In October I 2007. I visited Tokyo and Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture), as part of a two-week study fellowship. My wife. Jennifer and I represented the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) in comprising the 2007 Ilmember delegation from the U.SA. and Canada. The Japan trip is hosted under the auspices of an internationalization effort of Japanese prefecture governments.

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CLAY PEARSON / cm MANAGER, THE CITY OF NOVl, MICHIGAN
n October engineers from a jet propulsion lab, the Trode and Indusny which up until 2001
I 2007. I visited
Tokyo
Sendai
and
(Miyagi
president of a local food processing plant,
and leaders of Tohoku University. There
was entertainment and site-seeing tours;
created an iron interdependence directing
private business. Japanese economic
policy today seems relatively more flexible
Prefecture), as part including one karaoke b,lr excursion, and and less stringent than past history. In
of a two-week trips to incredible temples, and natural fact, a recent edition of The Economist
study fellowship. areas, such as the gorgeous Matsushima (November 29, 2007) devotes a special
My wife. Jennifer Bay. section to the Japanese hybrid policy of
and I represented the International Japan and its cities are amazing incorporating the energy of American
City/County Management Association places of "Ultras", Ultra-ftiendly, -clean, enterprises with a consensus culture. ]n
(ICMA) in comprising the 2007 Il- -safe, -industrious, ~organized, and - Tokyo, we heard lectures from Federnl
member delegation from the U .SA. and focused. The experience was invaluable government officials describing a national
Canada. The Japan trip is hosted under as a first-hand £Oue which will help me government strategy which focuses public
the auspices of an internationalization better serve oue Novi-a.rea's Japanese research support and dollars towards
effort of Japanese prefecture residents and businesses. leading areas for different technologies.
governments. Active with organizations There were many clear The northern Tohoku region is
around the world. our host, the Council opportunities in Miyagi Prefecture. purposefully prioritizing nanotechnology,
of Local Authorities for International Japan's industry and investment is sem.iconductors, and food production.
Relations (ClAIR) provides education focused on the area from Tokyo south to The Miyagi Prefecture government and
and exchanges from Japanese Nagoya. Miyagi Prefecture lS an up-and- the 5endai City government are closely
government and schools to and nom coming area to the north of Tokyo, an linked and are cooperating partners in all
Japan. efficient 90-minute commute from of their public service delivery. The
A major theme of the study tour Tokyo via one of the 60 bullet trains Governor of Miyagi Prefecture and the
was quality economic development a scheduled daily. The recipe for success in Mayor of Sendai City are friends who
universal worldwide goal amongst Miyagi is a large skilled popuJation base describe their working relationship as
communities. At each stop in Japan with surrounded by open space and beauty "older and younger brothers." There
government and business leaders. I with excellent ports and transportation was serious policy discussion about the
distributed materials (aU in Japanese) links. Toyota has opened a key pans aging population demographics and
about the State of Michigan and the City operation there. about welcoming foreign workers into
of Novi. These items were always Tohoku University in Semlai is a their communities. There was
enthusiastically and graciously received. national university with 18,000 students, engagement and partnership facing the
With Novi being a strong center of and features advanced research institutes tune, familiar to U.s. local government
Japanese culture and with the expatriates focused on materials and ears, about decreased federal assistance
and Japanese-Americans we host, the nanotechnology. Tohoku University and increased autonomy. There was no
experience was particularly beneficial. helps give Sendai a youthful evidence of elected officials, once elected,
We look forward to further strengthening demogtaphic ptofile (1/3 of the of continuing to position fot partisan
our cultural and economic ties between population is between 20 and 30 years points. There was also no evidence on
Novi and Japan. Recently, the E."Cecutive old), especially compared to the rest of our brief visit of competition for credit
Directot of JLGC (CLAIR, NY), Mt. the country. Our delegation toured their Iresults between their city, prefecture, and
Hiroshi Sasaki led a group of several of Industry Creation Hatchery Center national governments.
his incoming New York stafl" members to which was newly commissioned and is
Novi in March 2008. scaled for immediate future growth.
The experience provided a wealth There is tremendous
of knowledge about Japanese state and focus and cooperation between
local governments, as well as its culture citizens, their governmem, and
and people. Our itinerary was filled with business in Japan for many
official lectures, site visits, and a home things, including economic
stay weekend with a most gracious development. Japanese
Japanese f.unily in Senda.i City. We were government officials portrayed
warmly welcomed and met with the a definite openness and desire
Governor of Miyagi, the Mayor ofSendai to host and send investment.
City (population 1.2 million), several The cooperadon of the private
entrepreneurs from business incubators, and public sectors is not the
the president of the Toyota Tohokll Plan, same thing as the Ministry of
T'AGE4 JLGC Newsletter No. 64· 02008 I'J"'" lAul Go"""m<n' c.nter

2. JLGC Staff Visit The City'-.AT--NA'~Mff~iKHII~
groups' appearance on Novi's Cable
Television station. Executive Director
Sasaki and one member of the JLGC staff
spoke with Mr. An Topouzian,
Economic Development Manager of
Novi City and exchanged their views and
opinions regarding the differences in
local government administration
between Japan and the United States.
Our hosts arranged visits for us
with companies such as Toyoda
Boshoku, Retail ITC and the
construction site of an emergency room
at Providence hospital. We also toured
Detroit Consul General of Japan, Executflf& Director of JLGC and staff with Mayor David LBnchy
the Ford Factory in the City of Dearborn
the invitation of Clay Pearson,
t southeastern Michigan and bas a and sat in on a meeting of the
A Novi's City Manager. Executive
Director Hiroshi Sasaki and six
JLGC Assistant Directors including new
population of about 52,000. Thirty
percent of Novi's population are
Japanese, and there are quite a few
Engineering Society of Detriot to learn
about economic development and
medical c.-ue measures.
arrivals from CLAIR, Tokyo visited the Japanese companies doing business in
city of Novi, Michigan to experience the Novi. Mr. Tamotsu Shinotsuka, Detroit Mayor Landry, City Manager
workings of local government and Consul General of Japan and Mr. Pearson and other hospitable Novi
culture. Shotaro Nakahama, Executive Director residents graciously opened up their
of Japan Business Society of Detroit homes providing many JLGC staff
A participant of last year's CLAIR attended the reception, too. The city of members with a valuable home stay
Fellowship Program. Mr. Pearson learned Novi has strong relationship with Japan. experience where we could observe and
about Japanese public administration participate in American family life.
during his stay in Tokyo and Miyagi The staff was kept busy visiting
Prefecture. As a reciprocal gesture. Mr. and inspecting various organizations Our heartfelt appreciation goes
Pearson afforoed the JLGC staff the and companies, an elementary school, out to the people of Novi and their
opportunity to learn about local and a hospital. I personally inspected decred representatives for their good will
government policies and practices in the each administrative department and and hospitality. Our visit to Novi will
city of Novi. For the newer members of division; including the police always occupy a special place in our
the JLGC staff who had just arrived from department, fire department, a public memories of living and working in the
Japan to begin their two year stay in the school and the office of public works. It United States.
United States it was an early introduction was refreshing to discover
to the study of American local similarities and differences
government and perhaps a bit of culture between the American and
shock as well. Japanese systems of local
administration. quickly
A reception was held for JLGC realized the value of being in
and citizens of Novi, including Mayor Novi and learned early on that
David Landry and members of the city studying and comparing local
council greeted the group. Mayor government administration
Landry's welcome message included a would help me be a better
brief introduction of the city and how it public servant.
functions.
Perhaps the highlight
The city of Novi IS located in of our stay in Novi was our Nov' TV appearance of JLGC staff
JLGC Newsletter No. 64· f>l2008 J;1pon I.o.>c>l Gow<",m.n, C.n«. rAGE 5