town Center Activation Meeting”. challenge of revitalizing their core These meetings will focus on models business centers. The following that will enable the revitalization of the scenarios are now being introduced. town centers. Participants will be the commercial landlords, tenants, area • Japanese BIDs residents and private sector companies. - Voluntary assessment One model being considered is the There are a few successful “Business Improvement Districts” examples of Japanese type BIDs in large (BIDs) common in the United States. cities where property owners meet to These BIDs serve designated geographic plan and carry out various activities areas and provide a variety of services, such as beautification to enhance A typical shopping mall in Japan: many vacant shops, few people walking during daytime hours such as planning, sanitation, security property values within the area. Such and beautification. Businesses in the areas include the district called Despite such laws, downtown BIDs are assessed a fee for these “Daimaruyu,” near Tokyo station; shopping districts were becoming services. “Shiodome”, a newly developed district “ghost towns,” and after five years, these In Japan, however, there are no where several large companies have laws needed to be revised to retard the provisions for special purpose established their headquarters; and in building frenzy of large scale retail governments that have taxing authority other cities like “Tenjin” in Fukuoka stores in suburban areas. The new laws enabling the implementation of special and “Midosuji” in Osaka where similar regulated new development of large projects. Downtown areas in Japan are activities have been undertaken. scale retail stores in excess of 10,000 consistently challenged to raise money Common among these areas is the PAGE 2 JLGC NewsLetter No. 59 • © 2006 Japan Local Government Center more discretion in strong networks with neighboring using public space. universities, non profit organizations Income can be derived and volunteers in an effort to improve from business management organizations located advertising and sales within the town center. revenues from street cafes, bistros and E Strategic fundraising small retail shops. The critical ingredient in a Recently, deregulation successful town center activation has fostered an meeting is the ability to creatively and increase in business strategically raise funds early in the enterprises using open redevelopment process. Extensive and space to conduct their deliberate planning should be My student researchers observing a local shopping area activities. conducted to evaluate the needs of the community. The needs assessment collection of a voluntary assessment • Community Business should identify the problems, concerns from property owners in the districts. Businesses that use community and remedies and establish the In the Tenjin area, for example, the resources are actively finding solutions appropriate relationship between cost planning and implementing for local community problems. These and profit. Strategic thinking and organization is called “We Love Tenjin “community businesses” are presently planning are important in taking into Meeting”. Their assessment fee is called flourishing in Japan. In town centers, consideration all possible scenarios that a self-governance cost paid by business community businesses occupy vacant could impact upon the goals and managers and property owners. There shops transforming these spaces into objectives of the community. are other sources of revenue that help purposeful services such as lunch box In Japan, it is vitally important support the businesses in the district, delivery stations for senior citizens and that property owners, residents, but the existence of the self-governance school lunch cooking centers for the merchants and companies share their cost is a good indicator that the public schools in the neighborhood. In ideas and strategies when discussing the betterment of the area is widely Nagahama-shi, Shiga Prefecture, for future of the area. A BID like system supported by all whom live and work example, senior citizens converted should be encouraged and introduced there. vacant shop spaces into thrift stores and throughout communities in Japan to other types of businesses and in bring about a renewed energy that will • Citizen Donations and addition to the normal tourist trade invigorate and sustain economic and Financial Support pulling in customers from the social growth in areas that are sliding Recent trends in community neighborhood and surrounding area. into decline. development in Japan are focusing on Income from these community organizations and their businesses can be a source ability to fundraise through citizen of revenue for particular donation and financial support. The town center activation SaseboYokabi Merchant Association for projects that support a example introduced a “cheering party” broader plan to revitalize accepting minimum donations of 1,000 the town center. yen and incorporating citizen involvement in their

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