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JET Returnees Reception Edinburgh
On the evening of November 17, 2023, the University of Edinburgh served as the distinguished venue for the JET Programme returnee reception, extending a gracious welcome to returning participants and interested attendees. The reception, jointly organised by JLGC, marked a significant collaborative effort.
In attendance were JET returnees and esteemed representatives from various sectors, including members of the Scottish Government, the Japan Society of Scotland, JETAA (JET Alumni Association) Scotland, and Japanese enterprises operating in Scotland.
The proceedings commenced with an opening address by Consul General Tadashi Fujiwara. Subsequently, Deputy Director General Ichii Makoto of JLGC London, Scott Wightman, Director of External Affairs from the Scottish Government, Zeljka Letica, Chair of JET AA Scotland, and Ian Gow, Chair of the Japan Society of Scotland, collectively conveyed warm greetings to the returning JET participants.
The subsequent segments of the event featured articulate reflections from the JET returnees, who shared insights into their experiences in Japan and articulated their aspirations for the future. The reception fostered an environment conducive to friendly exchanges on various topics.
The JET Programme, an acronym for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, originated in 1987 with the primary objective of advancing internationalisation. Its core mission involves inviting young individuals from diverse nations to partake in foreign language education and cultural interactions in Japan. This event underscored the significance of the JET Programme and provided a platform for exchanging ideas and experiences among its dedicated participants.
Policy Research
JLGC continues to support internationalisation efforts and research by various local governments in Japan. In recent months, several commissions have included:
- Voting rights and provisions for second home/residences
- Road safety plans and traffic management responsibilities by tier
- Local government roles and responsibilities in supporting young people with learning disabilities
- “Forever chemicals” (PFAS) mitigation in water supply areas
- Smart City Developments in London and Manchester (delegation support)
- Startup Promotion and Accelerator Programmes (delegation support)
- Supporting local authorities exporting local produce to the UK (delegation support)
JLGC Online Seminars
JLGC holds regular online seminars for local government professionals on various subjects regarding current policy and service issues in the UK and Europe.
A recent seminar welcomed Noriko Otsuka, Senior Researcher at ILS Research in Dortmund, who discussed pedestrian-centred urban development, sharing findings from research conducted in European cities.
Since the late 1990s, European cities have reviewed their car-centred urban planning and facilitated the transition to sustainable urban mobility by improving neighbourhood-level accessibility and city-wide public transport networks. Travel by active means like walking or cycling, and by public transport, required the improved design of existing public spaces to make them more user-friendly for pedestrians and cyclists.
In recent years, research projects were carried out by pan-European research institutes and universities, supported by the European Commission, to provide evidence for policies to reduce reliance on private cars and create pedestrian-centred towns.
In the seminar, one of these projects, ‘WalkUrban’, explained how the research was conducted on local accessibility and urban walkability, giving specific examples and presenting the findings.
JLGC regular online seminars can be viewed here (Japanese audio only; set subtitles to display English)
Public Relations
Recent PR support for Japan’s local authorities has included promoting the official portal site of Fukushima Prefecture to explain the status of Fukushima’s revitalisation. The information is in five categories with a section on ‘Reconstruction and Revitalisation from the Great East Japan Earthquake,’ we hope the website will help raise awareness of the current situation in the prefecture among a wider audience.
Other PR support has included promoting the “Welcome Kitakyushu Campaign” during a limited period when visitors to Kitakyushu City can receive an electronic coupon for restaurants and shops locally, valued at JPY 5,000. JLGC also promoted Kawasaki goods for sale in London just in time for Christmas, ‘Made in Japan’ gifts that you can’t find anywhere else in the UK available for a limited time at one of the j-Grab Mall Showroom Stores in London and online.
Our ‘Local Eyes Japan’ continues to introduce regional foods of Japan and recipes and promote regional tourism. Recent posts have given recipes from the 47 prefectures; download the recipe card here.
Posts are all from staff and colleagues in the regions of Japan, off-the-beaten-track tips and information that travellers won’t find at the more well-known destinations. Our PR activities are available on our social media channels on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram, and our website blog.
Japanese regions at World Travel Market
JLGC staff supported colleagues from Japan in the UK to promote their region at the annual World Travel Market, November 6 – 8 November 2023 at ExCeL.
Amongst the organisations representing were colleagues from Sapporo City and Hokkaido Prefecture, Kansai Tourism Bureau, Gifu Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, and agencies and hotel groups.
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the estimated number of international travellers to Japan in September 2023 was about 2,184,300, +957.1% compared to the previous year and -3.9% compared to September 2019. Japanese local authorities are active overseas as regions regularly market their destinations at global events like WTM.
JET Alumni Association UK: Bridging Cultures, Building Connections
Active at the heart of the United Kingdom-Japan grassroots links, the JET Alumni Association (JETAA) is a lively community, uniting individuals who’ve participated in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. Beyond reminiscing about cherry blossoms and Tokyo streets, JETAA UK is a vibrant hub fostering connections.
The annual JETAA UK National Annual General Meeting stands out as a dynamic gathering, reuniting alumni for networking and insights from their JET experiences.
JETAA UK is forward-focused, offering career development initiatives, workshops, mentorship, and seminars for alumni to leverage their international experience. It’s a space where diverse talents converge.
Cultural exchange is central to JETAA UK’s mission. Collaborating with Japanese cultural organisations, they host events like tea ceremonies and language exchange meetups, ensuring the spirit of Japan resonates.
Community engagement is a priority for JETAA UK. Through charity initiatives and volunteer projects, alumni contribute to local communities, embodying the JET Programme’s commitment to global citizenship.
Social media keeps JETAA UK members connected and informed about events, job opportunities, and cultural highlights, reflecting the association’s energetic community.
As JETAA UK thrives, it exemplifies the lasting impact of the JET Programme. Beyond language lessons, the bonds formed in Japan echo through alumni activities. Through shared experiences, professional growth, and cultural celebrations, JETAA UK showcases the power of international exchange in fostering lifelong connections.
JET alumni can join up as members online at https://www.jetaa.org.uk/account/register/ and look for your local chapter page on Facebook
The Double Twelfth Conference: The First Period of Japan-British Partnership 1600-1623
The Double Twelfth Conference: The First Period of Japan-British Partnership 1600-1623
“Though separated by ten thousand leagues of clouds and waves, our territories are as it were close to each other.”
(Letter from Tokugawa Ieyasu to King James, October 1613)
JLGC London staff attended this seminar reviewing the first relations between Britain and Japan, marking 400 years to the month since the British ‘temporarily’ closed the East India Company’s presence in Japan. The seminar covered the little-known arrival of the first Japanese in Britain and, in 1600, the arrival of the first Englishman in Japan, William Adams from Gillingham in Kent, known as Miura Anjin. Thirteen years later, King James’s Official Mission to Japan formally opened diplomatic, trade, scientific, and cultural relations with the gift of one of Europe’s most advanced scientific instruments, a telescope.
This colourful period of history was examined in the first half of the seminar, while its lessons for past relations between Britain and Japan were the substance of the second half. That part of the seminar considered the Japan-British partnership of the time, both at national and local levels and under various headings.
The event was organised by Nicolas Maclean CMG, Joint Chairman of Japan400, who initiated the Wolfers Scheme, sending UK graduates to Japan to teach English for the first time in 1978, which developed into the JET Programme managed by JLGC London’s Tokyo HQ. Chaired by Lesley Downer, Author, Broadcaster and former JET Participant, the seminar included contributions from JET Alumni Thomas Lockley, Associate Professor at Nihon University College of Law and Susan Haydock, former Mayor of Medway and Honorary Mayor of Yokosuka.
This event was part of a series which started with the Japan 400 celebrations in 2013 marked the anniversary of 400 years of UK-Japan relations with the arrival of King James’s Official Mission to Japan. JLGC London supported the 2013 series of events, and various anniversaries since then have been celebrated by Japan 400 over historical developments between the countries.
