International Exchange Commendation
International Exchange Commendation (Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Award)
Overview
Since 2006, CLAIR has been implementing this project alongside the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). It aims to award local governments that are engaged in exemplary international exchange efforts and lead to further exchange of ideas between local governments and improved international exchange.
2021 winning entry
The winners of the Ministers Award in 2021 were Kakogawa International Association, Okayama City Japan and China Exchange Association, and Okinawa Prefectural Government.
| Winning organisation | Partner organisation | Download project overview (Japanese only) |
|---|---|---|
|
Kakogawa International Association |
Maringa City（Brazil） |
Press Release（PDF:1.8MB） Winning organisation evaluation points（PDF:481KB） Overall comments（PDF:75KB） Winning Organisations Exchange Project（PDF:1.90MB） |
|
Okayama City Japan and China Exchange Association |
Luoyang People's Association For Friendship With Foreign Countries(China） | |
|
Okinawa Prefectural Government |
Okinawa Kenjinkai （※） Fujian Province（China） |
（※）Organised groups outside of Okinawa found throughout the world which are made up of people originally from, and those who share connections with Okinawa, in order to preserve Okinawan culture, customs, and to cultivate friendships.
Past winning organisations by year
International Exchange Commendation
| Year | Winning organisation | Download project overview (Japanese only) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 (15th event) |
MIE JAPAN-CHINA FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION Nayoro-Lindsay Sister City Committee Tsuruoka-New Brunswick Friendship Association |
Press Release (PDF:1.6MB) Winning organisation evaluation points(PDF:333KB) |
| 2019 (14th event) |
Toyama Prefecture City of Kyoto Satsumasendai City (Kagoshima Prefecture) |
Press Release (PDF:1.2MB) Winning organisation evaluation points(PDF:672.6KB) |
| 2018 (13th event) |
Shiga Prefecture Shinshiro City (Aichi Prefecture) Tachikawa-San Bernardino Sister City Committee (Tachikawa City,Tokyo Metropolis) |
Press Release（PDF：1.2MB） Winning organisation overviews（PDF：1.8MB） |
| 2017 (12th event) |
Bunkyo City (Tokyo Metropolis) Hamada City (Shimane Prefecture) Takamatsu City (Kagawa Prefecture) |
Press Release (PDF:675KB) Winning organisation overviews (PDF:1.79MB) |
| 2016 (11th event) |
Niigata City (Niigata Prefecture) Yamato Takada Lismore Sister City Association (Nara Prefecture) Uchiko Town (Ehime Prefecture) |
Press Release (PDF:498KB) Winning organisation overviews (PDF:1.95MB) |
| 2015 (10th event) |
Shizukuishi International Exchange Association (Shizukuishi Town, Iwate Prefecture) Tokimeki International Exchange Association Odawara City (Kanagawa Prefecture) Wadayama Association of International Cultural Exchange (Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture) |
Press Release (PDF:298KB) Winning organisation overviews (1.69MB) |
| 2014 (9th event) |
Asahikawa City (Hokkaido Prefecture) Kariya City (Aichi Prefecture) Yokkaichi City (Mie Prefecture) *Toyone Saudi Arabia Friendship Steering Committee received the Judging Panel Encouragement Prize. |
Press Release （PDF：232KB） Winning organisation overviews （PDF：1.46MB） |
| 2013 (8th event) |
Matsue City (Shimane Prefecture) Oita City (Oita Prefecture) |
Press Release(PDF：232KB) Winning organisation overviews(PDF：1000KB) |
| 2012 (7th event) |
Mito City International Association (Ibaraki Prefecture) |
Press Release(PDF:475.9KB) Winning organisation overviews(PDF:695.9KB) |
Sister City Exchange Commendation
| Year | Winning organisation | Download project overview (Japanese only) |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 (6th event) |
Yokosuka City (Kanagawa Prefecture) Kamaishi City (Iwate Prefecture) Taketa City (Oita Prefecture) |
Press Release (PDF:383KB) Winning organisation overviews (PDF:1.8MB) |
| 2010 (5th event) |
Takasaki City (Gunma Prefecture) Kanazawa City (Ishikawa Prefecture) Miyagi-Belarus Association (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture) |
Press Release (PDF:319KB) Winning organisation overviews (PDF:1.5MB) |
| 2009 (4th event) |
Shikaoi Town (Hokkaido Prefecture) Kyoto Prefecture Kitakyushu City (Fukuoka Prefecture) |
Press Release (PDF:331KB) Winning organisation overviews (PDF:1.5MB) |
| 2008 (3rd event) |
Tobetsu Town (Hokkaido Prefecture) |
Press Release (PDF:215KB) Winning organisation overviews (PDF:3.5MB) |
| 2007 (2nd event) |
Hyogo Prefecture Kanra Town (Gunma Prefecture) Naruto City (Tokushima Prefecture) |
Press Release (PDF:237KB) |
| 2006 (1st event) |
Yokkaichi City (Mie Prefecture) Give Wind Turbines to Mongolia Project (Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture) *The Nagasaki-Saint Paul Sister City Committee (Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture) was awarded the judging panel encouragement prize |
Press Release (PDF:215KB) |
Local Government International Exchange Award Judging Panel
*Honorifics omitted (correct as of 1 December 2021)
| Name | Position/Affiliation |
|---|---|
| AGATA Koichiro | Professor, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University |
| KUNI Yoshiko | Professor, Department of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University |
| ARAMI Reiko |
Professor, Graduate School of Law, Nagoya University |
| TSUCHIYAMA Kimie | Professor, Faculty of Law, Hosei University |
| MIZUTA Hideko | Former Managing Director, Kanagawa International Foundation |
| SHIBAGAKI Tadashi | Board Director, National Intercultural Community Coordinators Council (NPO) Secretary General, Diversity Toyama (NGO) |
| HAKKARAINEN Nina | Board of Directors Representative, Foreign Women's Association Paruyon |
| FUJITA Minoru | President, Japan Intercultural Academy of Municipalities (JIAM) |
| KAMIBOU Katsunori | Director, International Affairs Office at the Local Administration Bureau Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications |
| TORITA Kohei | Executive Director, Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) |