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I used the phrase “Period of Change” for the past decade when I edited the history of the Meguro UNESCO Association which will be published commemorating the fiftieth anniver- sary of its founding. The period of change started half a century after the end of the world war two in 1945. The year saw the foundation of UNESCO on November 16th following the effect of the Charter of the United Nations on October 24th. Japanese citizens who aspired for peace, organized the National Federation of UNESCO Co-operative Associations. It was the world’s first nongovernmental UNESCO movement. After celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of UNESCO’s establishment, the Meguro UNESCO Association also commemorated its fiftieth anniversary in October last year. On the first of the same month, the voluntary organization was incorporated as a specified Non-Profit Organization.

What came to my mind when the organi- zation started its new fiscal year, is how warmly local people have nurtured the organization. I hope we will be able to keep going as a lively organization, respecting its history as well as facing up to our responsibilities more sincerely. The officials and directors’ term will expire with the General Assembly in May. I look forward to a fresh wind blowing in, while low-key efforts will continue as in the past.

On April 25th (Mon), the Disaster Relief Charity Concert for Great Sumatra Earthquake & Indian Ocean Tsunami will be held under the joint auspices of Meguro International Friendship Association and Meguro Foundation of Art and Culture. The event is this year’s first important undertaking. Not only support organizations and co-sponsoring institutions, but also many other groups and even town councils will come together for the same propose. The evening concert will build a heartfelt bridge that will reach people in Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka across the seas.

Japan is confronted with problems with other Asian nations. While political settlement is being sought, nongovernmental movements based on the UNESCO spirit are indispensable. I would like to call again for more people’s cooperation in each UNESCO activity.

(Reiko Kato, President of the Meguro UNESCO Association)

The first general assembly of NPO Meguro UNESCO Association is to be held on May 14, Sat. from 14:00 at Moriya Kyoiku Kaikan. Preceding the general assembly, the first board meeting of the new fiscal year was held on April 4, Mon. to discuss restructuring our body as an NPO and to review our past events and activities. The following plans, if approved, will be implemented after the new board members are elected at the coming general assembly.
First, to streamline the organization, the number of committees will be vastly reduced from ten to five. The following are the five committees in the new structure.
1) The Training Program Committee, which will promote understanding of UNESCO activities, enlightening both members and non-members, in addition to pursuing its conventional activities of providing Japanese and other language classes
2) The Youth Activity Committee, which will include the current UNESCO School Administration Committee
3) The Support Activity Committee, which will aim to support Terakoya projects, scholarship programs, disaster relief activities at home and abroad, conservation of World Heritages, etc.
4) The Art and Cultural Activity Committee
5) The Public Relations Committee
Secondly, a steering committee consisting of people with the full knowledge of individual committee’s day-to-day activities will be formed for the better functioning of our association. Board meetings, especially when each of the ten committees made their detailed reports, didn’t have enough time to discuss important issues, which, as a result, had to be carried over to the next meeting. Therefore the agenda of board meetings hereafter will be limited to such important items as the articles of incorporation. Entrusting a fairly large part of its work to the steering committee, the board meeting will be held less frequently.
Lastly, the Secretariat will be more systematized. It will consist of the following three sections.
1) The general affairs section, which will handle day-to-day office work, prepare for the general assembly, board meetings, etc., plan various UNESCO activities, and make coordination between the committees
2) The liaison section, which will handle liaison and coordination with Meguro Board of Education, Meguro City, Meguro International Friendship Association, National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan, etc.
3) The finance section, which will be in charge of accounting and property management

The 50th anniversary of our association celebrated, we are now at the very turning point. Having made a fresh start as an NPO, we would like to relearn the original spirit of UNESCO. We have to ask ourselves, “What is really necessary? Are we getting in a rut? Are we wasting energy? Are we working hard enough to spread UNESCO spirit?” The world today is in chaos, with no sign of peace. Some people say that the United Nations is on the verge of a crisis. What about UNESCO? Is it functioning? There seem to be many problems we should think about.

For the reelection of board members, a nomination committee was set up to recruit candidates. You can become a candidate yourself or recommend somebody else. Please mail an enclosed paper with a candidate’s name on it to the nomination committee. And be sure to attend the generally assembly on May 14.

A series of lectures named “Cross-cultural Experience ? Asia” was held at Midorigaoka Cultural Hall on Saturday, Jan. 29 through Feb. 26, 2005. After the lectures “Southeast Asia in the light of traditional cultures ? ethnic costume and people’s lives in Indonesia”, “Asian food culture in view of Thai dishes”, and “Present situation of former colonial cities in Cambodia and Vietnam”, each given by a specialist, Meguro UNESCO rounded the series off on Feb. 26 with “Let’s learn about Asia ? cross-cultural exchange over a cup of tea”.
We had asked three friendship members, Endang Katmiwaty from Indonesia, Suigen Namiki from Taiwan, and Mohammed Akramul from Bangladesh, to cooperate with this program. Three other people residing in Komaba International Students House, Yan Putra from Indonesia, Nguen Thanh Khac from Vietnam, and Ny Muo from Cambodia kindly joined us.
First, Ms. Endan, playing the guitar, instructed the participants how to sing Indonesian songs, and they all sang in chorus. Then, Mr. Namiki taught Qigong the way everyone could learn it very easily, and all the participants performed Qigong together. Finally Mr. Akramul, making Indian Chai tea in front of the spectators, explained various spices and the knack of making delicious tea. Everybody liked the tea served with Thai cookies, and most of them wanted another cup.
The international students, after introducing themselves, shyly told the participants what their dreams were. They said they wanted, after returning to their own countries in the future, to make the most of what they were now learning in Japan.
According to the questionnaire results, the person in charge at the Cultural Hall told me later, many participants seemed to have had a very good time and enjoyed Qigong. As always, I was impressed by each friendship member’s excellent performance. They had a good knowledge of their own countries and gave appropriate answers to any question. I feel grateful that we were able to do what we, Meguro UNESCO Association, were expected to do.

(Written by T. Hashimoto)

Date: March 10 (Thurs), 2005, 9:00-19:30
Place: Plaza HEISEI, Tokyo International Exchange Center (2-79 Aomi, Koto-ku)

An international conference, sponsored by Japan Student Services Organization, welcomed Mr. Monte Cassim, president of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, as a keynote speaker. Many panelists and commentators from the US, Sweden and other countries also participated. The conference gave us a good chance to think about the issues between international students and the Japanese community.

In one of the sessions, Meguro UNESCO, as a nongovernmental UNESCO association, presented a case study under the theme "You can take part in an international exchange close to you". This was based on our actual experiences and it was an honor to be given the chance to present our activities on such an occasion. Dialog between international students is at the center of our youth activities. The annual summer International Friendship Youth Retreat is a real example of international exchange between students. The retreat, a three-day residential camp, celebrated its 15th anniversary last year and has hosted almost 1,000 participants altogether. Our collection of national flags exceeds 60, representing the countries of young people who have attended. Many seeds of friendship between people who met at the camp have grown and blossomed over a long time period. One such result is a movement to establish a school in Myanmar, which started from relationships between Japanese and international students. Also, a disaster relief charity concert on April 25, started as a result of the ties with students from Sri Lanka.
"International students are the key to open local community to the world - its idea, strategy, and scheme" was the common theme of the sessions. Young people can learn about foreign countries through those nation’s students, enabling them to easily widen their area of activities. What an amazing opportunity to take action!
The International Friendship Youth Retreat is now seeking a new course following the closure of the Wada Village facility. Through the sessions, we are reminded of the importance of continuing the exchange activity and passing it on to next generation, even though we will have to change the style. To deepen this activity, what kind of strategy is needed to maintain relationships with international students? This year is the turning point to construct a new system.

(Written by F. Harada)

(#) The cherry trees in the yard of Gohongi Elementary School were in full bloom when we gathered for the editorial meeting this month. That day, we had a lively discussion over the purpose and content of the “organiza- tional restructuring” to be performed in view of our new status as an NPO.

(#) Starting with the purpose of UNESCO activities, the discussion went on to cover a wide range of topics, such as the aim of our becoming an NPO, and the UN reform.

(#) Our Secretary-General, Ms. Harada, who is busy arranging for the forthcoming charity concert, stood to tell us about her impressions as she negotiated with various organizations including the Meguro Corporation Association, Meguro Branch of Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and others.

(#) According to her, it is her feeling that more people have come to trust the Meguro UNESCO, which made her realize the significance of what the NPO status seemed to have. But at the same time, of course, she said that such could have only been built on the many years of strenuous efforts by President Kato and others, so that is what’s really important.

(#) Members of the PR committee were totally convinced by her comments that the merits arising from the NPO status will slowly but surely take shape in the future.

(M. Saito)