| Sep.2 SAT. |
|---|
A committee set up to examine urban planning for Hiroshima Prefecture has reported to the Governor the designated route for a new road between the cities of Otake and Iwakuni. The designation covers the 4.5 km portion of the road in Hiroshima Prefecture, the section in Yamaguchi Prefecture already having been designated.
The plan calls for a road leaving National Route 2 near the Otake city hall and linking with the Hiroshima-Iwakuni Road at Otake. From there the new road follows a southerly route linking up with the Iwakuni bypass, currently under construction.
The road is expected to relieve traffic congestion on National Routes 2 and 188 and the target date for completion is 2010.
A new student group recently established to promote exchanges between overseas students in Hiroshima Prefecture with their Japanese counterparts, plans to intensify its activities. The group is called the Hiroshima Chiiki Ryu-gakusei Kai and plans to set up advice panels for visas & part time jobs and also arrange sporting events. According to the Kokusai Koryu Shitsu at Hiroshima University of Economics, there are currently 1,335 overseas students enrolled at universities, colleges and technical schools throughout the prefecture. Mr George Harada, head of the Kokusai Koryu Shitsu, proposed founding the organisation in 1998 and the founding meeting took place in October the following year. Since then the group has organised various activities, including meetings to advise on how to apply for undergraduate and graduate courses, and meetings to deepen contacts with Japanese students.
In some sense Hondori, the traffic-free street which spans the central area of Hiroshima is the commercial ‘face’ of the city. However, it seems that the customers strolling to and fro along Hondori are not parting with their money. Closing down sales have been occurring with disturbing regularity and at least six stores, specialising in clothes for men and women, have closed or are about to close. One store, Couples Club, operated by Taka-Q and selling casual clothes aimed at 20 and 30 year-olds, has seen turnover drop from \300/\400 million in 1990 to just \100 million last year. The closed shutters can be seen all the way to Kinza-gai, at the eastern end of the arcade. According to the results of a survey carried out by the local traders association, 85% of the 84 shops which responded to the survey had experienced a decline in customers and sales.
When: 6.30, September 21. Where: Phoenix Hall (in the International Conference Centre, Peace Park). Admission: All tickets: \3,500 (for unreserved seats). Doors open at 6 pm. Information: Tickets available from Deodeo, Yamaha, Sogo Shinkan, Eki-mae Fukuya, Hiroshima Yumei Bro., Al-Park Tenmaya. Reservations by telephone: (082) 236 2455.
|
urban 都市の、市街地の |
「新リンク計画中：道路」
広島県都市計画審議会は、大竹市と岩国市を結ぶ新しい岩国大竹道路の一部を諮問通り都市計画決定するよう知事に答申した。広島県内ルートの４．７キロで、山口県内分は既に答申済み。
道路は大竹市役所近くから国道２号線を離れ、同市内で広島岩国道路に接続する予定。さらに、南へ下り、建設中の国道１８８号岩国南バイパスに直結する。
道路は国道２号と１８８号の渋滞解消が目的で、開通予定は２０１０年。
「新リンク計画中：学生交流」
広島県内の外国人留学生と日本人学生との交流を深めるために最近つくられたグループが、活動の幅を広げている。この広島地域留学生会は、ビザやアルバイトの相談に乗ったり、スポーツ大会を開いたりしていく予定。広島経済大国際交流室の調べでは、同県内の大学、短大、専門学校などに留学している外国人留学生は現在１３３５人に上る。同留学生会は、広島経済大国際交流室のジョージ・ハラダ室長が１９９８年に発案、９９年１０月に設立した。以来、大学や大学院の進学説明会や日本人学生との交流の進め方について研修会を開くなど、さまざまな活動をしてきた。
「本通りの寒い夏」
車の交通がなく、広島の中心部に広がっている本通りは、ある意味、広島商店街の顔と言える。しかし、本通りを行き交う客は、お金を使っていないようだ。通りでは閉店セールが相次いでおり、少なくとも紳士・婦人服計６店が閉店、または閉店を予定している。そのうちの一つ、タカキュー経営の「カプルスクラブ」は、２０−３０代向けのカジュアルウエア店で、１９９０年には年間売上高が３、４億円あったが、昨年はわずか一億円に落ちた。シャッターを下ろしたままの店は、東端の金座街まで、アーケードのあちこちで見られる。広島本通商店街振興組合の調査では、回答のあった８４社のうち、８５％が「客数、売上とも減った」としている。