Issue No. 46 Spring 2003 DESIGNATED CITY Hiroshima Hiroshima City Symbol A City of World Significance Situated on the Otagawa River Delta and human rights, environmental destruction, and in machinery and metals. Manufacturers facing the Seto Inland Sea, Hiroshima is known other problems that threaten peaceful coexis- account for 13.1% of Hiroshima’s gross munic- as “the City of Water.” Beginning with the con- tence. The mayor of Hiroshima delivers the ipal product, a relatively high figure compared struction of Hiroshima Castle in 1589, the city Peace Declaration at the Peace Memorial to other regional hub cities similar to has flourished as a center of politics, economics, Ceremony on August 6 every year and regularly Hiroshima. and culture for the more than 400 years. issues messages in response to nuclear tests and other related world events. Hiroshima’s knowledge and experience In 1945, the first atomic bombing in history in manufacturing have allowed new industries reduced Hiroshima to rubble. With courage, Hiroshima and Nagasaki are also working to build on existing strengths. HiVEC, the determination and generous support from both to implement Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Study Hiroshima Vehicle Engineering Company, is local sources and abroad, Hiroshima has emerged Courses in universities around the world. The a new automotive design firm that will draw as a vibrant city of over 1.13 million that contin- Hiroshima-Nagasaki Courses are designed to on Hiroshima’s wealth of knowledge in the ues to grow and develop into an ideal model for broadly and systematically convey the experi- automobile industry to innovate and invigorate the 21st century. ence of the atomic bomb to young people in an automotive design and engineering. The new academic setting. firm will make Hiroshima’s expertise broadly Peace Promotion available to car manufacturers internationally. Driven by its experience of the atomic Hiroshima’s Ideal Business Environment continued on page 2 bombing, Hiroshima constantly pursues diverse Hiroshima is also serious about business. TABLE OF CONTENTS ways towards lasting world peace and the aboli- By developing an ideal environment for both DESIGNATED CITY tion of nuclear weapons to prevent the repetition domestic and international business, Hiroshima Hiroshima 1 of such a tragedy. One of Hiroshima’s major has maintained a balance between the wholesale JLGC’s New Deputy Director 2 peace efforts, the Mayors for Peace Conference, and retail industries and manufacturing, chiefly PREFECTURE TODAY Saitama Prefecture 3 is an international league of cities JETAA ACTIVITIES led by Hiroshima and Nagasaki U.S. Mid-South JETAA 4 with 543 member cities in 105 JLGC UPDATE countries and regions around the The Oversea Study Program world, including 50 cities in the U.S. Local Government Service 5 United States. Mayors for Peace American NPOs 6 (www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/may- Diversity of the Community 7 GUEST COLUMN ors/english) offers cities a way to Summer Internship in Mino, Kagawa 8 transcend borders and pursue Masthead: The sakura, or cherry blossom, is Japan’s world peace by addressing starva- cherished national flower. Special hanami parties and excursions are held during blossom time each year. tion, poverty, refugee welfare, An aerial view showing how Hiroshima is truly “The City Of Water.” Copyright 2003 Published by Japan Local Government Center The Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, Tokyo DESIGNATED CITY Hiroshima A City of World Significance continued from page 1 ment. Overall, Hiroshima is an attractive city ing forward to hosting the 1st Japan-U.S. Cities that offers a high quality of life as well as the Summit (www.juscs.org) in November 2004. In the field of research, Hiroshima is work- infrastructure necessary for globalized business The new summit is built on the framework of ing to create a research institute for new forms without the congestion and high costs associat- the Japan-America Conference of Mayors and of energy, tentatively named the Future Energy ed with traditional business centers in Japan. Chamber of Commerce Presidents, a conference Research Institute. The aims of the institute of cities that has had a leading role for more include developing the means to meet regional City-Level International Affairs than 50 years of U.S.-Japan relations. The energy needs in an ecologically responsible Hiroshima has six sister and friendship Japan-U.S. Cities Summit will bring together manner and integrating new technological cities around the globe: Honolulu in the United city leaders from the United States and Japan to knowledge in Hiroshima. New technologies will States; Montréal in Canada; Chongqing in provide a valuable opportunity for Japanese and lead to the development of related industries and China; Taegu in Korea; Volgograd in Russia; American cities to tackle common challenges supplement the city’s economic strength. and Hanover in Germany. Many of these affili- and renew mutual ties. There will also be ations are based on shared tragic war experi- forums for building new economic links and Furthermore, one of Hiroshima’s main pro- ences; others developed out of friendship business opportunities. Above all, the Japan- jects is the ongoing construction of Hiroshima exchanges in fields such as culture, sports, and U.S. Cities Summit will be vital in defining the Seifu-Shinto, an area in northwest Hiroshima. botanical gardening. Hiroshima has also rein- role of cities in U.S.-Japan relations for this By combining business, industrial, living, and forced friendship relations with economic semi- century. educational facilities, the Seifu-Shinto area is nars to build concrete business ties between ideally situated as a potential distribution center companies in Hiroshima and sister cities. For further information on the diverse for the entire Chugoku region and is one of activities of the City of Hiroshima, please visit Hiroshima’s key target areas for business place- Additionally, Hiroshima is currently look- www.city.hiroshima.jp. A Message from JLGC’s New Deputy Director I have been appointed the new deputy Some of the important tasks our center Finally, I would like to thank you for director of the Japan Local Government performs includes promoting the exchange welcoming me and for the assitance I know Center (JLGC), New York, effective April 1, and cooperation of activities between I will be given during my stay here. 2003. I have the honor of taking over from Japanese, American and Canadian local Mieko Sato Sunao Kakehi, who served here for two years. authorities, supporting the JET Programme and conducting research on local govern- I have worked for the Tokyo ments in the United States and Canada. Metropolitan Government in Japan for more than two decades. Most recently I served as I look forward to visiting a variety the director of planning and publicity for the of wonderful places and meeting many Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History diverse people in the U.S. and Canada and Culture. I am very pleased to have been while cultivating international exchange given the opportunity to work here in New and mutual understanding. Even though York, which is one of the most energetic and these tasks can be challenging, I know culturally oriented cities in the world. they will be rewarding. JLGC Newsletter 2 Issue 46 Spring 2003 PREFECTURE TODAY Saitama Prefecture Cultivation of Individuals with International Perspectives Saitami Prefectural Emblem Saitama is a dynamic and energetic pre- fecture blessed with a wealth of resources. It is conveniently situated along the northern border of the greater Tokyo metropolitan area. Its population of 7 million currently ranks 5th in the nation. The average age of the popula- tion is 39 years old, the second youngest in Japan. Local industries benefit from the size and vitality of its labor force as well as the advantages of being close to a major metro- politan area. Last, but not least, Saitama is blessed with an abundance of natural resources whose beauty is enhanced by seasonal changes. Saitama Stadium 2002, which boasts a International Understanding Support Program for Children Promotion Project: Teaching children about foreign countries. seating capacity of 63,000, was the venue for four matches of the 2002 FIFA World CupTM. Large numbers of international visitors were It is extremely important for people to ␭ The Cultivation of Children Growing attracted to Saitama for this global event. One acquire an international way of thinking from up in a Global Community Program of the matches in the stadium was the breath- an early age, so Saitama is sponsoring the This program goes one step further than taking semi-final between the tournament following programs. the one mentioned above by offering high champion, Brazil, and Turkey. Saitama uti- school students an opportunity to actually lized this splendid opportunity to carry out ␭ The Promotion of International get involved in NGO sponsored activities. numerous public relations activities and Understanding amongst Children The students volunteer their time during encourage international exchange Program their summer holidays, etc. to participate amongst the visitors. Foreign nationals, people involved in in international exchange and cooperation non-government organization (NGO) activi- activities. It is hoped that they will come Saitama is aggressively promoting the ties, former members of the Japan Overseas to view Japan as part of a global community “cultivation of a society that actively partici- Cooperation Volunteers, among others, sup- and develop a desire to be actively involved pates in international exchange and coopera- port and sponsor events to promote interna- in the field of international cooperation later tion programs” in order to foster international tional understanding at elementary and junior in life. understanding. To this end, the prefecture high schools, etc. They teach children about facilitates a myriad of opportunities for its the life and culture of foreign lands (including Furthermore, NGO volunteers compile citizenry to interact with the peoples of the language, traditional costumes, and music) booklets containing information on interna- world.