Japan Local Government Center / CLAIR, New York

10/14/2025

[Announcement from Hokkaido] (Japanese follows below)
Take a Bite of Hokkaido in Boston!

The Hokkaido Government and the City of Sapporo will conduct test marketing of Hokkaido food from October 21 to 23 at a Japanese grocery store and a Japanese restaurant in Boston, Massachusetts. We will distribute food samples at each venue, hoping those products will find new places to shine.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy the taste of Hokkaido!

Overview of Test Marketing
I. Japanese Grocery Store
　 Contents: Food samples at a high-end Japanese grocery store
　 Schedule: Tuesday, October 21 - Thursday, October 23, 2025
　 Location: Maruichi Brookline（306 Harvard St Brookline）
Promotional Items: Confectionaries (gummy candies, rice puff, cookies), condiments (dashi, dressing, soy source)

ll. Japanese Restaurant (Ramen Restaurant)
　 Contents: Food samples at a Hokkaido-born ramen restaurant
　 Schedule: Tuesday, October 21 - Thursday, October 23, 2025
　 Location: Hokkaido Ramen Santouka Boston Harvard Square
（1230 Massachusetts Avenue / One Bow Street Cambridge）
　 Promotional Items: Anpan (pastry with Japanese red bean paste), caramel

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[北海道からのおしらせ]
「ボストンでおいしい道産食品を試してみませんか」

北海道庁及び札幌市では、道産品の販路開拓を図るため、10月21日から23日の３日間、マサチューセッツ州ボストン市の日系スーパー及び日本食レストランでテストマーケティング（道産食品の試食提供）を実施します。
この機会に、北海道の食を是非お楽しみください！

テストマーケティング概要
Ⅰ 日系スーパー
　内容：日系高級スーパーでの試食アンケート
　期間：2025年10月21日（火）～23日（木）
　場所：マルイチ・ブルックライン店（306 Harvard St Brookline）
　品目：菓子類（グミ、米菓、焼菓子）、調味料（だし、ドレッシング、醤油）

Ⅱ 日本食レストラン（ラーメン店）
　内容：北海道ゆかりのラーメン店での試食アンケート
　期間：2025年10月21日（火）～23日（木）
　場所：らーめん山頭火 ボストン・ハーバードスクエア店
（1230 Massachusetts Avenue / One Bow Street Cambridge）
　品目：菓子類（あんぱん、キャラメル）

10/14/2025

[Announcement from Hokkaido] (Japanese follows below)
Hokkaido Startup Seminar in Boston

The Hokkaido Government will host the Hokkaido Startup Seminar on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 4:00–6:00 PM at the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), Havana Event Space, 5th Floor, Cambridge, MA. This seminar aims to promote exchange between Hokkaido and Massachusetts-based companies and support organizations, and to showcase Hokkaido’s attractive business environment and vibrant startup ecosystem.

Program Highlights
- Seminar 1: Overview of Hokkaido and its investment advantages
- Seminar 2: Current status of Hokkaido’s startup ecosystem and upcoming startup events Following the presentations, a networking session will provide opportunities for direct engagement with local companies and support organizations. The seminars will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation provided during the Q&A sessions.

Registration: https://forms.office.com/r/RNUHXqaecP

For more details, please visit: https://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ss/tsk/237064.html

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[北海道からのおしらせ]
ボストン開催：「北海道スタートアップセミナー」

北海道庁は、2025年10月22日（水）16:00〜18:00 に、Cambridge Innovation Center（CIC）Havana Event Space 5階、ケンブリッジ、MA にて「北海道スタートアップセミナー」を開催します。本セミナーは、北海道とマサチューセッツ州の企業・支援機関との交流を促進し、北海道の魅力的なビジネス環境や活発なスタートアップエコシステムを紹介することを目的としています。

プログラム内容
- セミナー１：北海道の概要および投資環境の優位性について
- セミナー２：北海道のスタートアップの現状および今後のスタートアップイベント紹介
プレゼンテーション後にはネットワーキングの時間を設けており、現地企業や支援機関との直接交流が可能です。セミナーは英語で実施し、質疑応答は逐次通訳で実施します。

申込先URL：https://forms.office.com/r/RNUHXqaecP

詳細はこちら：https://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ss/tsk/237064.html

10/09/2025

We participated in the 2025 Local Government Exchange and Cooperation Seminar (Fellowship Program) in Japan, from September 13 to 20. The Fellowship Program invites foreign local government executives to Japan, giving them an opportunity to better their understanding of Japan and its system of local government through exchanging information and opinions. It also promotes network-building among CLAIR, Japanese and foreign local authorities, and international organizations in regions covered by CLAIR’s overseas offices. The program in Japan was organized by CLAIR headquarters in Tokyo, which handles arrangements on the Japan side.

Seven senior local government officials from the United States and Canada participated in the program. For the regional portion of the program, we were supported by Yao City in Osaka Prefecture, where we visited the Osaka-Kansai Expo site and toured several manufacturing facilities in the city. Yao City is known as a manufacturing hub, with a strong base of small and medium-sized enterprises boasting advanced technical skills and product development capabilities.

Participants told us that they were particularly impressed by the fact that collaboration between not only Yao City and local companies, but also among the companies themselves, was contributing to regional revitalization. Through their stay in Japan during the program, we were able to directly introduce Japanese local government initiatives to the officials from the United States and Canada, making it an extremely valuable experience for us as well.

10/08/2025

We attended the 2025 JETAA USA National Conference (NatCon) in Washington, DC, from Friday, October 3, to Sunday, October 5. The annual conference was hosted by the JETAADC chapter this year with support from CLAIR, MOFA through the Embassy of Japan, and USJETAA & Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

Sessions over the three days included reports from all 19 US chapters, as well as those in Canada, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago, plus JETAA International, who participated as observers. They also covered a wide variety of topics contained in this year's conference theme of "Empowering Your Network: Planting the Seeds for the Next Generation of US-Japan Voices". These focused on the US, but the fundamental issues and objectives are relevant to all alumni chapters around the world.

Keep an eye out for more complete reports in our blog and newsletter, coming soon.

Photos courtesy of Marley Taylor, Embassy of Japan.

10/01/2025

Good morning everyone! Does fall foliage begin in your area?
Our latest newsletter is finally available now. It offers reports about Anime NYC which JETAANY also participated in, and JET Alumni Association of Canada National Conference in Halifax.
We hope you’ll visit https://www.jlgc.org/library/newsletter/ to access this and all the previous issues. You can also subscribe through the link there, to be sure you receive new issues “hot off the press”.

JLGC publishes semi-annual newsletters featuring articles on JETAA activity, sister city and sister state relationships, exchange programs, and local government issues in the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Japan.The newsletter enables local government officials, JLGC’s fell...

09/18/2025

[Announcement from Japan Society]
Letters from Fukushima with Director Minami Iizuka Q&A
Sept 30 - 7 PM - Free with RSVP

Famed Hungarian director Béla Tarr hosted a filmmaking masterclass in Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture in February 2024, resulting in a series of short films created by rising, diverse independent filmmakers all on subjects intersecting Fukushima and the Great East Japan Earthquake. Letters from Fukushima is an omnibus film showcasing these shorts, presented on Sept 30 at Japan Society followed by a live in-person Q&A with Minami Iizuka, director of Long Long Hair, one of the works included in the film.

Sign Up Here for Free Tickets
https://japansociety.org/events/free-screening-letters-from-fukushima-with-director-minami-iizuka-qa/

09/12/2025

[Announcement from Fukushima Prefecture] (Japanese follows below)
Check out "Steps for Reconstruction and Revitalization", which provides updates on "Fukushima's Revitalization Today".

In order to clearly communicate "Fukushima's Revitalization Today" to domestic and international audiences, the Prefecture has created "Steps for Reconstruction and Revitalization in Fukushima Prefecture", which summarizes the progress and challenges since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The English version is now available on our website.

This issue’s cover features photos highlighting efforts to strengthen the brand power of local agriculture, forestry, and fisheries products, with the aim of dispelling harmful rumors. These efforts include Fuku Warai, a brand of sweet, fragrant, and plump rice developed over 14 years by the prefecture, a major rice-producing region in Japan.

The Fukushima Revitalization Information Portal Site provides information on the current status of Fukushima’s revitalization in 10 languages: English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Thai. The “Steps for Reconstruction and Revitalization in Fukushima Prefecture” is also available on the portal site. (You can change the language using the button in the top-right corner.) Be sure to check other pages on the portal site.

English: https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/site/portal-english/ayumi-en-15.html
Fukushima Revitalization Information Portal Site Top Page: https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/site/portal-english/

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[福島県からのおしらせ]
「福島の復興のいま」を発信する資料「復興・再生のあゆみ」をご覧下さい！

「福島の復興のいま」をわかりやすく国内外に発信していくため、福島県では復興の現状と課題をまとめた「復興・再生のあゆみ」を作成しています。先日ホームページにて海外の方向けに英語版を公開いたしました。今回の表紙には、日本における米の一大産地・福島県が、さらなる評価、新しい美味しさを追求し14年の歳月をかけて開発した、甘み、香り、ふくよかさが自慢のトップブランド米である「福、笑い」など、風評払拭に向けた県産農林水産物のブランド力強化の取組に関連する写真を掲載しています。

また、「ふくしま復興情報ポータルサイト」では、「復興・再生のあゆみ」のほか、10言語（英語、中国語（簡体字・繁体字）、韓国語、ドイツ語、フランス語、イタリア語、スペイン語、ポルトガル語、タイ語）で福島の復興状況を発信しておりますので、他ページも是非ご覧下さい。（ページ右上の言語切り替えボタンで言語選択可能です。）

(英語)https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/site/portal-english/ayumi-en-15.html
(復興情報ポータルサイト英語サイトトップページ)https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/site/portal-english/

09/11/2025

[Announcement from Miyagi Prefecture] (Japanese follows below)

Please join us for an evening of Miyagi Japan’s premium sakes paired with finely curated cuisine from Fermentation Lab in San Francisco’s Japantown. Meet with the sake breweries to learn about the stories behind their products and their passion for sharing this traditional Japanese craft with the world, while tasting over 20 different sake from 6 different Miyagi breweries.

Tickets are on sale at $50 and seating is limited so book your spot today!
https://fermlabjtown.my.canva.site/jizakequestevent

Date & Time: Friday, September 26, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: Fermentation Lab Japantown 1700A Post Street, San Francisco

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[宮城県からのおしらせ]

宮城県のプレミアム日本酒と、サンフランシスコ・ジャパンタウンの「Fermentation Lab」が厳選した料理を組み合わせた特別な夕べに、ぜひご参加ください。宮城県の6つの酒蔵による20種類以上の日本酒を味わいながら、蔵元との交流を通じて、それぞれのお酒に込められた物語や日本酒という伝統文化を世界に発信し続ける情熱に触れていただけます。

チケットは50ドルで販売中。席数に限りがありますので、お早めにご予約ください！
https://fermlabjtown.my.canva.site/jizakequestevent

日時：2025年9月26日（金）、午後6:00-8:00
会場：Fermentation Lab Japantown (1700A Post Street, San Francisco)

08/29/2025

We joined one of the largest anime events on the East Coast, Anime NYC, which was held from August 21st to 24th at the Javits Convention Center in New York City! According to a news report, more than 140,000 anime fans visited the showcase (Japanese page: https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/2126401?display=1). The center was filled with people’s excitement, and you could see attendees dressed in a variety of anime-based costumes.

At the JLGC booth, we shared information about Japanese municipalities that are promoting tourism by collaboration with anime, manga and other pop culture creators. People were surprised at the many places around Japan anime is set in, and sometimes we received questions, such as, “Which place is the location of my favorite anime?”. A lot of people were so interested in those collaborations between municipalities and pop culture that on the last day we almost ran out of the flyers we had prepared.
The JETAANY panel event also drew great attention. Although it was held at night, almost 200 people gathered in the room.
For your information, Anime NYC 2026 will be held at the Javits Convention Center from August 20th to 23rd, according to its host. (https://animenyc.com/)

Your favorite anime may be set in a region you have never imagined. When you plan your visit to Japan, how about taking an “anime pilgrimage” into consideration?

08/29/2025

On August 23rd, a summer festival was held at Japan Village in the Industry City complex in Brooklyn, New York. This year, Kuroishi City in Aomori Prefecture, Morioka City in Iwate Prefecture, and Yamaguchi City in Yamaguchi Prefecture participated as part of a tourism promotion campaign.

Kuroishi City particularly attracted the attention of visitors with a stage performance of its famous dance, "Kuroishi Yosare," and a hands-on dance lesson. The city's booth also promoted Kuroishi City by offering samples of "Semi-Dried Apples" made with apples grown in the prefecture.

There were also booths offering traditional Japanese summer festival experiences, such as Ramune soda, shaved ice, and cotton candy, which entertained visitors.

Now in its fifth year, the summer festival has become an established annual event that adds color to Brooklyn's summers. We hope you will come to Brooklyn next year to experience a "Japanese summer."

08/29/2025

We had the pleasure of attending this year’s JET Alumni Association of Canada National Conference (CanCon) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from August 8 to 10. It was an enriching experience, featuring the latest activity reports from each chapter, a workshop on learning the spirit of Japan through ikebana, and discussions on the use of social media. Through the conference, we were able to reaffirm the strong connections among JETAA members across chapters, as well as JETAA’s contributions as a bridge between Canada and Japan.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the host chapter, JETAA Quebec/Atlantic, and especially their Atlantic Provinces sub-chapter in Halifax, for their dedicated efforts in organizing the conference, receptions, and activities, and to all the delegates for their commitment to supporting the JET Programme. We look forward to meeting again next year!

07/31/2025

Hi everyone! We are now at the end of July...Time sure flies.

Our latest newsletter is finally available now. It offers reports about the Expo in Osaka, and a famous fruit in Japan.

We hope you’ll visit https://www.jlgc.org/library/newsletter/ to access this and all the previous issues. You can also subscribe through the link there, to be sure you receive new issues “hot off the press”.

JLGC publishes semi-annual newsletters featuring articles on JETAA activity, sister city and sister state relationships, exchange programs, and local government issues in the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Japan.The newsletter enables local government officials, JLGC’s fell...