I worked as a dispatched official for one year from Kawasaki City to the Secretariat of Asian Network of Major Cities 21 (ANMC21). Looking back on the past year, I would like to share with you my work and the experiences I had through my responsibility at the ANMC21.

Let me briefly introduce myself first. Before working as an administrative officer, I traveled alone in Asia, mainly the South East Asia, for more than half a year carrying just my backpack. Even after returning home, I continued to cherish a passion in my daily life for the landscapes, cultures, exchanges with people and dynamism toward the future that I had experienced during the trip in Asia.
Just when those memories were beginning to fade, I was offered an opportunity to work at the International Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) by a series of happy accidents. My passion, which I had almost forgotten, vividly rose into my mind. In April 2012, I assumed a new post with both concerns and hopes that I had experienced during my trip.

I would like to start with my experience at the ANMC21 Exhibition, which was one of my most memorable works. The ANMC21 Exhibition is held every year in conjunction with the ANMC21 Plenary Meeting for the purpose of extensively publicizing the city policies, tourism and culture targeting the public. The exhibition consists of the PR activities of the participating cities, the introduction of the ANMC21 joint projects, the exhibition of paintings by children and performances on the stage to promote each city's culture.
One of the features of the exhibition, which was held this time at the large-scale general resort "Marina Bay Sands" in conjunction with the World City Summit, and also simultaneously with other large-scale events, including the International Water Week and the CleanEnviro Summit. Therefore, about 18,500 participants both from the public and the private sectors came to the exhibition, creating a different atmosphere from other years. In addition, the ANMC21 Exhibition was held under the auspices of Singapore, the host country of all these events, with a highly practical theme, including the presentation of the technologies held by companies based in each participating city. In response to this, the TMG made a plan for the booth with the exhibition theme of "Tokyo's City Plans and Innovative Corporate Technologies."

The performances on the stage to promote culture in each city were carried out at the seaside event venue located in Marina Bay Sands. Two groups selected from Tokyo's "Heaven Artists" program were on stage – "Slayers," which gave a powerful performance of a more than three-meter-tall monster and a magic boy, "Koyama Yasunobu," who performed a thrilling act with use of a wooden spinning top Edo Goma. As well as these two groups, the stage was joined by "Tenko," a Japanese group, usually offering performance in Singapore with the Japanese drums, and performers from other member cities – Singapore, Jakarta and Taipei.
The artists from each city gave enthusiastic performances for three days at the stage that was set up between the majestic buildings at Marina Bay Sands and the sea filled with light and surrounded by skyscrapers. At first, I watched the performances by the artist from Tokyo with a pounding heart. One performance was suspended in the middle due to a sudden downpour, which made me uneasy. The sky, however, cleared up soon, and the performance ended as a great success with many audiences, who stopped by to watch the performance on the stage.

The artists from each city gave enthusiastic performances for three days at the stage that was set up between the majestic buildings at Marina Bay Sands and the sea filled with light and surrounded by skyscrapers. At first, I watched the performances by the artist from Tokyo with a pounding heart. One performance was suspended in the middle due to a sudden downpour, which made me uneasy. The sky, however, cleared up soon, and the performance ended as a great success with many audiences, who stopped by to watch the performance on the stage.

Finally on the last day of the performances on the stage when the Plenary Meeting and the ANMC21 Exhibition had been already closed, I was gradually released from the heavy pressure and could enjoy relaxing while watching the performances from other cities. The sky and sea were taking on the glow of the sun that was about to set over the skyline, and rich colors and sounds from each city were harmonized on the stage. The performances of every city were terrific. By that time, I could watch them while sincerely wishing their success and felt that the countries in Asia became as one. Furthermore, the audiences and performers from each city off the stage were enjoying taking pictures, talking and congratulating each other. I stayed backstage almost all the time and did not have much chance to join them in such a peaceful atmosphere. However, I could really feel that I had managed to close the event as well as the ANMC21 Exhibition. Moreover, I deeply appreciated the wonderful performances delivered on the stages and many moving experiences that had been shared with the audiences and performers, with a sense of accomplishment and joy that gradually welled up in my heart.

Before closing, I would like quote very impressive, warm and encouraging words from one of the visitors to the ANMC21 Exhibition.
The person to whom I am referring to here has had many years' experience in the work in the private sector to support the Japanese companies doing business in Singapore. "Every day, we are having a very tough time advancing into a new land with a different culture, establishing a local network and taking firm root there. How assuring it is that the government takes the initiative in paving the way and builds a foundation like this!"
Although the booth at the ANMC21 Exhibition had already been set up, I had been nervous about the exhibition for the following three days, so these words were encouraging and moving to me.

I am firmly convinced that the Asian nations will continue to carry out exchange with each other and make a leap forward. With a greater passion for Asia, I will return to my work in Kawasaki City in April. Taking advantage of the experiences I had here, I am more eager to contribute extensively to Asia sometime and somewhere again as an administrative officer.