---

1. Mie Prefecture Mission visit to São Paulo

Mie Prefecture mission, formed by representatives from industry, education, politics and residents, visited São Paulo in August. During the visit, they received, mainly from local Nikkeis, a strong demand for exemption of Japanese visa for Brazilians.

(Period of visit 16 to August 21, 2013)

2. Activities for the exemption and facilitation for visa conditions

Activities in the prefecture

After this visit, with the relevant authorities’ cooperation, we conducted the proposal to the Japanese government in several ways.

①    August 28: Delivery of the proposal letter from the governor of Mie to the Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kishida.

②    October 18: Proposal adopted in the Chubu Region’s Governors Meeting.

③    November 8: The governor of Mie, along with mayors of 22 municipalities  which have deep relationships with Brazil, submitted the joint proposal to the authorities: the Minister of Justice Sadakazu Tanigaki, the Committee Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission Keiji Furuya and the Senior Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nobuo Kishi, accompanied by the Governor Kamon Iizumi from Tokushima Prefecture and Governor Keizou Hamada, from Kagawa Prefecture.

④    November 8: Proposal adopted at the national conference of governors.

⑤    November 14: The governor of Mie submitted the joint proposal of the 22 municipalities and the joint proposal of Association of Prefectural Governors to Mr. Asou, President of Japan-Brazil Parliamentary League.

Written Opinion presented to the Prefectural Assembly

The suggestion was also accepted during the Prefectural Assembly’s September monthly conference, and Mr. Yamamoto, Chairman of the Prefectural Assembly, and Mr. Nakajima, Chairman of the Brazil-Japan Sub-Commitee of the Mie Prefectural Assembly Comitee for the Promotion of International Exchange, submitted the written opinion to Mr. Mitsuya, Senior Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. (October 30)