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A Proposal from Shige Higashi, Editor & Publisher of Cultural News
"Public Forum to promote the Los Angeles Japan House Project initiatedby Japanese Government"
Coinciding with Prime Minister Abe's Official Visit to the U.S.
Shige Higashi, editor & publisher of Cultural News, would like to propose a Public Forum to promote the Los Angles Japan House Project by Japanese government in conjunction with Japan's Prime Minister Abe' official visit to the U.S. from April 28.
The Japanese government decides to build the Japan House in London, Sao Paulo, and Los Angeles in the fiscal year 2015 (April 1, 2015 through March 30, 2016).
The Japan House is designed to be a center of public relation activities of the Japanese government at respective cities in the world.
On March 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo posted the plan, budget, and bidding conditions of London and Sao Paulo locations at its website. The ministry will accept the bidding by May 12, 2015. The announcement of Los Angeles bidding information is still pending.
A 2,000 square-meter (approx. 22,000 sqf.) facility will be built in London and Sao Paulo, and the Japanese government will allocate approx. 5.4 billion yen (approx. US$54 million) to London for four years, and approx. 3.6 billion yen (approx. US$36 million) to Sao Paulo for four years.
It seems like the Los Angeles Japan Housewould be designed in the similar scale to London and Sao Paulo.
We, people in Los Angeles, especially, Japanese community as well as those who promoting Japanese culture in Los Angeles, welcome and support the Los Angeles Japan House project.
Prime Minister Abe's official visit to the U.S. will start in Washington from April 28.
To coincide with Prime Minister Abe's visit, Shige Higashi likes to propose a Public Forum to share the information with people in general, and exchange many ideas from the local prospective with all concerned people of the Los Angeles Japan House Project.
"Public Forum to promote the Los Angles Japan House" will be;
1) The first event for those who are promoting Japanese culture in Los Angeles to show their appreciation to the Japanese government.
2) Meeting with people in Los Angeles to share the information of the Los Angeles Japan House Project.
3) Meeting to exchange ideas and concepts to promote Japanese culture and understanding Japan in Los Angeles with responsible officers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo through the social media such as Skype.
4) Meeting for those who support the Los Angeles Japan House project to deliver their message to Prime Minister Abe.
All concerned people including those who promote Japanese culture, future users of the Los Angeles Japan House, and business entities which will be bidding the concept and management of the Los Angeles Japan House, are welcome.
In order to realize "Public Forum," Shige Higashi plans to send a petition to the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles by April 15, 2015. The concerned people are asked to send their endorsements to the petition by April 14. Your endorsement and questions about the forum will be accepted at higashi@culturalnews.com For contact Shige Higashi, call (213) 819-4100
See the draft of the petition
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