Council of Local Authorities for International Relations

Formation	1988
Purpose	Supporting local internationalisation
Headquarters	Sogo Hanzomon Building, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Membership	All Japanese local authorities
Chairman	Mitsuru Yasuda
Budget	Unknown
Staff	Unknown
Website	www.clair.or.jp/e/index.html

TheCouncil of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) is a Japanese government-affiliated general incorporated foundation established in 1988 to support the international activities of local governments to strengthen international collaboration, particularly around regional development and revitalisation. Its headquarters are inTokyo and there are domestic branch offices in each prefecture in Japan, as well as a network of overseas offices in major cities around the world.

In cooperation with local authorities, theMinistry of Internal Affairs & Communications (MIC), theMinistry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and theMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), CLAIR manages theJapan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. JET Programme participants are assigned to beAssistant Language Teachers (ALTs), who provide language instruction at elementary, junior and senior high schools;Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs), who engage in local international exchange activities; orSports Exchange Advisors (SEAs), promoting international exchange through sport. The JET Programme is one of the largest international exchange programmes in the world, acknowledged as an embodiment ofpublic diplomacy, with more than 65,000 participants since it began in 1987. CLAIR is one of the main sponsors of the JET Alumni Association in its respective territories.

CLAIR's international offices, located inNew York,London,Paris,Singapore,Seoul,Sydney, andBeijing, investigate the latest trends in local development and revitalisation policies, on behalf of Japanese ministries and local authorities, promote the JET Programme and a number of other international exchange programmes, and organise Japan-related seminars and sister city relations.

CLAIR participates in such bodies asUnited Cities and Local Governments and theCouncil of Europe Intercultural Cities programme. It was also associated with theAsian Network of Major Cities 21.

CLAIR offices in New York, London and Sydney are known locally as the Japan Local Government Centre.

• CLAIR Homepage
• Japan Local Government Center New York
• Japan Local Government Centre London
• Japan Local Government Centre Sydney

• 1988 establishments in Japan
• Government agencies established in 1988
• Economic development organizations
• Foreign relations of Japan
• Government of Japan
• Local government in Japan
• Municipal international relations

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