Local Governance in Japan

Yu Noda is Professor at the Faculty of Policy Studies, Doshisha University. He was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar of Public Administration and Policy at Georgetown University in 2014. Since 2024, he has served as Principal of Doshisha Elementary School. In addition, he provided research guidance to graduate students at the Graduate School of Policy and Management at Doshisha University. His educational activities span all age groups from children to older adults. His research focuses on inter-municipal cooperation, performance information and learning effects of citizens, citizen satisfaction with government services, trust in local governments, and governance reforms. His recent articles have appeared in prominent journals, including Public Administration Review, Public Management Review, Local Government Studies, International Review of Administrative Sciences, Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Administration, and International Journal of Public Administration.

• 1.Introduction.- 2. Historical overview of the local government system and central-local relations.- 3. Local council-administration relations.- 4. Local government finance system.- 5. Regional governance.- 6. Local government efficiency.- 7. Program and project evaluation systems in local governments.- 8. Local government and citizens.- 9. Community and NPOs.- 10. Local government and crisis management.- 11. Public-private partnerships for local governments.- 12. Local government and social marketing.- 13. Conclusion.