Tidy Towns researched for Japanese projects

A JAPANESE representative of local government and the Shizouka Research Institute met with members of the Ennis Tidy Towns group this week to learn from them how they have achieved repeated high standards in the national Tidy Towns competition.

Tomohide Yazawa and his interpreter, Naoko Yamashita met with Noel Crowley, Donal Griffin and Gerry Murphy of the Ennis Tidy Towns committee and were brought on a tour of different parts of Ennis, as well as being briefed on Ennis’ involvement and record in the Tidy Towns competition.
Mr Yazawa explained he is currently carrying out research on behalf of the local authority in Shizouka, Japan on ways to better include the community in the development of their town.
“Part of what they want to do is come up with projects that would involve the community. The issue really is that the population of our area is large, almost four million, so it’s very hard to bring people together for the good of the area and the community.
We are trying to come with ideas to involve people for the good of everyone involved, including the population, the environment and the future,” he said.
Through his research, he came across the Tidy Towns competition and he saw how it had succeeded in encouraging communities to improve their local environment.
Mr Griffin said Mr Yazawa contacted the Department of the Environment as part of his research.
“They informed him about the Tidy Towns competition and he saw all the mentions of Ennis. He came to see what kind of work we do and see if something similar could be done in the area in which he is based,” he explained.
Mr Griffin said Mr Yazawa is very interested in the whole idea and is anxious to develop something similar, on a much larger scale, in his area.
He also told the Tidy Towns group he will maintain contact with them and keep them informed on progress.
Mr Yazawa commented that while Ennis is much smaller than the area he represents, a lot of the same principles could be applied for the good of all.
He was also keen to try to build up some other links with the Ennis community and said he would be eager to make contact in the future also with Ennis Town Council and possibly build up a working relationship and an international link with a school and through business.