Symposium on "Japan's Future and the Capital Functions Relocation"
Held
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-In the symposium "Japan's Future and the Capital Functions
Relocation held on October 18 (Mon.) with approximately 750 participants,
Mr. Ikuo Hirayama (Japanese-style painter and the President of the
Japan Scholarship Foundation) gave the keynote lecture entitled
"Capital and Culture" after the speeches by Senior State
Secretary for the National Land Agency Masuda and Chairman Mori
of the Council for Relocation of the Diet and Other Organizations.
He mentioned that the dawn of the New Japan will come if we face
our future with the philosophy of renewing public sentiments by
constructing solid footholds from the viewpoint of Japan's position
in Asia and world. |
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--In a panel discussion in which Mr. Hiroyasu Saito (NHK's commentator)
served as coordinator, the opinions below were presented.
-Mr. Taizo Kusayanagi (Commentator) mentioned
that a model city that can appeal to the world can be constructed
through the Relocation and that a Diet Building to which the
environmental International Standardization Organizations
(ISO) standard is applied for first time in the world should
be constructed.
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-Mr. Heita Kawakatsu (Professor of the International
Japanese Culture Research Center) stated that extending effects
of new urban landscape created by the Relocation will become
a model for the Asian Pacific region as well as all of Japan.
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-Mr. Kazuyasu Ueshima (Next President of the
Japan Junior Chamber, Inc.) declared that the Relocation is
a splendid chance to discuss what kind of country Japan should
seek to become, and that a referendum should be considered
because of the low interest in the Relocation of persons in
their twenties and thirties.
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| -Ms. Mikiko Ishii (Lighting designer and the
member of the Council) expressed her belief that there is
a sense of crisis that Tokyo is losing its charm, and the
Relocation is a chance to construct a city which Japan can
boast of to the world through participation by the entire
nation. |
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| Recent
Deliberations of the Council for Relocation of the Diet and Other
Organizations |
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Future Council Deliberation |
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-Subject regions are being comprehensively evaluated using a weighting
technique in which the value for items such as earthquake and traffic
access is multiplied with importance factors for each subject item
designated by the Council members. It was confirmed that multifaceted
and multilateral discussions will be deliberately advanced considering
the characteristics of each region and also the concrete image of
the new city in selecting the candidate relocation sites.
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Study on Selecting of the Candidate Relocation Sites |
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-The Council also discussed the following related items in parallel
with the selection of the candidate relocation sites. |
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| Significance and Effects
of the Relocation; |
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Reform of national politics, correction of
monopolar concentration to Tokyo, and augmentation of disaster
relief capability |
| Scale and System of Relocation;
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Such as collective relocation of the minimal
necessary functions for realizing a simple and effective government |
| Relocation Cost; |
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Expenditures which may have regional differences
such as site expenditures will be studied at the final stage
of the candidate site selection. |
| Systems and Techniques
Related to the Relocation such as Measures to Prevent Speculation;
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Such as land utilization control, core project
sponsor and local autonomy status |
Comparison and Consideration
with Tokyo Metropolis;
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The merits and demerits will be discussed in
two cases "when the capital functions remain in Tokyo
as they are now" and "when they are relocated to
the candidate relocation site. |
| Aspects of Social and Economic
Conditions and the Status of the National Consensus Formation; |
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Sorting out of various data and opinions sent
in by the citizens |
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-Among the items listed above, the basic policy to utilize the
current system to the maximum and to take necessary action carefully
was confirmed as measures to prevent land speculation related to
selecting the candidate relocation sites. With regard to the aspects
of social and economic conditions, discussions suggested that there
was no remarkable change in medium or long-term situations regarding
the Relocation problems such as the status of national political
reform and the structure of the monopole concentration of population
and various functions in Tokyo.
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Major Moot Points Related to the Capital Functions Relocation |
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-The Council sorted out main opinions proposed in
the Councill meetings, public hearings, various synopsia and by
the mass media.
--Part of those opinions is summarized and introduced here. |
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Introduction (Such as Historical View)
| Positive
Opinions |
Cautious Opinion |
| Japan has reached a turning point, so the Relocation
is necessary |
| Japan has relocated its capital (political center)
at the transition point of every large era and succeeded
in constructing political and administrative systems
suitable for the new era to obtain positive effects
in its history. |
| Although the significance of the Relocation differs
depending on social circumstances of the time, it is
consistent with three principles, "Reform of overall
national politics," "Correction of the monopolar
concentration in Tokyo" and "Augmentation
of disaster relief capability" since the Relocation
was resolved |
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| The reason for the Relocation is flimsy |
| The Relocation requires profound reason related to
the national essence such as establishing new politics
parting from old authorities |
| Relocation of the capital functions from Tokyo which
still maintained a cultural heritage of 400 years is
a blaspheme against history |
| The basis of the Relocation has been changed case
by case for convenience. The Relocation should be rediscussed,
getting back to basics. |
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Active Discussions
in the Diet |
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-In the meeting of the Special Committee for Relocation of the
Diet and Other Organizations (referred to as "Special Committee")
of the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors, numerous
aspects have been discussed from a variety of viewpoints with invited
witnesses from various sectors (For the details of the discussion
in either houses, refer to the official proceedings of the Diet
issued by each House). |
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Meeting of the Special Committee of the House of Representatives
on September 27 |
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-Governor Shintaro Ishihara of the Tokyo Metropolis stated that
separating politics and economy decreases Japan's vitality, that
Tokyo can revive if even a half of the expenditures for the Relocation
is spent for reconstructing Tokyo, that no region is 100% safe against
earthquakes, and that Tokyo is taking actions to improve disaster
prevention capabilities.
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-Mr. Kisho Kurokawa, an architect, stated that Japan overall must
develop by Tokyo and local core cities sharing their functions and
constructing an interconnecting network, that the whole metropolitan
region, not just Tokyo, should seek to decentralize its functions,
and that the capital functions relocation is also in the same direction
in this respect.
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-Governor Shiro Asano of Miyagi Prefecture mentioned that the
Relocation is effective for inspiring confidence in the youth, and
for doing away with the sense of blockage. He also stated that realizing
the Relocation by making the best use of the past cumulative discussions,
that participation by the citizens will motivate creation of new
sense of values, and that it sure is a "blasphemy against the
future." to miss a chance to change the future without resistance.
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-Following their presentations, subjects such as present problems
in Tokyo and their solutions, and significance and effects of the
Relocation were discussed. |
"On-line Lecture Meeting" Held |
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--Virtual lecture meetings,
called "On-line Lecture Meetings," are held on the Land
Agency's Capital Functions Relocation Homepage, and knowledgeable
persons in different disciplines such as academic and economic
sectors are invited. Please visit this web site!- (Here
is where Only Japanese is available)
http://www.mlit.go.jp/kokudokeikaku/iten/onlinelecture/index.html
| Lecturers: |
Mr. Ken Moroi (Directing Counselor of the Taiheiyo
Cement Co., Ltd.) |
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Mr. Haruo Shimada (Professor of the Department of
Economics of the Keio University) |
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Mr. Gregory Clark (President of the Tama University) |
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Main Current Trends
in the Diet and Government
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Related to the Diet |
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| September 27, 1999; |
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The special committee of the House of Representatives held
a session inviting Governor Shintaro Ishihara of Tokyo Metropolis,
Mr. Kisho Kurokawa, an architect, and Governor Shiro Asano
of Miyagi Prefecture |
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Related to the Government |
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| September 28, 1999; |
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Joint session of the 22nd meeting of the Council and the
20th meeting of the Investigation Subcommittee of the Council |
| October 7, 1999; |
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Joint session of the 23rd meeting of the Council and the
21st meeting of the Investigation Subcommittee of the Council |
| October 21, 1999; |
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The 24th meeting of the Council |
| October 26, 1999; |
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The 25th meeting of the Council |
| November 10, 1999; |
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The 26th meeting of the Council |
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TOPIC- |
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` Capital Relocation
in Germany ` |
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-In Germany, the capital relocation from Bonn,
designated as the temporary capital of West Germany, to Berlin
was decided on the unification of the country, and full operations
were started in Berlin in September 1999.
Details
of Capital Relocation in Germany
| November 1989; |
The Berlin Wall was broken down |
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| August 1990; |
Both East and West German governments
signed the German Unification Treaty (Berlin was designated
as the capital) |
| October 1990; |
East and West Germany were unified |
| June 1991; |
Relocation to Berlin was resolved by
the Federal Parliament (337 yeas and 320 nays) |
| December 1991; |
Ministries and agencies to be relocated
and to remain were decided at Cabinet meetings. |
| October 1993; |
Relocation of the governmental
organizations to Berlin by 2000 was decided by the Cabinet
meeting |
| May 1994; |
The Berlin / Bonn Act was
promulgated (principles concerning relocation of the
Federal Parliament and Federal Government were stipulated) |
| August 1999; |
The Chancellor was installed,
and the Federal Parliament meeting was held in Berlin |
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Scale of the Relocation
--Locations of the Federal Parliament and the administrative organizations
were decided by the Cabinet meeting in 1991 as shown on the table
below. Given government functions such as education, science,
environment and health are collected in Bonn considering that
the effects of the Relocation on the employment and other conditions
would be too large in Bonn which only has a population of about
300 thousand.
| Relocated to Berlin; |
Federal Parliament, Chancellor's Office
and 12 ministries and agencies including Foreign Office of
Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice
and Ministry of Finance |
| Remain in Bonn; |
8 ministries including Ministry of Education
and Science, Ministry of Research and Technology, Ministry
of Posts and Telecommunications, Ministry of Environment,
Ministry of Defense |
| Relocated to Bonn; |
16 organizations including Cartel Agency,
Health Agency, Research Institute for Professional Education,
Board of Audit |
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-It is said that about 27 billion marks is required for the relocation
and about 8,000 civil officials must be moved. |
Accessing Various Information |
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-Various information concerning the capital functions relocation
has been being provided on the National Land Agency Homepage on
the Internet.
-Also if you are interested in items described in this leaflet and
others, please let us know. We will pleasingly send related documents
to you. We are awaiting your contact.
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| We are Waiting for Your
Contact |
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Address: Capital Functions Relocation Planning Division, Metropolitan
Areas Development Bureau, National Land Agency2-2 Kasumigaseki 1-Chome,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-9972 JAPAN
Homepage:http://www.mlit.go.jp/kokudokeikaku/iten/index.html
E-mail:hqt-itenka(a)gxb.mlit.go.jp （Please replace (a) with @）
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