Japan Local Government Center / CLAIR, New York

10/06/2026

[Application Period Extended; Announcement from Okayama Prefecture]

Every year, Okayama Prefecture hosts the Study Abroad Fair to provide students with a wide range of information about study abroad opportunities, and to encourage their interest in and motivation to study abroad.

The event is held in cooperation with various institutions, including the U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe, the Australian Consulate-General Osaka, the Embassy of Canada, and the British Council.

If you are interested in exhibiting at the fair on behalf of your university, please register using the URL below.

- Date: November 28th, 2026
- Location: Okayama Convention Center (14-1 Ekimoto-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture)
- Registration: 2026 Study Abroad Fair in Okayama
- For further information, please contact: International Affairs Division, Okayama Prefecture

10/01/2026

[Announcement from Ehime Prefecture]
Call for Abstracts: Velo-city 2027 Ehime – Join the Global Cycling Movement!

Velo-city is the premier international conference on cycling, gathering 1,000 to 1,500 policymakers, researchers, and experts worldwide. Covering topics from urban planning and safe cycling to social issues, the event also features industry exhibitions and vibrant bike parades. It’s a unique opportunity to share knowledge, build networks, and promote cycling worldwide. Organized by the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), a leading nonprofit based in Brussels with over 70 member organizations across 40+ countries, Velo-city has been shaping the future of cycling since 1983.

We are now accepting abstracts for Velo-city 2027 Ehime!
If you are working on cycling initiatives in tourism, urban development, sustainable transport, or related fields, don’t miss your chance to present your work on a global stage. Share your projects via presentation, panel discussion, and more, and connect with practitioners tackling similar challenges worldwide.

[Key Info]
Main theme: Kyōsei Co-creating a Future with Cycling
Abstract submission deadline: October 22
*Presenters receive discounted conference tickets.
*Submit your abstract in English for review and selection.
*Discover more and apply today!
https://www.velo-city-conference.com/en/programme/kyosei-co-creating-a-future-with-cycling/

Stay updated with the latest news from Velo-city 2027 Ehime via the official ECF newsletter:
https://www.velo-city-conference.com/en/newsletter/

10/01/2026

[Announcement from Tokushima Prefecture]
International Consumer's Symposium in Tokushima 2026: Realizing A Sustainable Society — The Next Step from Tokushima

This symposium will be streamed online from Tokushima, Japan, and will feature sessions with the next generation of young people and consumer policy experts from Japan and abroad.

Theme: Realizing A Sustainable Society — The Next Step from Tokushima
Date: October 17,
Format: Online Streaming (Simultaneous English–Japanese Interpretation available)
Sessions:
- Global Youth Session: Tokushima and South Korea! Young People’s Thoughts on Sustainable Futures
- Feature Address: Sustainability Society with Sustainable Shopping and Consumption
- Expert Session on Consumer Policy: How Can We Reduce Mottainai? Rethinking Purchasing, Retail and Systemic Design

For details, please visit the link below.
https://www.pref.tokushima.lg.jp/ippannokata/kurashi/shohiseikatsu/7314530/

09/29/2026

Discover the flavors of Japan in New York!

The “Japanese Food Expo in New York” will be held from October 23 to 25 at Japan Village in New York.
Supported by the National Governors' Association of Japan and CLAIR, the food expo will feature specialty food and beverages from twelve prefectures. Taste the flavors of Japan and get some real travel tips and recommendations from people with real, lived insights into Japan, including fellow JET alumni!
Admission is free and no registration is required.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Date & Time:
October 23 (Fri) 11:00 AM-7:00 PM
October 24 (Sat) 11:00 AM-8:00 PM
October 25 (Sun) 11:00 AM-6:00 PM

Venue: Japan Village
（934 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, NY11232）

Find out more at:

The Japanese Food Culture Association is geared towards spreading the word about Japanese food culture, its potential health benefits, and its quality and availability in the United States. To increase awareness of Japanese food and culture in the United States we organize events, such as the Japane...

09/16/2026

Miyagi is back for a second year, and teaming up again with Izakaya Shodai in Oakland, California!

Join us for Miyagi Sake Night at Izakaya Shodai (2022 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612) in Oakland on September 25 from 5 to 8PM. Enjoy Miyagi Junmai sake, special bites made by chefs at Izakaya Shodai and meeting the brewers from Miyagi!

$40 per person at the door

Stop by for a night of Miyagi sake!

09/01/2026

[Announcement from Okayama Prefecture]

Every year, Okayama Prefecture hosts the Study Abroad Fair to provide students with a wide range of information about study abroad opportunities, and to encourage their interest in and motivation to study abroad.

The event is held in cooperation with various institutions, including the U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe, the Australian Consulate-General Osaka, the Embassy of Canada, and the British Council.

If you are interested in exhibiting at the fair on behalf of your university, please register using the URL below.

- Date: November 28th, 2026
- Location: Okayama Convention Center (14-1 Ekimoto-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture)
- Registration: 2026 Study Abroad Fair in Okayama
- For further information, please contact: International Affairs Division, Okayama Prefecture

08/28/2026

The JETAA USA National Conference (NatCon) was held in Miami from August 7 to 9, hosted by the JETAA Florida chapter. This year’s theme was “Local Leaders, Global Minds: Advancing US-Japan Ties One Community at a Time.” Returning to the full 2 ½ day format used up until the pandemic, the weekend was packed with sessions on strengthening chapter operations, building partnerships, and sharing information on issues, activities, and opportunities across the country.

This marked the first time ever for the Florida chapter to host a national conference, and everyone attending appeared to be very happy with the results. CLAIR would like to thank everybody who helped organize and execute the conference, as well as all those who gave their time and energy to participate in some way and make it a productive and enjoyable experience, from the many speakers to all the chapter and country representatives.

08/21/2026

[Announcement from Kochi Prefecture] (Japanese follows below)
Kochi’s sake will be featured at the San Diego Sake Festival!

Two breweries from Kochi Prefecture will be participating in a sake festival in San Diego at the end of September. You will have the chance to explore Kawazawa Brewery’s unique line of different sakes named after onomatopoeic expressions, as well as Suigei (Drunken Whale) sake in bottles featuring an adorable logo. Their taste, of course, is guaranteed to be excellent!

Why not visit the San Diego Sake Festival and try Kochi’s sake that has traveled across the Pacific Ocean to the United States—just like the legendary John Manjiro? (We recommend purchasing tickets in advance to secure your spot!)

- Date: September 27th ( Sun), 2026
- Venue: JULEP Venue, San Diego（1735 Hancock St, San Diego, CA 92101）
- Website: https://sandiegosakeclub.com/sake-festival

----------
[高知県からのお知らせ]
San Diego Sake Festivalに高知県が参加！

９月末、カリフォルニア州サンディエゴで開催される「sake festival」に、高知県から二つの酒蔵が参加します。川澤酒造からは、「オノマトペ」が名付けられたユニークな日本酒を、酔鯨酒造からは、クジラのロゴがかわいらしいボトルの日本酒をお楽しみいただけます。味ももちろんお墨付きです！

ジョン万次郎と同じように太平洋を渡ってアメリカにやってきた高知県の日本酒を味わいに、San Diego Sake Festivalに足を運びませんか？（チケットの事前購入をおすすめします！）

- 期間: 2026年９月27日
- 場所: JULEP Venue, San Diego（1735 Hancock St, San Diego, CA 92101）
- HP: https://sandiegosakeclub.com/sake-festival

#川澤酒造 #酔鯨酒造

08/19/2026

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the JET Program!

To celebrate, CLAIR is launching the “JET Arigato Campaign,” inviting current and former JET participants, as well as everyone involved with the JET Program, to share messages of appreciation for the people, communities, and experiences that have made their JET journey special.

Share your “ARIGATO” on social media using !

Want your message to be featured at the JET Program 40th Anniversary Reception or on CLAIR’s website and social media? Submit it through the application form for a chance to receive a 40th anniversary commemorative gift!

- Application form deadline: September 18, 2026, 5:00 pm (JST). Social media posts may be made at any time.
- Further details: https://jetprogramme.org/en/voices/jetarigatocampaign40/

08/04/2026

［Announcement from Ehime Prefectural Museum of Art, Ehime prefecture］
Ehime Shimbun 150th Anniversary "Shin! Ukiyo-e -Brilliant Artists of the Bakumatsu and Meiji Eras"

From the late Edo period (Bakumatsu) to the Meiji era, ukiyo-e prints increasingly took on the role of a “mass medium”, while became popular forms of entertainment, enjoyed by the masses at the same time. Also, ukiyo-e is a uniquely Japanese art of woodblock printing, brought to life through the collaborative craftsmanship of multiple specialists: the publisher, the artist, the woodblock carver, and the printer.

This exhibition, with the cooperation of the Asai Collection, showcases numerous masterpieces, focusing on the "medium" aspect of ukiyo-e. Discover the diverse works of artists, who keenly sensed the changes of the times and created innovative and fresh expressions.

For more information: https://www.ehime-art.jp/en/exhibition/detail/7cfaf73f-506d-4f6e-9303-f01d328ed7bf

　 #浮世絵