〜The Globalization Policy of the City of Hikone〜

■Current Situation and Future Plans

Hikone established sister city relations with Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA in 1969 and with Xiangtan, Hunan,China in 1991.Since establishing these agreements, we have been strengthening these relationships through goodwill missions and exchange programs for junior high school students.

Currently, Hikone is home to over 2,000 international residents. Hikone’s two universities, Shiga University and University of Shiga Prefecture, accept a large number of international students from Asia and the Japan Center for Michigan Universities, founded in 1989, has allowed students from all over the United States to study Japanese language and culture in Hikone. In addition, there are many working residents from South American countries.

The City of Hikone has taken numerous steps to foster cooperation and aid international residents. The International Exchange Lounge offers books and newspapers in a number of languages and provides a meeting place for Japanese and foreign residents. The city publishes a community newsletter called “Koho HIKONE” in English, Portuguese, and Chinese with the cooperation of citizen groups to provide foreign residents with up-to-date local information. Because many foreign residents often have issues with housing, education, and medical services in Japan, the City of Hikone provides specialized aid services to Portuguese speaking residents and maintains city web pages in English and Portuguese. In order to promote multiculturalism in Hikone “The Council for Hikone Foreign Residents” is held to address the concerns of foreign residents. Additionally, citizens’ groups in Hikone hold various projects, such as Japanese language lessons, to foster international cooperation.

With the continued globalization of society, the citizens of Hikone have developed a keen international awareness and it is necessary to promote international relations projects to fully address our citizen’s needs. Besides strengthening our sister city relations, we should make Hikone more comfortable for foreign residents. We will make a city where everyone can live peacefully with respect for each other’s culture.

• Goodwill missions from Hikone visit Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA and Xiangtan, Hunan, China. Hikone City welcomes goodwill missions from these cities as well.
  

• Hikone City operates the International Exchange Lounge, which is on the first floor of the Civic Hall (1-38 Osue-chou). This lounge is open to the public and offers space for conversation and provides books and newspapers in a number of languages. The lounge is open every day except Sundays, Mondays, and national holidays.

• The Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) provides services for Portuguese speaking residents. The CIR gives consultations, assists in the civic registration process, and holds events to promote international relations.

• Hikone City actively cooperates and collaborates with citizens’ groups on a variety of projects.
  
  
• The guidebook for living in Hikone called “Living in Hikone” is published in English, Portuguese, and Chinese. This guidebook is composed of three parts: “Daily Life”, “The Administrative Systems and the Procedures”, and “Medical Services.”
  
  
  
• The City of Hikone has a Portuguese interpreter on Mondays,Tuesdays,Wednesdays,
  Fridays(9:00~17:15) and Thursdays(10:30~19:00).

• A community newsletter called “Koho HIKONE” is published in English, Portuguese, and Chinese every month.

• “The Council for Hikone Foreign Residents” - The first council submitted “Proposals for Promoting a Multicultural Society” to the Mayor on July 1, 2005. Following the guidelines set forth in the proposal, Hikone City drew up the “Plan for the Promotion of a Multicultural Society” in September 2005. The second council, commissioned on September 3, 2005, has met eight times and presented additional proposals to the Mayor in August 2007.

• “The Meeting for Hikone Foreign Residents” - This group consists of 17 Hikone City officials whose purpose is to improve public services for foreign residents.

■Hikone International Friendship Association (HIFA)

Office: 1-38 Osue-cho (at the International Exchange Lounge)
Phone: 0749-22-1411 (ext.590)