Grassroots-Level International Exchange and Cooperation

In recognition of the increasingly active role of local communities and citizen's organizations in international networks, JCIE promotes grassroots exchanges and projects that examine internationalization at the local level, particularly the role of community-based initiatives and organizations.

Study & Dialogue

• International Relations at the Local Level in Japan: Exploring Kyushu's International Strategy (2007–present)
• Building a Multiethnic Society and Revitalizing Local Communities (2005-2007)
• Involving Multiple Local Actors in Grassroots International Cooperation (2005-2006)
• Japan-EU Grassroots Exchange Project for Community and Local International Cooperation (2005)
• US-Japan Sister City Exchange Revitalization Project (2005)
• Grassroots Network (2002-2005)
• Connecting Civil Societies of Asia and Europe (2004)
• Facilitation of Internationalization Initiatives for Miyazaki Prefecture (1998-2000, 2001-2003)
• Transformation of Japanese Communities and the Emerging Local Agenda (2000-2003)
• A50 Caravan (2001)
• Research Project on Global Policy for Joetsu City (2000-2001)
• Transnational Civil Society and International Governance (1998-2001)
• Exchange with the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) (1986-2001)
• Global Village of Beijing—Japan Exchange Tour (2000)
• Study and Survey on Developing the Nongovernmental Underpinnings of the Emerging Asia-Pacific (1993-1994)

Reports and Research Online

• Exploring Kyushu's External Relations and its Asian Strategy, Toshihiro Menju, 2007 [pdf 348 kb]
• "Breaking New Ground for NGO Advocacy in Japan," Civil Society Monitor, August, 2007 [pdf 280kb]
• "Community-Driven Development in Rural Thailand: Lessons from Japan" (GrassNet, Issue 18, 12/1/03)
• "Local Communities and International Cooperation" (GrassNet, Issue 15, 8/30/03)
• "An Appeal for Local-Level Perspectives on the ODA Charter" (GrassNet, Issue 15, 8/30/03)
• "Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and International Communities" (GrassNet, Issue 15, 8/30/03)
• "Survey on the Impact of SARS on International Exchange" (GrassNet, Issue 13, 6/26/03)
• North Korea from an NGO Perspective (GrassNet, Issue 8, 1/16/03)
• "Trends Concerning International Exchange Organizations" (GrassNet, Issue 7, 12/3/02)
• "Local Initiatives Support Nonprofit Organizations and Activities in Japan" (Civil Society Monitor, Issue 7, Feb. 2002)
• "The Growth of International Exchange in Early Postwar Japan" (GrassNet, Issue 5, 10/1/02)
• "The Africa Global Link Project" (GrassNet, Issue 2, 7/2/02)
• "Corporate-NGO Partnerships: Learning from Case Studies," Tadashi Yamamoto in Corporate-NGO Partnership in Asia-Pacific, ed. Tadashi Yamamoto and Kim Gould Ashizawa, 1999 [136k pdf]

Related Publications

• Exploring Kyushu's External Relations and its Asian Strategy, Toshihiro Menju, 2007
• Japan's Road to Pluralism: Transforming Local Communities in the Global Era, Shun'ichi Furukawa and Toshihiro Menju, editors, 2003
• The Third Force: The Rise of Transnational Civil Society, Ann M. Florini, editor, 2000
• Corporate-NGO Partnership in Asia Pacific, Tadashi Yamamoto and Kim Gould Ashizawa, eds., 1999
• Globalization, Governance, and Civil Society (Global ThinkNet Tokyo Conference 1998)

Resources

• Civil Society Monitor
  A newsletter providing information on trends in Japan's nonprofit sector.
• GrassNet
  Archives of a monthly e-magazine reporting on new trends and developments in the field of grassroots international exchange and cooperation activities in Japan. Selected articles are available in English.
• Search JCIE Research
  Search all of JCIE's research in .pdf format by keyword.