Liberal Democratic Party members of the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly began periodic meetings this month with representatives of the U.S. Consulate in Osaka-Kobe to enhance diplomacy with the U.S. through better communication, an assembly member said.
"The Japan-U.S. relationship is very important and there are things local governments can do to help," Hyogo Prefectural Assembly member Miya Shidehara said during a recent interview with The Japan Times.
In the Nov. 15 meeting with the U.S. Consulate representatives, the participants, including Shidehara, discussed the importance of the Japan-U.S. relationship and amicable relations with neighboring countries.