EIJI NISHIEMAYOR OF KUTCHAN

The foremost sym-bol of the town of Kutchan is Mount Yotei, one of Japan’s 100 most famous mountains. Looking up at Mount Yotei is another symbol of the town, developed through global capi-

tal — a cluster of luxury condominiums and hotels in its Niseko-Hirafu district. As numerous foreign tourists visit Kutchan, enchanted by the powder snow and mag-nificent views, the town continues to develop as a host community. In fiscal 2017, as many as 350,000 non-Japanese enjoyed overnight stays in Kutchan, and it is non-Japanese who own most of the 830 condo-miniums located in 73 buildings.

The town’s superb snow quality had sim-ply been a given to the townspeople, but as this spread by word of mouth around the world, investors transformed the area into a resort locale demanding considerable attention. The Tourism Ministers’ Meeting will convene amid the scenic landscapes, environment, and facilities of Niseko-Hirafu. The venue is approximately a two-and-a-half hour drive from New Chitose Airport.

In order to prepare a resort environment in which non-Japanese tourists can enjoy themselves safely and with peace of mind, Kutchan provides a general hospital that accommodates patients in multiple lan-guages, operates extra police boxes during snow season, and offers English-speaking shops and Wi-Fi coverage at a level that makes visitors’ stays essentially stress-free. By hosting the ministerial meeting, the town hopes to convey to people both in Japan and abroad its appeal in terms of being a resort area with a rich natural envi-

ronment where various cultures coexist; it also offers facilities and an environment that can satisfy very high expectations.

Visitors can experience stunning fields of moss phlox, flowering potato plants, and other naturally scenic spots, cuisine using an abundance of locally harvested crops, and various kinds of “green season” activi-ties. Through these experiences, Kutchan’s visitors can enjoy a highly memorable stay in Japan. The town hopes that people remember the name of Kutchan, on the island of Hokkaido.

Sustainably evolving into international resortKutchan, Hokkaido Pref.: Tourism Ministers' Meeting

Attracted by high-quality powder snow, many foreign skiers and snowboarders visit resorts in Kutchan.

AKIRA SHINODAMAYOR OF NIIGATA

The city of Niigata tempts its visitors with Koshihikari, one of the varieties of its premium rice, exqui-site top-of-the-line sake made from rice, and cuisine featuring a wide array of locally grown ingredients.

Designated in 1869 as one of Japan’s five ports open to international trade, Niigata has since developed as a major international seaport town on the Sea of Japan.

The city is very accessible. It lies approxi-mately two hours from Tokyo by Shinkan-sen bullet train and Niigata Airport is served by many domestic and international routes. The venue for the G20 Agriculture Minis-ters’ Meeting is the Toki Messe, a multipur-pose convention center featuring a hotel, as well as international conference and exhibi-tion halls.

Niigata is among Japan’s finest and highly productive agricultural regions. It is also acclaimed for its high-quality livestock and agricultural products, repre-sented by Koshihikari.

In order to hand down rich produc-tion fields to the next generation, the city is engaged in environmentally friendly,

sustainable agricultural efforts, while also working to increase profitability through senary or “sixth-order” industry, integrat-ing production, processing and sales, as well as revitalizing rural areas by promot-ing the use of local resources.

Upon Niigata being designated a National Strategic Special Zone for agriculture, the city has been working hard to realize state-of-the-art and forward-looking agriculture. For example, it has helped launch restau-

rants operated by farming families and incorporate information and communica-tion technology into agriculture.

Niigata hopes that through this meet-ing, the ministers will observe these unique efforts. Additionally, the city looks forward to providing a highly satisfying stay to the national delegates through the geniality of its local volunteers and hospi-tality only Niigata can provide through its distinctive sake and cuisine.

Agricultural powerhouse on a sustainable pathNiigata, Niigata Pref.: Agriculture Ministers' Meeting

The multipurpose convention center Toki Messe is seen behind the Bandai Bridge on the Shinano River.

ICHIRO MATSUI/HIROFUMI YOSHIMURA GOVERNOR OF OSAKA/MAYOR OF OSAKA

With a population of 8.83 million and a gross domestic product of approximately ¥39 trillion, Osaka is a major city of com-merce in Japan and has been since olden times. Its fundamental spirit is one of respecting traditions while also embracing the spirit of taking on challenges. It is an area brimming with manufacturing com-panies known for their can-do approach of “there is nothing we cannot make.” It has also been contributing to the world in the field of life sciences, including in regen-erative medicine making use of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and the public

health area, including water purification technologies.

Alongside much of the world, Japan now faces the issue of a super-aging society. Osaka promotes endeavors that incorpo-

rate advanced technologies as part of its push to be a “Future Society for Our Lives.” That is to say, it aspires to develop a sustain-able society where all people — regardless of age and gender — are able to live happy and healthy lives. It is also now working to invite World Expo 2025 to Osaka in a manner consistent with the principles of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to make it an opportunity to communicate these advanced efforts throughout the world. We hope to send out these efforts through the G20 Summit as well.

The summit is scheduled to take place at Intex Osaka, the largest international trade fair and exhibition center in western Japan

that also enjoys convenient access to the city’s center. With three airports, including Kansai International Airport with round-the-clock arrivals and departures, serving it, Osaka has outstanding ease of access for both domestic and international visitors.

Even now, both the city and the prefec-ture, together with the rest of the Osaka community, are aiming to become an inter-national city that represents Japan right alongside Tokyo. By successfully holding this summit through efforts involving all of Osaka, the prefecture and the city hope to internationally enhance Osaka’s degree of name recognition, how it is regarded, while also having the meeting act as a catalyst for robust growth toward becoming a truly

international city.Osaka sincerely hopes that all those

coming to the summit enjoy themselves by encountering its various charms firsthand in terms of history, culture, and other areas,

and that they experience the very finest in hospitality. The city also hopes participants will feel the potential and enthusiasm Osaka holds toward contributing to the resolution of global issues.

Touting global goals, host city welcomes summit guestsOsaka, Osaka Pref.: Summit Meeting

The leaders’ summit is scheduled to take place at the Intex Osaka convention center.

Niigata, Niigata Pref.:Agriculture Ministers’ MeetingNiigata, Niigata Pref.:Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting

Kutchan, Hokkaido Pref.: Tourism Ministers’ MeetingKutchan, Hokkaido Pref.: Tourism Ministers’ Meeting

Karuizawa, Nagano Pref.:Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions andGlobal Environment for Sustainable Growth

Karuizawa, Nagano Pref.:Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions andGlobal Environment for Sustainable Growth

Tsukuba, Ibaraki Pref.: Ministerial Meeting onTrade and Digital Economy

Tsukuba, Ibaraki Pref.: Ministerial Meeting onTrade and Digital Economy

Aichi Pref.:Foreign Ministers’ MeetingAichi Pref.:Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Osaka, Osaka Pref.:Summit MeetingOsaka, Osaka Pref.:Summit Meeting

Okayama, Okayama Pref.:Health Ministers’ MeetingOkayama, Okayama Pref.:Health Ministers’ Meeting

Matsuyama, Ehime Pref.:Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting

Matsuyama, Ehime Pref.:Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting

Fukuoka, Fukuoka Pref.:Finance Ministers andCentral Bank Governors’ Meeting

Fukuoka, Fukuoka Pref.:Finance Ministers andCentral Bank Governors’ Meeting

J apan is preparing to welcome guests with omotenashi — quintessentially Japanese hospitality — as it redoubles its determination to take a strong lead-

ership role to achieve dynamic world eco-nomic growth and increased prosperity when it hosts in 2019 the Group of 20 (G20) Summit Meeting in Osaka and its related ministerial meetings around Japan.

First G20 Summit in JapanWhile Japan has successfully hosted the G7 Summit, U.N. conferences, Asia-Pacific Eco-nomic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meet-ings, and many other major international meetings over the past 40 years, this will be the first time the country hosts the annual gathering of G20 leaders.

The meeting will bring together the members of the G7 (France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada and the European Union), as well as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey. Heads of guest countries and international organizations will also attend.

In the run-up to the Summit, ministerial meetings will be held in various locations around the country.

“Making the most of this opportunity that would see a host of delegates and jour-nalists visit Japan, we’d like to show the world our omotenashi spirit and the wealth of attractions Japan has to offer, including local cuisine and other points unique to each host municipality,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized.

Contributing to prosperityNoting that this will be the largest Summit to ever convene in Japan, Foreign Minister Taro Kono underscored the significance of the meeting and expressed the country’s determination to carry out strong leader-ship under its presidency.

“The G20 accounts for over 80 percent of global gross domestic product, so the Sum-

mit is expected to have a significant impact on world economic growth and prosperity,” the foreign minister said. “Japan is determined to exercise strong leadership during its presi-dency and host the Summit successfully.”

Premier economic forumG20 meetings began in 1999 when G7 financial ministers and central bank gover-nors sought to meet with a broader group of their counterparts to better address international issues. The first G20 meeting at the summit level was held in Washing-ton, D.C., in November 2008 to address the economic and financial crisis triggered by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers.

These summits were conducted twice a year until 2010 and then annually, begin-ning with the 2011 gathering in France. The 2019 Summit will be the 14th. Argentina will host the 2018 Summit from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, while Saudi Arabia will host the 2020 meeting.

Designated as the “premier forum for international economic cooperation” at the Pittsburgh meeting in September 2009, the G20 Summit has had a tremendous impact on various fields, especially the world economy.

At G20 summits, leaders discuss a wide range of issues facing the global commu-nity, including the world economy, trade and investment, development, climate and energy, employment, digital topics and

counterterrorism, as well as immigration and refugee issues.

Osaka and eight municipalitiesThe G20 Summit will take place from June 28 to 29 in Osaka. There are eight other ministerial meetings planned across Japan. Fukuoka will host one for finance ministers and central bankers, while a foreign minis-ters’ meeting is scheduled to take place in Aichi Prefecture.

A gathering of tourism ministers is slated for Kutchan, Hokkaido Prefecture, and an agricul-tural ministers’ meeting will be held in Niigata. Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, will have a ministerial meeting on energy transitions and global environment for sustainable growth.

Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, will host a conference on trade and the digital econ-omy, and a health ministers’ meeting will take place in Okayama, while Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, will see labor and employment ministers gather.

In this special, the leaders of host munici-palities talked about the unique attractions each place has to offer and their expecta-tions for the meetings.

“G20 Summit 2019” pages are sponsored by the government of Japan.

Demonstrating leadership to foster global growth

World leaders pose at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, in 2017. CABINET PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE

Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura (left) and Osaka Governor Ichiro Matsui

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SUSUMU FUJIMAKIMAYOR OF KARUIZAWA

The town of Karuizawa, located on a plateau 1,000 meters above sea level, is surrounded by a beautiful natu-ral environment nestled at the foot of the majestic Mount Asama. A thriving

post town until the Edo Period (1603–1867), Karuizawa won high praise in 1886 from a Canadian missionary, Alexander Croft Shaw, as “a hospital without a roof.” Then it began its history as a place to find respite from the heat and as an international setting for health and recreation. It has since devel-oped as an area of vacation homes, a loca-tion where prominent people from a wide range of fields interact and a site for interna-tional sports competitions; Karuizawa is one of Japan’s preeminent resort areas, welcom-ing some 8.3 million visitors annually.

Visitors to Karuizawa can easily enjoy its natural beauty to the fullest through trekking, cycling and other activities. The town offers a wealth of sports and hot spring facilities, as well as numerous restaurants, lodging, and shopping facilities. Karuizawa enjoys easy access from the Tokyo metropolitan area. It is located just over an hour away by Shinkansen

bullet train and an hour and 40 minutes away by car via the expressway.

Aspiring to be a town firmly grounded in coexistence with nature, Karuizawa promotes greater energy conservation, as well as local production for local consumption in the area of energy. In concrete terms, it is working to reduce environmental impacts by equip-ping public facilities with renewable energy systems and providing subsidies for the instal-lation of residential solar power generation systems and the purchase of electric vehicles.

Through the upcoming Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environ-

ment for Sustainable Growth, Karuizawa will send a message to the world about the impor-tance of energy conversion and conservation of the global environment. At the same time, it wants to introduce the town’s advanced efforts in the hope of providing a guide to peo-ple around the world as they work to build sustainable communities.

Karuizawa intends to put forth its finest efforts to enable participants to experience activities in Karuizawa’s nature and enjoy Jap-anese and other cuisines using an abundance of locally sourced ingredients, thereby helping to foster creativity during the meeting.

A community in harmony with natureKaruizawa, Nagano Pref.: Ministerial meeting on energy transitions and global environment

Karuizawa sits on a 1,000-meter high plateau at the south foot of Mount Asama. TOWN OF KARUIZAWA

KAZUHIKO OIGAWAGOVERNOR OF IBARAKI

Ibaraki Prefecture is characterized by having both indus-try and agriculture, not only highly developed, but also highly in balance. The birthplace of Hitachi, Ltd., Ibaraki boasts clusters of

Japan’s leading manufacturing companies, and it has been the launching point for many global corporations. The prefecture also boasts a thriving agricultural industry, with melons, rice and the premium brand of beef known as Hitachigyu among the items now being exported to overseas markets. International base ports within Ibaraki play a major role in Japan’s physi-cal distribution.

As a general policy that also covers the city of Tsukuba in order to further grow its economy, Ibaraki Prefecture supports efforts to resolve social issues through the use of innovative digital technologies such as autonomous driving and robotics. In addition, the prefecture fosters human resources by using digital equipment to help them play a leading role in the future.

The ministerial meeting’s host city of Tsukuba, Japan’s leading science city

with scores of cutting-edge technologies, is also an international city that is home to roughly 8,700 non-Japanese research-ers and students, representing about 140 countries. The city has been developed over half a century as a science city under national policy. During this time, Tsukuba has produced Nobel laureates and estab-lished research facilities at the highest level in the world. Tsukuba enjoys easy access from Tokyo, located only 45 min-utes from the city center by the Tsukuba Express train.

The prefecture hopes hosting the G20 ministerial meeting will enable it to show the world the way forward for global economic partnerships and digital technology utilization by showcasing its on-going efforts. In welcoming the meeting’s participants, Ibaraki will make use of items produced within the pre-fecture to let people feel for themselves that Tsukuba integrates cutting-edge sci-ence and technology and natural abun-dance, thereby boosting interest in the prefecture.

Technological hub aims for global leadershipTsukuba, Ibaraki Pref.: Ministerial Meeting on Trade and Digital Economy

Central Tsukuba with famed Mount Tsukuba in the background. IBARAKI PREFECTURE

HIDEAKI OHMURAGOVERNOR OF AICHI

Aichi Prefecture, one of the world’s leading industrial regions, is home to both next-generation and tra-ditional industries, notably automobile and aerospace man-ufacturers, robotics firms and other key

fields. Because the area is also home to an abundant pool of outstanding researchers and engineers supporting manufacturing, it also features numerous research institu-tions pursuing advanced endeavors. No less than seven Nobel laureates are con-nected to Aichi Prefecture.

With this collection of globally promi-nent manufacturers as a backdrop, Aichi Prefecture is the very heart of Japan’s economy. Aichi hopes to benefit from the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting through communicating its industrial strengths and cutting-edge technological capabili-ties to the world.

On the contrary, the prefecture in olden days also produced a large number of sam-urai leaders who laid the foundation of early modern Japan. At the Nagoya Castle Honmaru Palace, said to be the finest mas-

terpiece of early modern castle and palace architecture, visitors can view samurai culture such as gorgeous paintings on the sliding doors and panel artwork on the ceiling that bring bygone days to life. The area’s distinctive food culture, notably grilled eel on rice, pork cutlets with miso sauce, chicken wings and flat noodles, also draws visitors to the area.

Aichi has also hosted large-scale events before this meeting, including the 2005 World Exposition, the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Conven-tion on Biological Diversity in 2010, and the UNESCO World Conference on Education

for Sustainable Development (ESD) in 2014. On the occasion of the G7 Ise-Shima Sum-mit in 2016, in addition to the welcome ceremony it conducted at Chubu Centrair International Airport, it also held a welcome reception attended by representatives of the countries participating in the outreach meeting and international organizations.

This ministerial meeting will also make active use of efforts by local volunteers to provide hospitality as a concerted regional undertaking. Aichi Prefecture hopes par-ticipants will see for themselves Japan’s foremost industrial and economic capacity and engage in warmhearted exchanges.

Heart of economy merges tradition, innovationAichi Pref.: Foreign Ministers' Meeting

The iconic Nagoya Castle against a backdrop of the city’s skyscrapers.

MASAO OMORIMAYOR OF OKAYAMA

The city of Okayama, with a population of 720,000, suffers few natural disasters, enjoys a warm cli-mate, and lies at an important point for domestic traffic. As one of western

Japan’s leading convention cities, the num-ber of conventions it hosts has been growing yearly. At the Stakeholder Meetings of the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) held in 2014, Okayama received high praise interna-tionally as a city taking the lead in ESD.

Okayama enjoys an abundance of tourism resources, including numerous remains from a fifth-century kingdom, as well as Okayama Korakuen, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, which was originally landscaped at the end of the 17th century, and has been awarded three Michelin stars. Okayama spe-cialty fruits such as white peaches, muscat grapes and pione grapes are highly regarded both domestically and overseas.

The G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting is scheduled to be in the vicinity of Okayama Station, making it easily accessible in

roughly three hours from Tokyo by Shinkan-sen bullet train and roughly 30 minutes from Okayama Airport by car.

A city advanced in medical treatment and health, Okayama is particularly suited to host the meeting of G20 health ministers. The number of doctors and hospitals per capita places Okayama among the highest-ranked in Japan and the city boasts a high concentration of medical institutions pro-viding highly advanced medical treatment. Taking advantage of these abundant medi-cal treatment resources, the city is working to develop a society in which everyone is able to live in a healthy manner in a place they are used to living, even when requiring medical or nursing care.

Okayama hopes to send out two mes-sages to the world through this ministerial meeting. The first is that health is a foun-dation for building a sustainable society, and that companies and the government need to engage in health promotion as a social issue. The second is that medical care should be provided under the universal health coverage philosophy that states, “no one is left behind.”

The city hopes that those attending the meeting will also enjoy Okayama’s engaging tourism resources and see for themselves the city’s good points through hospitality only found in Okayama and interactions with children who will take on the responsibilities of the next generation.

Offering advanced health care, treatmentOkayama, Okayama Pref.: Health Ministers' Meeting

One of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, Okayama Korakuen has an over 300-year history, with Okayama Castle in the background.

TOKIHIRO NAKAMURA/ KATSUHITO NOSHIGOVERNOR OF EHIME/MAYOR OF MATSUYAMA

Matsuyama is the largest city on the island of Shikoku, with a population of 515,000. Although the city sprang up around Matsuyama Castle, it has long been known as a health resort because of Dogo Onsen, Japan’s oldest hot spring. In reflection of its many tourism resources, Matsuyama has been designated a City of International Tourism and Hot Springs Culture by the national government.

Ehime Prefecture, where Matsuyama is located, is connected to Hiroshima Pre-fecture, its neighbor on the opposite side of the Seto Inland Sea, by nine long-span bridges. The route connecting Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, with Onomichi, Hiro-

shima Prefecture, known as the Shima-nami Kaido Expressway, also features cycling lanes selected by CNN as one of the seven best cycling routes in the world.

The city is supporting telecommuting among the disabled, single parents, women raising small children and others by such poli-cies and measures as cultivating people who can work successfully at home, providing sup-port for job seekers, and creating opportuni-ties for these workers to receive work orders. Moreover, from fiscal 2018, Matsuyama has been making full-scale efforts to be a lead-ing city in realizing work style reform. It is pressing forward with raising work efficiency

through the introduction of IT equipment, while promoting the creation of a wide range of work styles and schedules.

The city of Matsuyama maintains that in order to be an attractive place to live, it must become a city that all residents regard as pleasant to live in, while creating an environment where people can choose work arrangements that best fit with their particular lifestyles. Through this ministe-rial meeting, Matsuyama will show the world the endeavors it is undertaking. The city looks forward to starting a new page toward working to resolve labor and employment issues around the world.

City offers labor reform, work-life balanceMatsuyama, Ehime Pref.: Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting

The famed Dogo Onsen Honkan main building in Matsuyma.

SOICHIRO TAKASHIMAMAYOR OF FUKUOKA

Fukuoka, a city of 1.57 million people with some 2,000 years of his-tory, is a vibrant place with many young people. In contrast to the declines in popula-tion seen in many cities nationwide, Fukuoka is growing at a rate sur-

passing even that of Tokyo. It is also known as one of Japan’s best cities for food, and visitors can enjoy not only the pork bone broth ramen for which the city is famous but also fresh sea-food and stewpot dishes. The city has numer-ous ancient Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples and is also rich in history, tradition, and culture, with events such as the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, which has been reg-istered on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and Hakata-ori textiles, which this year mark their 777th year as a craft.

At the same time, Fukuoka is Japan’s fore-most city for startups and has been desig-nated a National Strategic Special Zone for Global Startups and Job Creation. Govern-ment policies including corporate tax cuts for startups and a relaxation of visa requirements for startup entrepreneurs have brought out-standing human resources from both around

Japan and overseas to Fukuoka, vaulting its start-up ratio into the top tier nationwide.

Capitalizing on these unique and strong points, Fukuoka is working to develop a sus-tainable society that incorporates advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and the “internet of things” in every corner of human life. It also aspires to be a city with a good balance between economic growth and safe, comfortable lifestyles in which people enjoy peace of mind.

The G20 ministerial meeting will be an international gathering bringing together important guests from around the world,

at a scale surpassing anything Fukuoka has hosted in the past. The city hopes its compe-tence in successfully handling even an event of this scale will heighten Fukuoka’s pres-ence on the international stage.

The city hopes that the visitors attending the meeting will enjoy touring both Fukuoka and Kyushu as a whole. The island of Kyushu offers visitors an abundance of unique and attractive points, ranging from cuisine, history and culture to natural beauty and hot springs. The city will actively conduct public relations activities so that both Fukuoka and Kyushu leave a lasting impression on their G20 visitors.

An ideal blend of innovation and quality of lifeFukuoka, Fukuoka Pref.: Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting

Seaside Momochi in the western area of the city features the iconic Fukuoka Tower and other prominent facilities. CITY OF FUKUOKA

Matsuyama Mayor Katsuhito Noshi (left) and Ehime Governor Tokihiro Nakamura

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