Council of Local Authorities for International Relations

Council of Local Authorities for International Relations

The Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) is a Japanese governmental agency established in 1988 to promote international learning and partnerships, particularly around the revitalization of local and regional areas. Its headquarters are in Tokyo 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.

The JET Programme

In cooperation with local authorities, the Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), CLAIR manages the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. JET Programme participants are assigned to be Assistant 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; or Sports 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 of public diplomacy, with more than 50,000 participants since it began in 1987. CLAIR is one of the main sponsors of the JET Alumni Association in the UK (JETAA UK).

International CLAIR Offices

CLAIR's international offices, located in New York, London, Paris, Singapore, Seoul, Sydney, and Beijing, carry out research and surveys on sustainable growth and development, public service reform, governance, demographic change and the low carbon society 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.

It is also associated with the Asian Network of Major Cities 21 and participates in such bodies as United Cities and Local Governments.

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

External links

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