FEATURE G20 Japan 2019 All Nine Host Cities Represent Flourishing from Ancient Times as Japan’s Center of Commerce and Trade Unique Aspects of Japan Osaka, Osaka Prefecture | Summit Meeting | June 28 to 29 The nine cities hosting the G20 Summit and its related ministerial meetings all have their own Osaka has been a major city of for Our Lives.” taking every precaution for the safety fascinating cuisine, history, and culture. commerce and trade since olden Both the prefecture and the city of the top-level global summit and times. Today it is served by three have collaborated to enhance the the 30,000 people who will come for different airports, including Kansai functionality of Osaka’s urban it. Mustering the combined strength International Airport, with round- infrastructure to provide the ideal of both the public and private sectors, the-clock arrivals and departures, environment for welcoming the Osaka is doing all it can to bring and has become an international city visiting G20 heads of state. Osaka is about a successful G20 Summit. visited by over ten million foreign visitors every year. Osaka is brimming with so many manufacturing companies that people say there Kutchan, Hokkaido Prefecture is nothing that it cannot make. Tourism Ministers’ Meeting October 25 to 26 Together with other nations, Japan now faces the issue of a super- aging society. Osaka is promoting Okayama, Okayama Prefecture endeavors that incorporate cutting- Health Ministers’ Meeting edge technologies to develop a October 19 to 20 society in which all people can live healthy and happy lives, with the As the host city of EXPO 2025 OSAKA, Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture plan to showcase its achievements KANSAI, JAPAN, Ministerial Meeting on Energy to the world by hosting EXPO 2025 Osaka continues Niigata, Niigata Prefecture Transitions and Global Environment OSAKA, KANSAI, JAPAN, with the to transform to Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting become a truly for Sustainable Growth theme of “Designing Future Society international city. May 11 to 12 June 15 to 16 Hako-zushi What to Enjoy in Osaka A type of sushi comprising an ingredient placed upon rice seasoned with vinegar and molded in boxes. Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture The ingredient chosen for each sushi square is most often a high-quality The City of Water Labour and Employment food such as conger eel, Ministers’ Meeting prawn, or sea bream. Osaka, one of Japan’s economic and cultural hubs, was developed through September 1 to 2 water-based transport and is fondly referred to as “the city of water.” Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture Ministerial Meeting on Trade and Digital Economy June 8 to 9 Takoyaki Osaka locals have a reputation for an enthusiasm for culinary delights. Takoyaki, made by mixing octopus and spices into our batter and frying them into balls, is the representative gourmet snack in the city. Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture Osaka, Osaka Prefecture Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture Finance Ministers and Central Summit Meeting Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Bank Governors Meeting June 28 to 29 November 22 to 23 June 8 to 9 8 9 Pioneering Next-generation Agriculture and Food Culture A Leading Japanese City for Startups Niigata, Niigata Prefecture | Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting | May 11 to 12 Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture | Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting | June 8 to 9 Niigata has implemented and the incorporation of information The city of Fukuoka, with a the Internet of Things (IoT) are also The waves of innovation are various advanced measures to boost its agricultural and communications technology. population of 1.57 million, boasts making headway. surging in the financial sector as productivity, such as the use While promoting such forward- the largest economy in the Kyushu Fukuoka’s airport, harbor, and well, and the world is keeping a of driverless tractors. looking agriculture, it is also striving region. In addition to enjoying an main station are concentrated in close watch on future developments, to create a new food culture, doing economic boom, the city has also a 2.5km (1.6mi) radius, creating lending great significance to such things as helping restaurants been designated by the national a compact urban structure. The Fukuoka’s hosting of the Finance operated by farming families. government as a National Strategic city is also surrounded by a rich Ministers and Central Bank Niigata, the city that is also notable Special Zone for Global Startups and natural environment of ocean and Governors Meeting. As the host city, for its distinctive Japanese cuisine, Job Creation. mountains, and its striking urban Fukuoka is determined to make the sake, and geisha culture, is easily For certain startups within the vitality exists in harmony with that meeting a success. accessible from Tokyo in as little special zone, the corporate tax rates environment. as 100 minutes by the Shinkansen are lowered and visa requirements bullet train. When Japan ended its relaxed. Together with support isolation from other countries 150 from Fukuoka’s startup accelerator The city of Niigata boasts highly- to manage the water and soil to years ago, Niigata Port was one of Fukuoka Growth Next, the city productive agriculture and fishing. create the farmlands. In order to the five ports nationwide designated has attracted outstanding human In particular, it produces more hand down the productive fields to be open to international trade. resources from both around Japan rice than any other area, and is to subsequent generations, Niigata In addition to being the year for and overseas, and is the origin of home to the premium rice brand has a long history of engaging in welcoming the G20, 2019 also marks many unique enterprises. Fukuoka is known as Koshihikari. In the past, environmentally-friendly, sustainable the 150th anniversary of the port’s even regarded by some as Japan’s most however, much of the land used to agriculture, while also working to opening. The city is treating that startup-friendly city. Experiments be flood-prone marshes, including increase its profitability. momentous occasion as a “second on drones and hydrogen energy even the farming regions that today Today, Niigata is working hard to opening of the port,” and plans to are conducted within the city, and Fukuoka boasts one of Japan’s largest startup are very fertile. It therefore used develop state-of-the-art agriculture further promote its reputation as an the implementation of technologies accelerators, Fukuoka to be a struggle for the farmers through large-scale plant factories international hub city. such as artificial intelligence and Growth Next. Rice Seaside What to Enjoy in Niigata What to Enjoy in Fukuoka The city of Niigata is a Momochi bountiful rice producing region. Seaside Momochi is a The flavor of cooked rice is simple, seaside area in the city but delicious to eat even on its own. Niigata Port of Fukuoka. This popular public space has a park, Hakata ramen Niigata Port is in the northern part of the city. Currently celebrating 150 sandy beach and other years since it first opened, it continues to play the role of an important attractions. Hakata ramen is the local cuisine of the city of Fukuoka. gateway to Japan. This delicious dish of pork-bone broth and thin noodles can be enjoyed at yatai (street food stalls) in the city. Nihonshu (Japanese sake) Premium Japanese sake owes its flavor to high quality rice. The city of Niigata is home to 14 sake breweries, and each has its own unique flavor. 10 11 A Science City and Hub of Cutting-edge Technology A Community in Harmony with Nature, Striving for Energy Self-sufficiency Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture | Ministerial Meeting on Trade and Digital Economy | June 8 to 9 Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and June 15 to 16 Global Environment for Sustainable Growth Ibaraki is devoted to the use of robotics and digital technology to foster a new generation of skilled professionals. The town of Karuizawa is located vehicles. Through those measures, town hopes that future generations on a plateau and ensconced within the town hopes to promote energy will come to see the meeting as a big a beautiful natural environment, conservation and “local production turning point regarding the world’s just over an hour from Tokyo by the for local consumption” in the area environmental issues, and aims to Shinkansen bullet train. It welcomes of energy. Its goal is to become a create the best possible environment some 8.5 million visitors annually community grounded in coexistence for productive discussions, while as one of Japan’s preeminent with nature. informing visitors about such cultivate future leaders. Examples resort areas. In 1886, the Canadian As the host of the meeting, the efforts. of such efforts include its approaches missionary Alexander Croft Shaw to resolving social issues using praised the town as “a hospital innovative digital technologies, such without a roof,” and since then it as autonomous driving and robotics, has developed into a place for getting and fostering human resources with away from the summer heat, as well Ibaraki Prefecture, located in and the like from about 140 countries the help of digital equipment. as an international setting for health the vicinity of Tokyo, features also live in this international city. Through the upcoming meeting, and recreation. highly-developed agriculture and Tsukuba enjoys easy access from Tsukuba aims to live up to its Under the slogan “Karuizawa manufacturing, which finely balance Tokyo, taking just a quick forty-five reputation as a cutting-edge Smart Community,” there are ongoing each other. Furthermore, Tsukuba, minutes by train. technological hub, amid Ibaraki efforts to reduce the environmental the ministerial meeting’s host city, Leveraging the innovations Prefecture’s beautiful nature, impact by not only equipping public is known as Japan’s leading city of developed at Tsukuba, Ibaraki is and show the world examples of facilities with renewable energy To preserve its uniquely research and academia, producing taking advantage of its favorable its progressive global economic systems, but also providing subsidies beautiful nature, Karuizawa adopts such policies as scores of cutting-edge technologies.