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UNESCO, with its headquarters in Paris, carries out various activities based on the principles of the Constitution of UNESCO. Those activities include, for example, the promotion of basic education, the enhancement of all-round education ranging from science & technology education to HIV/AIDS prevention education, water resources control that involves environmental preservation and research on marine resources, World Heritage conservation, the preservation of cultural diversity, information & communication technology education, etc. In addition, UNESCO is working as the lead agency for the promotion of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. In the 33rd session of its general conference held last autumn, the Convention on the Cultural Diversity was adopted by an overwhelming majority of member countries including Japan. (See Short News No. 221) The establishment of the International Center for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM) was also approved at the general conference, and the Center was born in Tsukuba, Japan.

UNESCO, which was founded in 1945, celebrated its 60th anniversary last year.

The non-governmental UNESCO Movement is one of the most notable things that were disseminated from Japan to the rest of the world. The Movement, which started when the Sendai UNESCO Cooperative Association was set up on July 19, 1947, led to the organization of the Asian Pacific UNESCO Clubs and Associations (AFUCA) and the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA). The island country in the East linked the five continents.

The Meguro UNESCO Association was born in 1954, seven years after the Sendai UNESCO Association was founded. In 2004 our association marked its 50th anniversary and started afresh as an NPO. The history of our organization, supported solely by volunteers, is a series of challenges and trials.

2007 is the sixtieth year since the rise of the non-governmental UNESCO Movement. I sincerely hope that the Movement that spread from Japan to the rest of the world will become more widespread and successful. Finally I would like to add that it was decided “July 19” would be “Non-governmental UNESCO Movement Day”.

Reiko Kato, President, Meguro UNESCO Association

18th Meguro City International Exchange Forum

Sponsor: Meguro Board of Education Organizer: NPO Meguro UNESCO Association
Date & Time: Feb. 6, 2006 19:00〜 Venue: Meguro Persimmon Hall (Main Hall)
Performance: Mr. Matanosuke Nakamura, Mr. Kyoshi Nakamura, Mr. Shi-ichi Nakamura
Stage Direction: Mr. Takashi Yamaguchi English Interpretation: Mr. Mark Oshima

At the same time we decided on Kabuki for this year’s program of the International Exchange Forum, we heard the news that ---“Kabuki is selected as a world intangible cultural heritage”!
On November 25, 2005, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), selected Japan’s Kabuki, played under the traditional performing and directing style, for the Third Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This is the third selection from Japan after “Nogaku Theatre” in 2001 and “Ningyo Johruri Bunraku Puppet Theatre” in 2003. Based on Japanese cultural tradition, from the viewpoint of history, art and ethnology, “Kabuki was recognized to have ‘an incomparable value’” (Nikkei Newspaper, November 25).

Seeing that news, our wishes to make the Forum a satisfactory one became stronger and stronger. We would like to extend our gratitude to Mr. Matanosuke Nakamura, an actor and a commentator of this event. Mr. Baigyoku Nakamura and Mr. Kamenojo Nakamura, who performed in our program last year, introduced him to us for this year’s Forum. Because he already had many experiences in the activities to spread Kabuki both in Japan and overseas, we found him a very appropriate person for our program.
The event’s day became a lucky one for us. Although the weather forecast said it would be snowing from early in the evening, we were lucky enough to have a sufficient number of people to fill the 1st floor of the main hall. It was as though heaven had waited for the audience to reach their homes before the snow began to fall.
In Part 1, the commentator, Mr. Matanosuke Nakamura, explained the history of Kabuki as well as the gestures of actors taking the female role and male lead. The event proceeded in a friendly fashion with English interpretation by Mr. Mark Oshima and volunteers from the audience who participated in demonstrations. The commentator, using the big screen on the stage, explained to us how an actor of the female role applies his own make-up and dresses himself in the traditional costumes. Using the screen was the first experience for the event, but it made the best use of the big hall and we found it very effective. Mr. Oshima also used the screen when he explained the titles in English.
After the break, in Part 2, we enjoyed the lovely “Fujimusume” (Wisteria maiden) performed by Mr. Kyoshi Nakamura, and then “Ame No Goro” (Goro in the Rain) by Mr. Matanosuke Nakamura, which showed us the contrasting energetic side of Kabuki.
This was the 18th anniversary of the Forum. Reading the comments from the audience after the show, we found both Japanese and foreigners enjoyed the event very much. They were already looking forward to up coming events and some even expected us to plan this kind of event more times a year, although that would be difficult.
Now, what will we have for next year? You will not be disappointed!
- reported by Fumiko Harada, Public Relations Committee

Shigeo Tajima, an Advisor to Meguro UNESCO Association
I went on an on-site inspection tour to Myanmar from February 20th through March 1st with Ms. Fumiko Harada, Vice President of the Meguro UNESCO Association, Ms. Setsuko Kurotani, a director of the organization, and Ms. Michiko Hisatomi, a member of the organization. The trip had four purposes. The first one was to inspect, encourage and give a monetary grant to the Kyaungkone Primary School Project. The project has been supported by Mr. Sai Non Nutt and a group called “Let’s build schools in Myanmar”, where friends of Nutt belong. Nutt once came to Japan from Myanmar and was very active and popular when he joined in Meguro UNESCO International Friendship Youth Retreat.

The second purpose was to visit the graves of the victims of the Burma Front, where 160, 000 people died, to console the souls. The third purpose was to study Burmese culture including the ruins of Bagan Dynasty. The ruins are one of the three great ruins in the world and said to be designated as a world heritage in the near future. The fourth purpose was to study the feasibility of introducing the World Terakoya Movement in Myanmar. This was a special request from the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan.

We found Kyaungkone Primary School in the middle of a rural area, 37 kilometers to the west of Yangon. When we arrived there, we had a warm welcome from students, the principal, teachers, and representatives of the PTA. We lost no time in exchanging opinions and interacting with people. Ms. Hisatomi, who had brought origami (an art of folding paper) paper with her, showed them how to fold paper in the shape of a crane, balloon and others, with the help of Ms. Kurotani and Ms. Harada. We also talked with teachers about plans for the future. We had a separate meeting with Nutt to talk about the nitty-gritty of school management. The school is run by the government and, as a result, has various restrictions. Under the circumstances, how can the quality of the education be improved? He seemed to have learned the knack of school management from the two-year experience. He looked all the more trustworthy for the experience. Lastly, we planted trees to mark the occasion, promised to return soon and said good-bye.
On the morning of the second day, we visited the Literacy Resource Center (LRC) run by the board of education of Myanmar. We went over the facility and the programs. We also exchanged frank opinions with executive officers. LRC has accomplished a great success recently in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Cultural Center for UNESCO (ACCU). However, they have many problems in managing its subordinate organ, Community Learning Centers (CLC). In this regard, they asked for assistance and corporation from the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan.
In the afternoon, we visited a famous Image of Lying Buddha and the monument to Japanese soldiers in Bogo 70 kilometers northeast to Yangon. We offered flowers and incense in prayer for the souls of the dead.

On the third day, we visited Bagan. The city is said to have as many as 3,300 ruins. The entire city including hotels is within a group of ruins, which we toured by horse and buggy. We saw a beautiful sunset over the Irrawaddy River, and had supper under a sky strewn with stars enjoying folk music and dancing performed in front of us. What a memorable day!
On the fourth day, we flew to the Shan Plateau and stayed at a lakeside hotel. The scenery and the life of the people, each one of them, strongly remain in my heart even now.
On the fifth and sixth day, we went back to Yangon. We visited the Shwedagon Pagoda and a national museum, met and dined with parents of a young man who is staying in Japan to study. We visited graves of Japanese people. We used the time well and virtually accomplished the initial goals.
After the trip, I realized although the country is ruled by the junta, it is one of the most friendly nations. I would like many people, including young people, to visit the project school from Meguro to encourage them and plant trees so that a grove of Meguro can be seen in 20 years.
Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to Nutt for his attentive guiding and for sparing time to stay with us all through the trip, and to President Kato and other members for their warm encouragement and assistance.

(#) The news of Shizuka Arakawa winning the gold medal was broadcasted early morning on Feb. 24, the day of our editorial meeting. I was delighted to hear such encouraging news after days of gloomy news. We hope that our Short News, too, can always provide you with news that makes people happy.

(#) I believe that by the time this issue reaches you, the spring will be in full bloom. And with time moving so fast, the Torino Olympic Winter Games may have already become a past topic.

(#) Now let me look at the pending problem of the bimonthly publication of Short News. Publishing no February issue had an affect on the article of our New Year’s Party. Although it was not anything requiring a very prompt report, the article of our main annual event of the New Year had to end up in the March issue, looking a bit lackluster. We regret that we couldn’t report the efforts of those concerned in
the event earlier.

(#) Even if we continue to publish our newsletter bimonthly in the future, we should try to keep in mind the importance of prompt news reporting and timely announcement of our events.

(Y. Shimizu)