We Are Tomodachi Spring / Summer 2018

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16Making Life and Work EasierLabour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting (Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture)The city of Matsuyama, the capital of Ehime Prefecture and the largest city on the island of Shikoku, boasts a great variety of attractions. Among them are Dogo Onsen, which is said to be the oldest hot spring in Japan and whose main building is designated as one of the nation’s important cultural assets, and the 400-year-old Matsuyama Castle in the city’s center, which is one of the only 12 remaining original castles in Japan. The neighboring Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Expressway also provides a world renowned cycling course. This warm-temperature city facing the Seto Inland Sea is making full-scale efforts to create an environment that is not only pleasant to live in, but also to work in.Matsuyama is providing training and job-seeking support to women raising small children, single parents, and others, as well as creating opportunities for these workers to work from home. This is helping the development of diverse human resources, which contributes to resolving labor shortages among small and medium enterprises.Matsuyama Mayor Katsuhito Noshi explains, “From The city of Fukuoka, with a population of 1.57 million, is the municipality with the largest economy in the Kyushu region. In addition to enjoying an economic boom, the city has also been designated a National Strategic Special Zone for Global Startups and Job Creation by the national government.“In the special zone, the government provides corporate tax cuts and relaxed visa requirements for startup entrepreneurs,” explains Fukuoka Mayor Soichiro Takashima. “Together with support from Fukuoka’s startup accelerator Fukuoka Growth Next, the largest accelerator in Japan, the city has attracted outstanding human resources from both around Japan and overseas, and is the origin of many unique enterprises. You could say that Fukuoka is Japan’s most startup-friendly city.” Experiments for use of drones and hydrogen energy are conducted within the city, and implementations of technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are also making headway.Fukuoka’s airport, harbor, and main station are concentrated in a 2.5 km (1.6 mi.) radius, creating a fiscal 2018, Matsuyama has been making full-scale efforts to be a leading city in realizing work style reform. It is pressing forward with raising work efficiency through the introduction of IT equipment, while promoting the creation of a wide range of work styles and schedules tailored to each citizen’s particular lifestyle. This makes a work environment in which it is easy to continue working long-term.” Mayor Noshi describes the city’s aspirations by saying, “Through this ministerial meeting, Matsuyama looks forward to starting a new page toward resolving labor and employment issues around the world.”compact urban structure. The city is also surrounded by a rich natural environment of ocean and mountains, and its urban vitality exists in harmony with this environment. “In the financial sector as well, the waves of innovation are surging and the world is keeping a close watch on future developments, lending great significance to Fukuoka’s hosting of the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting. My fellow citizens and I are determined to make this meeting a success,” says Mayor Takashima.A Leading Japanese City for StartupsFinance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture)Katsuhito Noshi, Mayor of MatsuyamaBorn in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture in 1967. Led a popular local informational program as a television anchor. Assumed the office of Mayor of Matsuyama in 2010.Matsuyama strives to create a society that provides supportive work environments for everyone.Fukuoka boasts one of Japan’s largest startup accelerators, Fukuoka Growth Next.Soichiro Takashima, Mayor of FukuokaBorn in Oita Prefecture in 1974. Worked as a television anchor. Elected Mayor of Fukuoka in 2010 at the age of 36.Feature: G20 Japan 2019