2013年08月31日
Citizens Forum
Just thought I'd share this news about Citizens' Forum organized in the town where I used to live.
Although I understand there are quite a few cities in other countries where Citizens' Forum is organized fairly regularly, this new attempt where the residents are vested with certain autonomous power over the municipal government and city council is still unheard of in Japan.
This may be considered as the great milestone in the history of municipal-level governance of Japan where people have been struggling to find a new form of democracy.
"Citizens' Forum: Attempt for creating a new form of democracy in Japan"
The first meeting of the Citizens' Forum was held on August 25th this year.
This is a meeting of its first kind ever organized in Japan under so-called "basic ordinance of citizens’ autonomy," which stipulates that a forum be held at least annually or more as necessary.
Basic Ordinance of Citizens' Autonomy in Shinshiro City
(This ordinance went into effect as of April 1, 2013)
Citizens Forum
Article 15 The mayor (hereinafter called Mayor) or the city council (hereinafter called City Council) must organize Citizens Forum (hereinafter called Citizens Forum) where the city council, the municipal government, the citizens who lead the community renovation (hereinafter called Citizens) assemble all together in order to exchange and share information and awareness for realizing the betterment of the community by the concerted effort of the three parties.
2 Notwithstanding the conditions of the preceding paragraph, Mayor and City Council may jointly host additional Citizens' Forum separately from the annual Citizens' Forum.
3 Mayor must organize Citizens' Forum at least once a year unless upon the occurrence of contingency.
4 Residents of Shinshiro City over the age of 20 may request Mayor to host Citizens' Forum by submitting the signatures from 1 / 50 (one fiftieth) of its total population.
(Based on the current population of the city, the minimum number of the signatures would be 820)
The rest is omitted.
Followings are the weblogs of those who attended the forum including the mayor himself. No English texts are available but you can see the photos of the forum.
Although I understand there are quite a few cities in other countries where Citizens' Forum is organized fairly regularly, this new attempt where the residents are vested with certain autonomous power over the municipal government and city council is still unheard of in Japan.
This may be considered as the great milestone in the history of municipal-level governance of Japan where people have been struggling to find a new form of democracy.
"Citizens' Forum: Attempt for creating a new form of democracy in Japan"
The first meeting of the Citizens' Forum was held on August 25th this year.
This is a meeting of its first kind ever organized in Japan under so-called "basic ordinance of citizens’ autonomy," which stipulates that a forum be held at least annually or more as necessary.
Basic Ordinance of Citizens' Autonomy in Shinshiro City
(This ordinance went into effect as of April 1, 2013)
Citizens Forum
Article 15 The mayor (hereinafter called Mayor) or the city council (hereinafter called City Council) must organize Citizens Forum (hereinafter called Citizens Forum) where the city council, the municipal government, the citizens who lead the community renovation (hereinafter called Citizens) assemble all together in order to exchange and share information and awareness for realizing the betterment of the community by the concerted effort of the three parties.
2 Notwithstanding the conditions of the preceding paragraph, Mayor and City Council may jointly host additional Citizens' Forum separately from the annual Citizens' Forum.
3 Mayor must organize Citizens' Forum at least once a year unless upon the occurrence of contingency.
4 Residents of Shinshiro City over the age of 20 may request Mayor to host Citizens' Forum by submitting the signatures from 1 / 50 (one fiftieth) of its total population.
(Based on the current population of the city, the minimum number of the signatures would be 820)
The rest is omitted.
Followings are the weblogs of those who attended the forum including the mayor himself. No English texts are available but you can see the photos of the forum.
Posted by Gyokei Yokoyama at 23:21