3. lnternational Relationships
Rapid improvements in transport and communications of late have enhanced the mobility of people, goods and information
to a global level, resulting in the building of close relationships that reach beyond conventional boundaries, and an increase
in mutual assistance. There are calls domestically as well as from abroad for Japan to be afforded a proper position worthy
of its economic power in the international arena. The role Japan should play in the international community is growing
larger.
Domestic daily life is increasingly influenced by international factors, for instance: the country’s dependence on
imported food and raw materials; trade conflicts; hollowing-out of the manufacturing sector by companies moving
production overseas; the rapid growth in overseas travel; increase in the numbers of Japanese citizens living abroad;
increase in the numbers of foreign nationals residing in Japan; and increase in the numbers of Japanese children educated
abroad. The extent of globalisation is such that the boundaries between domestic and international issues are fading and they
are becoming more closely related and interwoven.
International relationships, once the preserve of national governments, are now commonplace for local authorities,
private organisations, as well as for ordinary individuals. In some fields an independent local-level approach is exactly what
is required.
Taking international exchange activities as just one example, multi-layered, citizen-level grass-roots exchanges are
viewed as more important for enhancing mutual understanding than official exchanges at the national level. Exchange
activities have grown to take more diverse forms from the former emphasis on twinning (sister cities, friendly cities) alone,
for example: exchanges at the resident level including youth and female residents; cultural and sporting exchanges;
technological and academic exchanges involving, among others, acceptance of trainees from developing countries; and
industrial and economic exchanges.
A reception for the International Boys and Girls Chorus Festival Osaka. (Osaka Prefecture)
Local authorities are responsible for overall regional administration and possess the necessary expertise and technology.
With the use of these resources, international exchange has the potential to evolve from “exchange” to “cooperation.”
Local government has established the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations in conjunction with the
Ministry of Home Affairs (the present Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications), to assist local authorities in their
international dealings and to promote, among others, the JET Program, which invites to Japan young people from around
the world to help as foreign language teachers in Japanese schools.
In the future, local authorities will need to define their own objectives of international involvement and exchange,
establish a system to promote citizen-led programs, compile associated information and knowledge, and equip individuals
with adequate skills to cope with this trend.
Cultural holiday celebration and English language instruction in the local community.
(Osaka Prefecture)
4. A Better Quality of Life
Local authority urban programs are increasingly moving away from “hardware” activities such as road construction and the
development of parks, to comprehensive improvement and maintenance of the residential environment including “software”
activities.
In the background are the negative aspects of the progress of national development and urbanisation that accompanied
the country’s high economic growth. Some of Japan’s formerly rich green areas have been lost. There have been water
pollution, deterioration of the waterside environment, collapse of urban and rural communities, and loss of traditional
culture. Many areas have lost their once beautiful scenery.
This shift in emphasis has grown from the awareness that Japan’s economic miracle was achieved at the cost of
something very precious.
Administrative policies with the foregoing emphasis may be collectively called amenity-related programs. Creation of
comfortable urban environments; protection and nurturing of urban beauty and charm; preservation of urban areas with
historic value; creation of urban landscapes; protection and preservation of clean water, beautiful greenery and skies;
promotion of city planning that gives appropriate priority to the natural environment-all these are included in
amenity-related programs.
The beginning of amenity-conscious administration can be traced back to the late 1960s when people became aware of
the destruction of environments with historical heritage, and citizens’ movements for preservation (in a form similar to a
national trust) sprang up across the country. As a result, municipalities adopted independent bylaws and implemented
policies to protect areas with historic value. This in turn led to the ena