The Role of Japanese Local Governments in Implementing International Activities: from the Meiji Restoration to the Post-War Period
Keywords:
local governments, international activities, , post-war, Meiji restoration, driving factors, paradiplomacyAbstract
This paper explores the role of Japanese local governments in implementing international activities, from the Meiji Restoration to the post-war period, by focusing on the factors that have driven Japanese local governments to play a proactive role in implementing international activities and the linkage with the Meiji Restoration period (1868-1912). The theory of “Paradiplomacy” by Alexander Kuznetsov (2015) is applied in the analysis of this research. Based on documentary research and field interviews, this study found that during the Meiji period, the centralized system of government firmly restricted the role of Japanese local authorities in the domestic and international arenas. However in the post-war period, local governments in Japan have been playing a critical role in building multi-layered and friendly international relations in a wide range of fields, fostering mutual international understanding, developing relationships of trust, and promoting Japan’s “brand”. There are four important factors that drive the increasing role of Japanese local governments in implementing international activities: (1) the nation’s constitution and laws; 2) the supportive policies of the central government; (3) economic and social issues; and (4) historical linkages. The legacy of historical linkages from the Meiji restoration period has become a criterion of some Japanese local governments for establishing relations with foreign countries. This can be found in the case of Kusatsu and Beitigheim-Bissingen in Germany; Fukui and New Brunswick in the United States of America; and Yokohama in Scotland. This article fulfills the study of the role of Japanese local governments in implementing international activities in the modern Japan, mainly focusing on the post-war period.
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(2018, July 27). Scotland and Yokohama sign joint action pact. British Chamber of Commerce in Japan. Retrieved from https://www.bccjapan.com.
About ANMC21. ANMC21. Retrieved from www.seisakukikaku.metro.tokyo.jp.
Arase, D. (1999). Japan’s approach to economic cooperation in Northeast Asia: The role of subnational authorities, Global Economic Review, 28(2), 68-78.
Baelz, E. (1974). Awakening Japan: The diary of a German doctor. Indiana University Press Translated by Eden and Cedar Paul.
Beyer, V. (2017, February 9). Kusatsu Onsen: It’s the people you meet. Retrieved from https://visitkusatsuonsen.com
Bradshaw, J. (2015, November 17). Rutgers graduate memorialized in Japanese museum, Retrieved from https://thecityofnewbrunswick.org.
. (2017, October 6). Fukui friends visit New Brunswick to celebrate 35th anniversary of sister cities ties. Retrieved from https://thecityofnewbrunswick.org
Council of Local Authorities for International Relations. (2013, December 6). Local Government in Japan 2012.
. (2016, March 14). interview.
. (n.d.). About CLAIR, Retrieved from www.clair.or.jp
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. (n.d.). Sister city information: Japanese local governments with affiliation agreements by country and territory. Retrieved from https://www.clair.or.jp.
. (n.d.). The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme.
Fukui Prefectural Government. (2016, March 8). interview.
Fukuoka Prefectural Government. (2016, November 28). interview.
Government of Japan. (n.d.) About Abenomics. Retrieved from https://www.japan.go.jp.
Hosokawa, M. (2001, July 31). Making decentralization work. Retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp.
Im, Y., & Furutani, T. (2015). Analysis of the policy network for tourism cooperation between Busan, Korea and Fukuoka, Japan. Urban and regional planning review, 2. Retrieved from https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp.
Jain, P. (2004). Japan’s subnational governments in China: Emerging bilateral relations. Global Change, Peace & Security, 16(1), 19-30.
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Japan International Cooperation Agency. (n.d.). Our work. Retrieved from https://www.jica.go.jp
Japan Tourism Agency. (n.d.). About policy. Retrieved from www.mlit.go.jp.
JTB Tourism Research and Consulting. (2019, May 13). Japan-bound statistics: Overseas residents’ visits to Japan. Retrieved from www.tourism.jp.
Kast, A. (2004). Contributions to German-Japanese medical relations part 2, Erwin Bälz: Professor of internal medicine in Tokyo – 1876-1905, Acta med-hist Adriat, 2, 171-186.
Kurniawan, T. A., Puppim de Oliveira, J., Premakumara, D. G. J., & Nagaishi, M. (2013). City-to-city level cooperation for generating urban co-benefits: the case of technological cooperation in the waste sector between Surabaya (Indonesia) and Kitakyushu (Japan). Journal of Cleaner Production, 58, 43-50. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com.
Lamiell, P. (2008, January 30). Rutgers commemorates first encounter between New Brunswick and Fukui, Japan. Retrieved from https://news.rutgers.edu.
Maloney, I. (2017, July 22). Building Japan, 1868-1876: Reflections from the father of Japan’s modern public works. Retrieved from https://www.bccjapan.com.
Mie Prefectural Government. (2016, March 8). Interview.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan. (n.d.). Diplomatic bluebook 2015: Chapter 4 Japan’s diplomacy open to the public. Retrieved from www.mofa.go.jp.
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. (n.d.). Laws: Environmental policy: The Basic Environment Law and Basic Environment Plan. Retrieved from https://www.env.go.jp.
. (n.d.). Official Development Assistance (ODA): Cooperation by local government - Shiga Prefecture. Retrieved from https://www.mofa.go.jp.
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan. (n.d.). Local autonomy in Japan 2009: current situation and future shape. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from www.clair.or.jp.
Nirinthorn Mesupnikom (2018). A new trend in local government relations: The case of Fukuoka and Bangkok, Veridian E-Journal,Silpakorn University (International Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts), 11(4), p.1091-1108.
Nishikawa, M., Hayashi, M., Weese, E. (2018). Meiji era local government, National Economic Journal (国民経済雑誌 第), 217 (2), 100-125.
Pham, C. (2014). Smart cities in Japan: An assessment on the potential for EU-Japan cooperation and business development. EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation.
. (2015). Tokyo smart city development in perspective of 2020 Olympics opportunities for EU-Japan cooperation and business development. EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation.
Saaler, S. (2012, August 14). The German doctor in Meiji Japan. Retrieved from www.nippon.com.
Sister Cities International. (2017, October 11). Kusakabe Taro: The Samurai connecting New Brunswick and Fukui. Retrieved from https://sistercities.org.
Stevens, A. (n.d.). Local government in Japan: A variety of taxes funds Japan’s prefectures and municipalities. Retrieved from https://www.citymayors.com.
Takao, Y. (2010). Reinvigorating the transnational links of sub-national governments between Australia and Japan with special reference to western Australia-Hyogo sister-state relations. The Pacific Review, 23(4): 453-477.
Tjandradewi, B. I., & Marcotullio, P. J. (2006). City-to-city networks: Asian perspectives on key elements and areas for success. Habitat International, 33(2), 165-172. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2008.10.021.
Toshihiro, M. (2003). International Policies of Local Governments. In Japan’s Road to Pluralism: Transforming Local Communities in the Global Era, Tokyo: Japan Center for International Exchange, 2003, 89-109.
Tourism Nation Promotion Basic Plan, 2012.
United Nations Department of Public Information (1993) Agenda 21: Programme of Action for Sustainable Development; Rio Declaration on Environment and Development; Statement of Forest Principles: the final text of agreements negotiated by governments at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (NCED), 3-14 June 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, New York: United Nations Department of Public Information.
Watado, I. (1993). The development of internationalization from the region. In JICA International Research Centre (Eds.), Regional Governments in the Global Age, 39-53, Tokyo: JICA.
Watson, T. (2013, October 10). Exhibition of historic Japanese photographs now on view at Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers. Retrieved from https://www.tapinto.net.
Yonezawa, S. (2016, March 8). Interview.
Yoshida, H. (2011). A study on the international cooperation of local governments in tourism. 山梨国際研究 山梨県立大学国際政策部紀要 6, 34-41.
Zimmerli Art Museum.(n.d.). Meiji photographs: A historic friendship between Japan and Rutgers. Retrieved from www.zimmerlimuseum.rutgers.edu.
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2019-06-27
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