Seiichiro Takahashi, a consul general for Japan based in Boston, is a big fan of Ben & Jerry’s, as well as the popular Japanese curry product that bears Vermont’s name. (Apparently, that circuitous Barre-to-Tokyo culinary connection was forged through this 1958 dietary health book).
But as it stands, Takahashi told lawmakers on the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee Tuesday morning, Vermont’s business relations with Japan are “relatively untapped.”
“This year,” he said, “my special attention goes to your state.”
Vermont has an established sister-state relationship with Japan’s Tottori Prefecture, which Gov. Phil Scott signed in 2018. H.674, which passed in the House last week, would seek to strengthen such relationships and pursue new cultural and economic connections with foreign governments.
Vermont’s Japanese language acquisition programs, particularly at Middlebury College, will be key in training the next generation of competent speakers outside Japan, Takahashi told lawmakers.
Japan was also among the largest buyers of Vermont’s exports in the late 20th century, according to the consulate’s website. While more recent data suggests that the relationship has since faded somewhat, Rep. Jonathan Cooper, D-Pownal, said in an interview that Japan’s economic presence in the state is still crucial for his district and the state at large. The NSK automotive steering system manufacturing plant in Bennington, which employs a workforce of hundreds, exists under Japanese ownership.
“There’s a direct tie between Bennington’s economy,” said Cooper, who was the committee’s point person for the visit, “and, you know, the interest of the consul general.”
For Cooper, building relationships over time through conversations like Tuesday’s is a crucial, low-cost way to make foreign politicians and investors aware of the state’s possibilities.
Takahashi also recently visited Beta Technologies in South Burlington, and said in an interview that he thought the fast-growing airplane maker had “huge potential” for expanding the company’s existing Japanese partnerships. He also wants to see more food and dining industry collaborations between his country and Vermont, he said.
The officials exchanged baseball jokes (even though the Dodgers have “almost become a Japanese team,” Takahashi is sticking with the Red Sox), and parted with the suggestion of an annual “Japan day” in Vermont.
— Theo Wells-Spackman
In the know
How can the state help youth struggling with their mental health?
With an app, according to Laura Tully, who works for the company that owns mental health services platform Soluna. Lawmakers in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard from Tully Tuesday on why they should consider their platform for youth.
On the app, kids can meet with mental health counselors or professionals. They can write posts and respond to posts from other people. To maintain safety, moderators review all posts before they’re published on the app, rather than after the fact, Tully said. That leaves “no possibility for unsafe or unsavory reactions,” she said.
Other states, like New Jersey and California, pay for the app with state dollars so that kids can have access to the app free of charge, Tully said. More than 160,000 kids in California use the app, she said.
— Charlotte Oliver
On the move
Gov. Phil Scott signed one of this year’s first big public health initiatives into law Tuesday.
The legislation, H.545, aims to bolster Vermont’s independence in issuing vaccine guidance and purchasing vaccines, as the federal bodies the state has long relied on to do so pull away from the prevailing public health guidance surrounding immunizations.
“We’ve seen the value in using science and data when making decisions about the health of Vermonters,” Scott wrote in a press release. “Getting vaccinated is the best way for us to protect ourselves and others, and this bill helps make sure vaccines remain accessible and affordable in Vermont.”
The legislation authorizes the state commissioner of health to issue immunization recommendations, and it would create a Vermont Immunization Advisory Council, stacked with physicians, researchers and public school reps appointed by the governor, as well as representatives from a number of state offices.
The law broadens the power of the state to purchase vaccines directly from a manufacturer or vendor, not just from the federal Centers for Disease Control. The current requirement for the state to buy directly through the CDC delayed its ability to provide Covid-19 booster shots to pediatricians and health care clinics this fall.
The law also includes a subsection that would go into effect in 2031 allowing pharmacists to prescribe and administer a number of drugs, including epipens, fluoride supplements and some hormonal contraceptives.
— Olivia Gieger
