[December 2016]
14 – Anti-crime and Fire-prevention Activities – A Year of Local Governments in Japan

December is the last month of the year and we Japanese are busy preparing for the New Year because New Year celebrations are the most anticipated event throughout Japan, much like Christmas in Western countries. Every Japanese person wants to wear new clothes for Hatsumode (the first visit to a shrine in the New Year) and have Osechi-ryori, a traditional Japanese meal, specially prepared for the New Year which often consists of lobsters, kazunoko (herring roe) and other foods.

Thieves also want to get money to prepare for their New Year so the number of robberies increases in December. Moreover December is a cold, dry and windy season in Japan, especially on the Pacific Ocean side, and the risk of fire multiplies dramatically.

As such, Japanese people have, for many years, been aware of the heightened risk of theft and fire damage, with many local neighbourhood associations voluntarily participating in anti-crime and fire-prevention activities. Japanese local governments and police support these activities by participating in them and providing financial assistance.

Neighbourhood associations organise groups that walk around their towns every night chanting ‘Hi no youjin!’ (Be careful with fire!) and beating wooden clappers, since fire is the most dangerous hazard in Japanese towns as many of our houses are made primarily of wood. At the same time, they also look out for suspicious characters and/or activities.

Thus it can be said that the very low rate of crime in Japan is, in part, maintained by the voluntary cooperation of our residents.

YOI OTOSHI WO! Have a great 2017!

 

Katsunori Kamibo

Director

 

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  •  環境問題への取組を調査するため、7月下旬~8月上旬にかけて滋賀県立彦根工業高等学校の高校生1名および引率者1名がオーストラリアを訪問し、クレアシドニー事務所は、7月29日にはオーストラリアの概要(文化、風習等)についてブリーフィングを実施し、7月31日にはブリスベンの訪問先企業へのアテンド行いました。

    ブリスベンの訪問先においては、カーボンニュートラルの観点から、カギケノリという海藻を用いて畜産動物が排出するメタンガスを減少させる取り組みについての情報を得ることができました。生徒が、将来は自らも環境のための取り組みを実施したいとの思いから、積極的にミーティングに臨んでいる姿が印象的でした。

    当事務所は今回、ブリーフィング及びアテンドのほか、ブリスベンの訪問先企業に対するアポイントメント取得のサポートも行いました。
     クレアシドニー事務所は、今後もオーストラリアでの調査に取り組む日本の自治体の活動を支援していきます。

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