Video Message from the Governor of Fukui To the UN High Level Meeting
Greetings. My name is Issei Nishikawa, and I am the governor of Fukui Prefecture. I would like first and foremost to express my gratitude to the government of Bhutan for providing me with this rare opportunity. It is a distinct honor to be able to deliver such a message to all who are gathered here today.
It has been a year since the Great East Japan Earthquake, and those who live in the affected areas have continued to commit their energies to the recovery effort. His Highness King Wangchuck was so gracious as to visit Fukushima himself, offering his prayers for its recovery. For this, and for all of the support that so many countries have shown us, I would like to offer my thanks.
Now, I would like to introduce a new field of research currently being undertaken in Fukui Prefecture, focused on “hope” and what affects its formation and maintenance.
Fukui Prefecture enjoys beautiful natural surroundings, a strong sense of community, and rich cultural traditions. It brings me great pleasure to say that we were designated the happiest prefecture in Japan, according to data collected from a survey by one of Japan’s most prestigious universities last year.
It is our obligation as local governing bodies to not only support such happiness, but to discover ways to strengthen and protect it.
I believe that a sense of hope is essential to each individual’s happiness.
It is with this in mind that we in Fukui have worked to identify what contributes to people’s sense of hope. This has led to the research and development of the Local Hope Index, or LHI, and indicator for measuring the hopes of local residents.
Survey data from nearly 4,000 respondents across the country has allowed us to identify 20 factors that contribute to a sense of hope. The results can be seen on this slide.
These 20 factors are further divided into five categories: employment, family environment, health, education, and sense of community.
It is from these five categories and 20 factors that the LHI is formed. The improvement of each of these factors is now an essential part of our local government’s policies. Our primary goals are therefore improving the happiness of prefectural residents, while inspiring a sense of hope in them as well.
In its multidimensional analysis and policy-oriented approach, the fundamental goal of LHI is the same as that of Bhutan’s GNH.
Though our research has only recently begun, we hope to benefit from the knowledge gained from the GNH project, as well as the results of similar projects in the home countries of those in attendance today. Through this, we hope to better the lives of all Fukui residents, as well as to contribute something which might benefit people elsewhere. We will continue to research these factors, and to find new ways to improve the hopes and happiness of the people it is our duty to serve.
Thank you for your time.
「国連ハイレベル会合」 西川知事のビデオレター（訳）
皆さん、はじめまして。日本の福井県の知事、西川一誠である。まず、このような機会を与えてくださったブータン政府に感謝申し上げる。また、皆様に私からのメッセージをお届けできることを、大変、光栄に思う。
東日本大震災から１年がたち、被災地の人々は復興に向けて力強く歩んでいる。ブータンのワンチュク国王は、被災地の福島を訪問し、祈りをささげてくださった。世界中の国々から、ご支援と励ましをいただいた。日本国民の一人として、心より感謝申し上げる。
さて、本日は、福井県が行っている「希望」に関する研究について簡単にご紹介させて頂きたい。
福井県は、ご覧のスライドの位置にあり、自然豊かで、伝統文化やコミュニティのつながりが多く残る県である。本県は、昨年、大学の研究で、様々な統計データを基に、幸福度日本一と評価された。
この県民の幸福を維持し、さらに高めていくことが、我々、地方政府の役割である。
我々は、一人ひとりの希望が幸福に不可欠と考えている。
そこで、福井県では、これらの「希望」が生まれる要素は何かということを探るため、「ふるさと希望指数（ＬＨＩ）」の研究を始めた。
全国の約４，０００人に及ぶアンケート結果を分析し、「希望」につながる２０の要素を抽出した。それらは、このスライドをご覧いただきたい。
２０の要素は、仕事、家族、健康、教育、そして地域・交流の５つの分野に分けることができる。
この２０の要素が「ＬＨＩ」である。我々、福井県は、これらの要素を発展させる政策を進めており、そのことで、県民の希望、幸福が高まることを目指している。
このようなＬＨＩは、人々の幸福を政策の目標にすえるブータンのＧＮＨと考えを共有している。
まだ始めたばかりの研究であるが、今後、ＧＮＨの知見をはじめ、皆様の研究の成果も参考とさせていただき、県民の幸福の向上のため、さらに研究を深めていきたい。
ご清聴に感謝する。
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