8 Days Until the Event: How to Rebuild Local Public Services in an Era of Division
EFA Japan will host a symposium on June 20th to discuss how to rebuild 'public services' that connect local communities and the world in an era of increasing division. The event will explore collaboration among local government officials, civil society, labor unions, and international NGOs to address issues like multicultural coexistence and disaster response.
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- 📰 Published: June 12, 2026 at 19:30
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With only 8 days left until the event, we are accepting applications for both in-person attendance and post-event on-demand viewing.
This symposium will consider how local government officials, civil society, labor unions, and international cooperation NGOs can collaborate to rebuild the 'public sphere' that connects local communities with the world, amidst a society where division and exclusionary discourse are spreading.
This is not merely an international cooperation event; it will address themes directly linked to the challenges facing Japanese society today, such as responses to 'institutional gaps' in local government operations, the backlash against multicultural coexistence, and external collaboration in disaster response and support for those in poverty.
Addressing 'Institutional Gaps' in Local Government Operations
Disaster response, support for residents of diverse backgrounds, poverty, child and youth support, community integration.
In local government settings, cases where multiple difficulties overlap are increasing. Frontline staff, citizen groups, and NPOs are daily confronting challenges that cannot be adequately addressed by administrative systems alone, or that cannot be resolved solely within the local community.
On the other hand, in recent years, discourse such as 'Japan First' and an exclusionary atmosphere have spread, leading to a sense that the multicultural coexistence and collaborative initiatives built up by grassroots citizens and local government over time are facing instability and stagnation.
In such times, what can those who support the local public sphere protect, and what can they rebuild?
This symposium will delve into these questions through the practices of local government and the journey of international cooperation NGOs.
What Happens Locally is Connected to Global Issues
EFA Japan is a certified non-profit organization established in 2004, with its origins in the international cooperation efforts of the All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union (Jichiro).
Focusing on educational support for children in Asia, we have continued our activities in countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. In recent years, we have expanded our scope of activities to include support for disaster-affected areas within Japan and assistance for people from diverse backgrounds.
International cooperation is not just about distant countries.
Issues such as disasters, multicultural coexistence, poverty, education, and child and youth support also exist within local communities and share common structures with those in overseas contexts.
This symposium, reflecting on EFA Japan's 20-year journey, will explore how local residents, local government officials, labor union members, and international cooperation NGOs can come together to build the future.
Keynote Speech: Questioning EFA Japan's Past, Present, and Future
Michio Ito, former Chairman of EFA Japan, will deliver the keynote speech.
The theme is:
'EFA Japan's Activities and Role: Past, Present, and Future
— How Local Residents, Local Government Officials, Labor Union Members, and International Cooperation NGOs Can Unite for the Future.'
Looking back at EFA Japan's journey, tracing it back to the initiatives of its predecessor organization during the Jichiro era, the speech will offer proposals for future development.
Cross Talk: Where Can Public Sphere Connect Today?
In the cross talk session, we will hear from Toru Kinoshita, Chairman of EFA Japan and former local government official, and Noriyuki Goto, a city official from Nishi-Tokyo City.
They will share their firsthand experiences regarding the limitations of systems felt in local government, the difficulties of external collaboration, and the potential for cooperation with civil society and NPOs.
Alisa Ota, a board member of EFA Japan and former Mainichi Shimbun reporter, will moderate the session.
Perspectives
This symposium offers content that can be covered and reported from the following viewpoints:
* In the context of spreading 'Japan First' discourse, what are the current feelings in the field of multicultural coexistence?
* Responses to 'institutional gaps' in local government operations, including disaster response, support for the impoverished, and assistance for residents of diverse backgrounds.
* How are local issues connected to international cooperation?
* How can local government officials collaborate with civil society and NPOs beyond administrative boundaries?
* In an era of division, what should be protected and what should be rebuilt by those who bear responsibility for the public sphere?
* How can international cooperation NGOs, originating from labor unions, create points of contact with local communities and local government officials?
Event Outline
Event Name: EFA Japan Symposium 2026: 'International Cooperation Entrusted to the Future — EFA Japan's 20-Year Trajectory and Questions for the Next Decade'
Subtitle: Connecting Local Communities and the World in an Era of Division — From the 'Public Sphere' Where Local Government Officials, Citizens, and NGOs Intersect
Date & Time: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 14:00–16:00
Venue: Jichiro Kaikan, 6th Floor Main Conference Room
1-1, Rokubancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Participation Fee: Free (Advance registration required)
Registration URL: https://forms.gle/jRezadkvjHNy9Q6X9
*Advance registration is required for both in-person attendance and on-demand viewing.
*Those who register for on-demand viewing will receive information about the distributed video from the secretariat at a later date.
Registration QR Code
Program
Keynote Speech
'EFA Japan's Activities and Role: Past, Present, and Future
— How Local Residents, Local Government Officials, Labor Union Members, and International Cooperation NGOs Can Unite for the Future'
> Michio Ito, Former Chairman of EFA Japan / Former Representative Director of Asia Community Center 21
Cross Talk
'Where Can Public Sphere Connect with Civil Society and NPOs Today?'
> Toru Kinoshita, Chairman of EFA Japan / Director of Tokyo Research Institute for Local Government
> Noriyuki Goto, Nishi-Tokyo City Official / Former Chairman of Nishi-Tokyo City Labor Union
> Moderator: Arisa Ota, Director of EFA Japan / Former Reporter for Mainichi Shimbun
Speaker Profiles
Michio Ito
Advisor and Former Chairman of EFA Japan. Chief Advisor at Asia Community Center 21. Participated in the founding of the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC) and has worked for over 40 years on poverty reduction and civil society strengthening in various parts of Asia. Served as a specially appointed professor at Rikkyo University Graduate School and received the 2022 Social Design Award.
Toru Kinoshita
Chairman of EFA Japan. Joined Tachikawa City Hall in 1978. Worked as a librarian during the establishment phase of the Tachikawa City Library. Later served as an executive member of the Tokyo Prefectural Headquarters of the All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union (Jichiro). Currently serves as a director of the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, Tokyo Research Institute for Local Government, and is involved in initiatives for multicultural coexistence and local communities.
Noriyuki Goto
Nishi-Tokyo City Official. Joined the former Hoya City (now Nishi-Tokyo City) in 1985. Has long been engaged in fields such as welfare for persons with disabilities, elderly support, and community integration, and is currently in charge of support for those in poverty. Former Executive Chairman of the Nishi-Tokyo City Labor Union and Chairman of the Nishi-Tokyo Research Institute for Local Government. He advocates for the importance of community collaboration by local government officials.
Arisa Ota
Director of EFA Japan. Joined Mainichi Shimbun in 1988. After working in the Kobe branch and the Osaka headquarters' social affairs department, she held positions such as desk editor for the evening edition, editor-in-chief of the English Mainichi, and editor-in-chief of Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun (Mainichi Elementary School Newspaper). Currently works in the public relations department of the NPO Refugee Assistance Network.
About EFA Japan
EFA Japan is a citizen-led international cooperation organization established in 2004.
It focuses on educational support for children in Asia and engages in initiatives such as library and reading promotion, support for children with disabilities, and disaster and community support.
Contact Information
EFA Japan Secretariat
TEL: 03-3263-0337
https://www.efa-japan.org/
Keywords:
This symposium will consider how local government officials, civil society, labor unions, and international cooperation NGOs can collaborate to rebuild the 'public sphere' that connects local communities with the world, amidst a society where division and exclusionary discourse are spreading.
This is not merely an international cooperation event; it will address themes directly linked to the challenges facing Japanese society today, such as responses to 'institutional gaps' in local government operations, the backlash against multicultural coexistence, and external collaboration in disaster response and support for those in poverty.
Addressing 'Institutional Gaps' in Local Government Operations
Disaster response, support for residents of diverse backgrounds, poverty, child and youth support, community integration.
In local government settings, cases where multiple difficulties overlap are increasing. Frontline staff, citizen groups, and NPOs are daily confronting challenges that cannot be adequately addressed by administrative systems alone, or that cannot be resolved solely within the local community.
On the other hand, in recent years, discourse such as 'Japan First' and an exclusionary atmosphere have spread, leading to a sense that the multicultural coexistence and collaborative initiatives built up by grassroots citizens and local government over time are facing instability and stagnation.
In such times, what can those who support the local public sphere protect, and what can they rebuild?
This symposium will delve into these questions through the practices of local government and the journey of international cooperation NGOs.
What Happens Locally is Connected to Global Issues
EFA Japan is a certified non-profit organization established in 2004, with its origins in the international cooperation efforts of the All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union (Jichiro).
Focusing on educational support for children in Asia, we have continued our activities in countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. In recent years, we have expanded our scope of activities to include support for disaster-affected areas within Japan and assistance for people from diverse backgrounds.
International cooperation is not just about distant countries.
Issues such as disasters, multicultural coexistence, poverty, education, and child and youth support also exist within local communities and share common structures with those in overseas contexts.
This symposium, reflecting on EFA Japan's 20-year journey, will explore how local residents, local government officials, labor union members, and international cooperation NGOs can come together to build the future.
Keynote Speech: Questioning EFA Japan's Past, Present, and Future
Michio Ito, former Chairman of EFA Japan, will deliver the keynote speech.
The theme is:
'EFA Japan's Activities and Role: Past, Present, and Future
— How Local Residents, Local Government Officials, Labor Union Members, and International Cooperation NGOs Can Unite for the Future.'
Looking back at EFA Japan's journey, tracing it back to the initiatives of its predecessor organization during the Jichiro era, the speech will offer proposals for future development.
Cross Talk: Where Can Public Sphere Connect Today?
In the cross talk session, we will hear from Toru Kinoshita, Chairman of EFA Japan and former local government official, and Noriyuki Goto, a city official from Nishi-Tokyo City.
They will share their firsthand experiences regarding the limitations of systems felt in local government, the difficulties of external collaboration, and the potential for cooperation with civil society and NPOs.
Alisa Ota, a board member of EFA Japan and former Mainichi Shimbun reporter, will moderate the session.
Perspectives
This symposium offers content that can be covered and reported from the following viewpoints:
* In the context of spreading 'Japan First' discourse, what are the current feelings in the field of multicultural coexistence?
* Responses to 'institutional gaps' in local government operations, including disaster response, support for the impoverished, and assistance for residents of diverse backgrounds.
* How are local issues connected to international cooperation?
* How can local government officials collaborate with civil society and NPOs beyond administrative boundaries?
* In an era of division, what should be protected and what should be rebuilt by those who bear responsibility for the public sphere?
* How can international cooperation NGOs, originating from labor unions, create points of contact with local communities and local government officials?
Event Outline
Event Name: EFA Japan Symposium 2026: 'International Cooperation Entrusted to the Future — EFA Japan's 20-Year Trajectory and Questions for the Next Decade'
Subtitle: Connecting Local Communities and the World in an Era of Division — From the 'Public Sphere' Where Local Government Officials, Citizens, and NGOs Intersect
Date & Time: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 14:00–16:00
Venue: Jichiro Kaikan, 6th Floor Main Conference Room
1-1, Rokubancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Participation Fee: Free (Advance registration required)
Registration URL: https://forms.gle/jRezadkvjHNy9Q6X9
*Advance registration is required for both in-person attendance and on-demand viewing.
*Those who register for on-demand viewing will receive information about the distributed video from the secretariat at a later date.
Registration QR Code
Program
Keynote Speech
'EFA Japan's Activities and Role: Past, Present, and Future
— How Local Residents, Local Government Officials, Labor Union Members, and International Cooperation NGOs Can Unite for the Future'
> Michio Ito, Former Chairman of EFA Japan / Former Representative Director of Asia Community Center 21
Cross Talk
'Where Can Public Sphere Connect with Civil Society and NPOs Today?'
> Toru Kinoshita, Chairman of EFA Japan / Director of Tokyo Research Institute for Local Government
> Noriyuki Goto, Nishi-Tokyo City Official / Former Chairman of Nishi-Tokyo City Labor Union
> Moderator: Arisa Ota, Director of EFA Japan / Former Reporter for Mainichi Shimbun
Speaker Profiles
Michio Ito
Advisor and Former Chairman of EFA Japan. Chief Advisor at Asia Community Center 21. Participated in the founding of the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC) and has worked for over 40 years on poverty reduction and civil society strengthening in various parts of Asia. Served as a specially appointed professor at Rikkyo University Graduate School and received the 2022 Social Design Award.
Toru Kinoshita
Chairman of EFA Japan. Joined Tachikawa City Hall in 1978. Worked as a librarian during the establishment phase of the Tachikawa City Library. Later served as an executive member of the Tokyo Prefectural Headquarters of the All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union (Jichiro). Currently serves as a director of the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, Tokyo Research Institute for Local Government, and is involved in initiatives for multicultural coexistence and local communities.
Noriyuki Goto
Nishi-Tokyo City Official. Joined the former Hoya City (now Nishi-Tokyo City) in 1985. Has long been engaged in fields such as welfare for persons with disabilities, elderly support, and community integration, and is currently in charge of support for those in poverty. Former Executive Chairman of the Nishi-Tokyo City Labor Union and Chairman of the Nishi-Tokyo Research Institute for Local Government. He advocates for the importance of community collaboration by local government officials.
Arisa Ota
Director of EFA Japan. Joined Mainichi Shimbun in 1988. After working in the Kobe branch and the Osaka headquarters' social affairs department, she held positions such as desk editor for the evening edition, editor-in-chief of the English Mainichi, and editor-in-chief of Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun (Mainichi Elementary School Newspaper). Currently works in the public relations department of the NPO Refugee Assistance Network.
About EFA Japan
EFA Japan is a citizen-led international cooperation organization established in 2004.
It focuses on educational support for children in Asia and engages in initiatives such as library and reading promotion, support for children with disabilities, and disaster and community support.
Contact Information
EFA Japan Secretariat
TEL: 03-3263-0337
https://www.efa-japan.org/
Keywords:
FAQ
What social issues does this symposium address?
It explores how to redefine the role of public services in local communities and strengthen collaboration among diverse stakeholders amidst increasing societal division and exclusionary discourse.
What kind of organization is EFA Japan?
EFA Japan is a certified NPO that focuses on educational support for children in Asia, and has expanded its activities to include support for disaster-affected areas and diverse populations within Japan.
What kind of collaboration will be discussed at the symposium?
The symposium will discuss methods for collaboration among local government officials, civil society, labor unions, and international cooperation NGOs to address issues such as multicultural coexistence and disaster response.
How can I participate in the event?
Both in-person attendance and post-event on-demand viewing are available, both requiring advance registration. Participation is free of charge.
How are local issues connected to international cooperation?
Issues such as disasters, multicultural coexistence, poverty, and education exist in local communities and share common structures with overseas contexts, thus addressing local issues is connected to international cooperation.