2015 年、英国ウェールズで「未来世代のためのウェルビーイング法」が制定されました。 現世代の利益だけでなく、未来世代の幸福をも政策決定に組み込む世界初の法律です。その 立法過程を担った元大臣ジェーン・デイヴィットソンが、自らの体験を交えながら語り尽く した記録『未来のために今日行動する―ウェールズ発「未来世代のためのウェルビーイング 法」ができるまで』をフリーライターの吉田千亜さん（『ルポ 母子避難』、『孤塁：双葉郡消 防士たちの 3・11』著者）にご紹介いただきます。
本書は、ウェールズが世界ではじめて、2015 年に誕生させた「未来世代法」が、どういう プロセスを経て作られていったのか、その地道な取り組みの歴史を紐解き、私たちにヒント をくれる本だ。
それだけではない。著者のジェーン・デイヴィットソンが、自然をいかに愛しているか、と ころどころに散りばめられた豊かな描写によって知ることができる本でもある
In 2015 Wales, UK passed into law the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. This is the first legislation in the world to incorporate the well-being of future generations alongside the interest of the current generation in policy decisions. Jane Davidson, a former minister who oversaw that legislative process wrote a book “Acting today for future —– The journey to Wales’ Well-being of Future Generations Act” a record recounted in full detail, interwoven with personal experience. Chia Yoshida, a freelance journalist and author of "Mother and Child Evacuation" and “Isolated stronghold: 3.11 for firefighters of Futaba-gun” will introduce the book.
This book unravels the history of the painstaking efforts that went into creating the Future Generations Act, the world's first legislation enacted in Wales in 2015, offering valuable insights for all.
2025年10月、ジェーン・デイヴィッドソンは日本語版『#futuregen』（『未来のために今日行動する』）の発売を祝し、ワクワクしながら来日しました。日本版の制作は「NPO未来世代のための市民委員会」代表のきら（河合史惠）さんの並外れた努力による主導のもと、加藤紗代さんが楽しみながら誠実に翻訳しました。今回の来日は、持続可能性と未来世代への責任を法制度に組み込むという本書の理念が、新たな層へ広まる重要な節目となりました。
来日中はブック・ツアーと、東京・大阪・京都、その他地域で、読者・研究者・政治家・政策立案者と交流しました。小さな国であっても、未来志向の大胆な立法で世界的な変化を牽引できることに対する国際的な関心の高まりを反映するものでした。ジェーンは5週間にわたり日本各地で講演し、大阪・関西万博や在東京英国大使館をはじめ、あらゆる場所での好意的な受け止めに、大きな喜びを感じました。
Ym mis Hydref 2025, roedd Jane Davidson yn gyffrous iawn i deithio i Japan i ddathlu cyhoeddiad Japaneaidd #futuregen, prosiect a arweiniwyd gan y rhyfeddol Fumie Kawai (Kira), cydlynydd y CCFG, gyda’r cyfieithiad wedi’i arwain gan y swynol a’r hynod amyneddgar Sayo Kato. Roedd yr ymweliad yn nodi eiliad bwysig i’r llyfr, wrth i’w syniadau am wreiddio cynaliadwyedd a chyfrifoldeb tuag at genedlaethau’r dyfodol mewn deddfwriaeth gyrraedd cynulleidfaoedd newydd.
Roedd y daith yn cynnwys taith lyfr a chyfleoedd i gwrdd â darllenwyr, academyddion, gwleidyddion a llunwyr polisïau yn Tokyo, Osaka a Kyoto a’r cyffiniau, gan adlewyrchu’r diddordeb rhyngwladol cynyddol yn y modd y gall gwledydd bach arwain newid byd-eang drwy ddeddfwriaeth feiddgar sy’n canolbwyntio ar y dyfodol. Treuliodd Jane bum wythnos yn ymgymryd ag ymrwymiadau siarad ledled Japan, ac roedd yn falch iawn o’r croeso cadarnhaol i’r syniadau ym mhobman yr aeth — gan gynnwys Expo Osaka a Llysgenhadaeth Prydain yn Tokyo.
With speakers at the Kinouniya Bookstore event. (Ms. Yoko Kobori, Ms. Izumi Morita, Mr. Michimasa Oe President of Akashi Shoten, Jane, Kira, Prof. Jusen Asuka)
Lecture at the Welsh Government Office, British Embassy in Tokyo
In October 2025, Jane Davidson was excited to travel to Japan to celebrate the Japanese publication of #futuregen, a project led by the extraordinary Fumie Kawai (Kira), the coordinator of the CCFG, with translation led by the delightful and ever patient Sayo Kato. The visit marked an important moment for the book, as its ideas on embedding sustainability and responsibility to future generations in legislation reached new audiences.
At Himeji castle (twinned with Conwy Castle), with Himeji City officials
The trip included a book tour and opportunities to meet readers, academics, politicians and policymakers in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto and their environs, reflecting the growing international interest in how small nations can lead global change through bold, future-focused legislation. Jane spent 5 weeks undertaking speaking engagements across Japan, and was delighted at the positive reception to the ideas wherever she went, including at the Osaka Expo and the British Embassy in Tokyo.
Lecture at Kyoto University coordinated by Prof. Shimamura Takeshi and Prof. Masako Ichihara, The Environment and Law Unit, The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Law and Policy, the University of Kyoto Graduate School of Law
With Mr. Toma Yamazoe, mayor of Yosano Town, Kyoto Prefecture
She was also particularly pleased to follow up on a couple of existing Welsh connections - a longstanding partnership between Aberystwyth and Yosano town where she met students in Yosano Town who she then met again on her return to Wales when they came as part of a regular exchange to Aberystwyth. Also, she was delighted to witness the very special nature restoration work done by the CW Nicol Afan Woodland Trust in the Nagano prefecture, in partnership with the Afan Forest team in Wales.
With students selected for an exchange programme in Aberystwyth.
Jane would like to thank everybody involved in making her visit so memorable - her Home Exchange hosts for their friendship and support, the amazing team behind the book, her Japanese publisher at Akashi Shoten, all the young people who told her their hopes for the future, the parliamentarians and others who gave time to discuss the ideas and a very special thank you to Yoko Kobori who arranged everything!
Panel discussion at the Osaka EXPO (Derek Walker, Wales Future Generations Commissioner, Maher Nasser, Commissioner-General of the United Nations at Expo 2025, Jane, Kira, Erina Imai, moderator and climate activist)
#futuregen is a 'must read' for any person struggling with the environmental protection of future generations. This book details the buildup to the development of the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act which became law in 2015. It is a lesson in strategic planning, positioning and management for anyone who has struggled with any level of governance and attempts to make any form of change in a strong field of very vested interests. You may not have heard of this Act as yet, but you will!
