Publications

New Year Greeting 

あけましておめでとうございます！今年もよろしくお願いします。

Happy New Year and best wishes to all our UK and European colleagues and supporters for 2026. 

Thank you for your continued support and engagement over the past year. Your contributions and interest have been invaluable to the work of the Japan Local Government Centre. 

We look forward to working closely together in the year ahead and to sharing updates on our activities, partnerships, and forthcoming events throughout the year. 

 

JLGC Seminar 2026  – 5 February 2026 

To mark last year’s 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin–Awaji Earthquake colleagues are invited to attend a Japan-UK local government seminar focused on resilience and disaster management. The afternoon event, held at Japan House London, will bring together senior practitioners from Kobe City Government, UK local authorities and regional resilience bodies to share lessons on crisis response, water resilience and operational leadership. Through case studies, panel discussion and Q&A, the seminar will provide practical insights relevant to local government professionals, followed by a networking reception. 

For more detail details and registration, see HERE. 

JETAA Mentoring Programme 

JLGC has launched a new JET Mentoring Programme, delivered in collaboration with the JET Alumni Association UK, to support current and former JET Programme participants by connecting them with experienced alumni and professionals working across a wide range of sectors. The programme focuses on transferable skills, career development, and navigating post-JET pathways in both the UK and Japan. Participation is open to mentors and mentees, and registration is straightforward: interested individuals can sign up by completing the online registration form available on the Japan Government Centre website. More than 11,000 UK graduates have participated in the JET Programme since it began in 1987, and as of July 2025, there were 777 current participants from the United Kingdom working as Assistant Language Teachers (ALT) and Coordinators for International Relations (CIR) in Japan. 

Further details on the programme structure, timelines, and matching process are provided on the registration page HERE.  

JST 2026 Sendai Orientation 

An orientation for our Japan Study Tour to Sendai was held at JLGC offices ahead of departure and start of the tour January 18. The session outlined the tour objectives, the strategic context of Sendai and the Tōhoku region and key themes including regional development, innovation, resilience and governance. Practical briefings covered the programme, stakeholder engagement and media considerations. 

Senior representatives from UK local authorities, combined authorities, business improvement districts, the Greater London Authority, London Office of Technology and Innovation and The MJ attended, discussing details of the tour and content of site visits. The orientation ensured participants were aligned and well-prepared to maximise the value of the Sendai 2026 study tour and its longer-term outcomes. Follow our LinkedIn page for updates from Japan during the tour. 

Affirming ties between Japan and Cornwall 

On 18 November, JLGC Director General Akira Matsutani was honoured to attend a special tree planting ceremony at Lys Kernow (County Hall), Cornwall, at the invitation of Cornwall Council Chairman, Cllr Rob Nolan. 

In his address, Director General Matsutani highlighted the symbolic significance of the sapling, grown locally from a gingko seed originating in Hiroshima. Mounted with a plaque on Cornish granite, the tree represents both the importance of world peace and the potential to strengthen international ties at the local community level. He expressed his hope that the planting of gingko saplings across Cornwall would foster closer connections between Japan and the UK, bringing communities together through shared commitment and cultural exchange. 

JLGC London extends its thanks to Cllr Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, and former JLGC staff member, for her instrumental role in arranging the visit. 

Hosting Osaka Prefectural Assembly Delegation 

JLGC London was pleased to welcome a delegation from the Osaka Prefectural Assembly for a briefing at our offices on local assembly reform in the UK. Discussions focused on members’ remuneration, electoral systems and regional devolution, providing valuable context ahead of the delegation’s visits later in the day to the London Assembly and the House of Commons, in association with the IoD Japan Business Group. 

During their visit to the UK, the delegation also participated in the Harwell Japan Day in Oxford, engaging with industry and research partners and enjoyed a guided tour of the Palace of Westminster, gaining insight into the historic and contemporary workings of the UK Parliament. 

The day offered a comprehensive programme of learning and exchange, reflecting JLGC’s ongoing commitment to supporting knowledge exchange between Japanese and UK local government institutions. 

LinkedIn and social media update  

Stay connected with the Japan Local Government Centre (JLGC) London on LinkedIn for the latest updates on UK–Japan local government collaboration. Our page shares professional insights, event announcements and summaries of seminars, study tours and knowledge exchange programmes. 

Follow us to learn about innovative practices in local governance, regional development and urban policy, and to stay informed about our collaborative work with local authorities, universities and partner organisations in both the UK and Japan. Stay engaged with sector-relevant news, policy updates and opportunities to connect across borders. 

Join our LinkedIn community to keep up with JLGC London’s activities and explore new ways to learn from Japan’s local government experience. 

Local Eyes Japan on Instagram provides a more informal perspective, focusing on Japanese food culture, regional life, and lesser-known destinations, highlighting local experiences and hidden gems across Japan. 

Readers are encouraged to follow JLGC London on LinkedIn for professional updates, and Local Eyes Japan on Instagram for cultural insights and inspiration from Japan. 

Nikkei Glocal article on local music policy 

The November 3 2025 edition of Nikkei Glocal explored how cities and regions across England are strengthening their local experience economies and promoting grassroots talent and venues, in the final ‘Global Report’ by JLGC’s Andrew Stevens.

The article focuses on UK Music’s Hometown Glory report, launched at the LGA Conference last summer and explores how local governments can strengthen and safeguard this success.  It also explores local initiatives led by regional authorities, such as the Northern Music Export Office and the GLA’s Culture at Risk Office, as potential models for Japan.   

Nikkei Glocal was published by the Nikkei Research Institute of Industry and Regional Economy, which aims to foster creative regions in Japan.  Its series of reporting on local initiatives outside of Japan was compiled through the cooperation of Japanese overseas agencies such as embassies, trade missions and international representatives (e.g. CLAIR).