City of Lifelong Learning Declaration

In April 1979, Kakegawa City became the first city in Japan to make the City of Lifelong Learning Declaration. On April 1, 2005, the new Kakegawa City was established from the amalgamation of the city and two towns. With this amalgamation the city assembly took the opportunity on December 21, 2007 to renew the City of Lifelong Learning Declaration.

Lifelong learning in Kakegawa is not just about having learning opportunities throughout one's life. It is about continuing learning and utilizing the aquired knowledge in community and personal development. The declaration was made with the consensus between the Kakegawa City citizens and administration to demonstrate the creation of a fulfilling life through lifelong learning and of a city that is pleasant to live in.

City of Lifelong Learning Declaration

I.) Through continuing lifelong learning the citizens of Kakegawa City will search for and question their role in society through various occupations, culture and sports, in order to feel happiness and live healthily with a purpose in life.

II.) So Kakegawa City can become a high-spirited rural city, a city with thriving agriculture and abundant nature and a welfare and recreation city with various policies, we will make all of Kakegawa City like a beautiful park and campus, and create a city that cooperates to bring out a reason to live in all the citizens.

III.) In order to fulfill their responsibilities to future generations, the Kakegawa citizens and administration will protect the environment and run the administration and finance in a planned way. The citizens will aim for a Kakegawa city of dignified people, loving families and a high quality of living, and will develop Kakegawa learning from the sea, mountains, roads and the spirit of gratitude. They will also build a slow-paced, abundant lifelong learning society.

IV) We make this City of Lifelong Learning Declaration and will implement it practically as we believe the above points are extremely important for a long, healthy, secure and safe life.

December 21, 2007

The Process to the Enactment of the Declaration

April 1979	Resolution of old Kakegawa City's 'City of Lifelong Learning Declaration'
March 1990	Formulation of old Daito Town's 'Framework for Community Development through Lifelong Learning'
April 1990	Formulation of old Osuka Town's 'Lifelong Learning Promotion Outline '
April 1, 2005	Establishment of the new Kakegawa City
September 20, 2007	City assembly request for the renewal of the 'City of Lifelong Learning Declaration'
December 21, 2007	Resolution by the city assembly for the 'City of Lifelong Learning Declaration'