Prefectural Administration Topics, March, 2010
March 4 (Thursday) Courtesy Visit to the Governor by the Speaker of the Queensland, Australia, State Parliament
On the fourth, John Mikel, the Speaker of the State Parliament of Saitama’s Sister State, Queensland, Australia, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor. Saitama and Queensland formed a sister state relationship in 1984 and with sending and receiving public high school students and teachers, deepened exchanges in the educational field. Also, in 2005, the Governor visited Australia and promoted economic exchanges such as trade between prefectural businesses and Australian businesses. The Governor said “Precisely because the economic environment is difficult we need various investments in the future such as education, R&D, and innovative technologies. I would like to get support for continuing exchanges between the young, those who will shoulder the future. Speaker Mikel agreed with the Governor, showing that he thought it was important to strengthen the educational and economic relationships.
February 17 (Wednesday) Tokoton Visit (Northern Region)
On the 17th, the Governor made his Tokoton Visit to 5 cities and towns in the northern part of the prefecture. First, at Maruichi Poultry Farm in Yorii Town, he viewed the free-run system used at the chicken coop and the production process and heard about safe and secure egg production. Next, he visited the Asahi Industris Group Saitama Plant in Kamikawa Town. This plant, aiming to build an environmentally sound society, is building a business with consideration of the environment. After this, he visited Higashi Kodaira in Hojo City and viewed the High window village and “Hyaku tai Kannon” (Hundred-bodied Kannon), both of which are historical relics, and exchanged opinions about okoshi (a millet and rice sweet) with the members of NPO Network Higashi Kodaira, which is active in the area. Then he visited the Noji kumiai Saitama Direct Produce Center in Fukaya City and viewed the shipment facility for agricultural produce. At this Center information about the production process is disclosed, gaining the trust of the consumers. The last stop was a visit to the child care facility Jaku Koen where he exchanged opinions with the facilities’ employees about child welfare.
February 3 (Wednesday) Tokoton Visit (Misato City and Yoshikawa City)
On the third, the Governor’s tokoton visit took place in Misato City and Yoshikawa City. First, he visited the Misato City Chamber of Commerce, which is administering the support coupon project. In this project, senior citizens who need help are assisted by healthy senior citizens, who are then “paid” with coupons that are redeemed at participating stores, thus re-invigorating the regional economy. It is a regional help each other plan that kills three birds with one stone. The Governor inquired about the program’s results and opinions were exchanged. Next, the governor visited the New Misato LaLa City which is being developed on the site of the JR Musashino Line’s Musashino Switchyard, and inspected both LaLaPort New Misato and Ikea. Following this, the Governor visited Yoshikawa Friend Park, the Yoshikawa City Skills Learning Facility for those with intellectual disabilities. This facility proactively interacts with the region by holding a summer festival, a soba-making party, etc. After this, the Governor visited the Second Park Crime Prevention Station of the Ho area set up near the North Exit of Yoshikawa Station and patrolled with the Wagamachi Bohantai (Our town’s Crime Prevention Team).
January 29 (Friday) Tokoton Visit (Kawaguchi City)
On the 29th, the Governor’s tokoton visit took place in Kawaguchi City. First, he visited the welfare facility Sweets Batake, run by the welfare organization Medaka Stream. At this facility, handicapped people make and sell cookies, bread, and woodcrafts. In addition to inspecting the facility, he exchanged opinions on how the enterprise would develop from here on out. Next, he visited Kobayashi Nursery, KK, a comprehensive retail gardening company that produces saplings and is selling to the entire country. He inspected the greenhouses and exchanged views on the promotion of the gardening industry and the management of agriculture from here on. After this was a visit to Kohara Gear Industry Co., Ltd. This is a company that makes and sells industrial-use gears since its founding more than 70 years ago. In addition to inspecting the factory, he exchanged opinions about the management of the company. The last part of the visit was viewing a performance of the Nishiki Daiko Group which preserves and is the successor to Kawaguchi City’s Hatsu-uma Daiko, a traditional art form, Afterwards was a discussion about regional activities.
January 4 (Monday) Prefectural Office Start of Work Ceremony
Saitama’s Start of Work Ceremony for 2010 was held on the 4th at the Saitama Kaikan in Saitama City. Preceding the Ceremony, the Omiya Koryo High School Orchestra, now in its 25th year, gave a splendid performance. After this, speaking to about 1,100 workers, the Governor said “the work of civil servants is to make the residents happy at the smallest cost and providing the largest effect,” calling on them to thoroughly practice the basics, such as the “three Ss”: Speed, Smile, and Spirit. In addition, he appealed to the importance of thinking whether sticking with precedent is correct, or if there is justice in going beyond the law, in other words, to question fundamentals and whether or not the work one is doing contributes to an investment in the future.