e-ShortNews

Reiko Kato, President of Meguro UNESCO Association

This year celebrates the 55th year of the foundation of Meguro UNESCO Association. On October the 3rd, 1954, the foundation meeting took place with special guests from Meguro City, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Metropolitan Board of Education. Looking back at our activities during the period of a half century, the first thing that comes to mind is that we, Meguro UNESCO Association, organized the National Convention of UNESCO Movement for the first time last June. Thanks to the members’ efforts and dedication, night and day, the Convention was a great success. Here, I want to express my gratitude for your generous cooperation.
Usually the National Convention holds a reception, but instead, we had Wai Wai Hiroba - Open Space for Exchange and Information. At the exhibition booth we displayed panels based on the Convention theme, ”You are the One Who Creates Tomorrow’s Earth”, and at the International Exchange Forum, friendship members of Meguro UNESCO Japanese Language Classes and people from near-by embassies got together and had a heartwarming mix and mingle. Having found out from meeting minutes that people from the Philippines, China, Cambodia, France and Belgium also attended the foundation meeting, I feel the spirit of the past is still very vivid in the present.
Meguro UNESCO School and other activities must have been very active at the beginning as well, but I am happily surprised to count the actual number of activities led by Meguro UNESCO Association now. There are 38 classes aiming at the understanding of UNESCO Movement and foreign language acquisition (29 Japanese, 9 others) a week, and there are other activities, such as bazaars, concerts, lecture series, art exhibitions, interchange meetings including presentations of Japanese culture, collecting spoiled postcards, and activities for and by the youth. As you can see our activities are almost countless, and they are all open to the public. In addition, publications of newsletters (Short News) both in Japanese and English, management of our homepage, participation in UNESCO activity study sessions as well as local events are all run by the volunteers.
One other thing I would like to mention is that our steady efforts for the World Terakoya Movement, Conservation of World Heritage and Emergency Support for Disaster, seem quite fruitful. We started such financial support activities with a charity concert in March 1975, and in thirty-some years since then we have raised more than twenty-seven million yen. Probably it is not the amount of money that matters, but it certainly shows our wish to do something worthwhile for world peace. I really appreciate your efforts and enthusiasm.
The mission statement made at the foundation states that we wish to spread the UNESCO spirit and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and become a drop of water to brighten the community we live in. What we are at present shows our earnest pursuit for peace following the footsteps of our predecessors.
One of the Nobel Prize recipients, Toshihide Masukawa, says, “Looking around the Earth, I can’t be persuaded that we have established a peaceful and affluent world. I wish to see the society where human wisdom reaches at every nook and corner.”
One of the conditions of establishing a world without wars and fights, demands everyone to be considerate and understanding toward others. I sincerely hope that such attitude will prevail all over the world. This is the spirit and aspiration of UNESCO.
I continue to wish that we work together and cooperate with each other under the spirit of this association again this year.

Date: Oct. 4 (Sat.), 2008 / Place: Gymnasium of Gohongi Elementary School

I was worried that the Gymnasium of Gohongi Elemental School was too wide when it was chosen for holding the Meguro UNESCO International Exchange Bazaar. However, the experienced members of Meguro UNESCO Association had many ideas to use the space: exhibiting flags of various nations, displaying panels that explain the World Terakoya Movement, showing videos of UNESCO activities, and also the special event for children “Let’s make friends with foreigners by enjoying quiz games”.
We ardently gathered the donations, which is the most important matter for this event, and also volunteer staff. A lot of members of Meguro UNESCO cooperated to prepare the event: putting the price tags, setting up bazaar booths, selling, and cleaning up. We deeply thank the kindness and warmth of the members who always carry out this support work so reliably.
Unluckily the day fell on the autumn festival day or outing day, and it was regrettable there were so few children. However, many friendship members, youth members, and the participants of our summer youth program came to this bazaar that was held after an interval of 2 years. We hope that a part of our nongovernmental UNESCO activities was understood by people from Gohongi Elemental School and in neighborhood. Thanks to everybody, sales were more than expected at \227,570. We would like to use this profit to support UNESCO’s World Terakoya Movement.
-reported by Masumi Saito, in charge of the bazaar

Jinichiro Eto, member of Meguro UNESCO Association

From October 22 to 26, the UNESCO Art Exhibition was held at Kumin Gallery of the Meguro Museum of Art. I submitted a photo and a bird carving there for the first time. This year marks the 50th exhibition since its beginning in 1957. Fantastic works by 40 or more members, including 9 artists (some of whom are now deceased) who had participated in the very first exhibition, were displayed in every corner of the hall. Displayed were unique and individualistic works in different genres. I appreciated the spectacular exhibit with great interest.
Paintings by Iraqi and Japanese children were also exhibited there. I thought the event should have been publicized more in advance to let more people look at the paintings by war-affected children in Iraq; especially shocking paintings that depict the damage by depleted uranium shells.
About 400 people visited the exhibition during these 5 days. All of them were earnestly looking at the works. The next exhibition will be held in 2010. I hope my humble efforts will result in this meaningful event becoming even more outstanding.

Lectured by Mr. Maki Sato, Secretary General of Japan Iraq Medical Network (JIM-NET)
Sponsored by Meguro Board of Education
Organized by NPO Meguro UNESCO Association
The lecture was held from 14:00 on October 25th (Sat) at the Kumin Gallery of the Meguro Museum of Art with some 30 people present. This was a second lecture, following the first one held in 2004, entitled, “Art Exhibition by Iraqi Children and a Story”. It has been five years since the Iraqi War was started. Looking back to ask to ourselves what the occupation of Iraq has achieved, we can see that the war has brought about refugees, displaced people, children suffering from cancer, and an unending war…. We suspect that the depleted uranium shells and chemical weapons used in the war constitute a major cause of cancer as well as environmental destruction. Sabreen Hafed had her cancer-affected eye removed. Aya Drid had to have her leg amputated at the groin. Salman Mohamed cannot keep his nose from bleeding. The appeal made in the paintings is No War! They are filled with “the feeling that could not be adequately expressed, even in the sheets of paper collected from all over the world.” Mr. Sato spoke while pointing at the exhibits that had been painted by children who are studying in a class in hospital. “Food aid is effective of course, but many lives also can be saved if medicines are available. What can Japanese people do? JIM-NET is running a chocolate fund-raising campaign to provide medicine that costs 400 yen per person a day” he said.
Meguro UNESCO Association hurriedly created postcards with paintings by Iraqi children in time for the art exhibition (* NFUAJ subsidy to promote grassroots activities was appropriated.) I hope the light toned cards can help to tell people the horrors of the war and to heal the minds and bodies of children in the class in hospital. Meguro UNESCO Association is considering further cooperation by printing additional cards, etc.
-reported by Fumiko Harada, PR Committee

〜Trio Recital produced by Yumi Yamagata〜
Nana Inoue, member of Meguro UNESCO Association

The peace concert held at Meguro Persimmon Hall on Fri. Nov. 7 started with children of Meguro UNESCO Junior Club CHIKYU reciting “My Pledge for Peace”. The performance was a trio recital by Yumi Yamagata (flute), Risako Hayakawa (harp), and Satoshi Takeshima (marimba). The concert program was created by Ms. Yamagata herself. It was a very enjoyable program rich in variety, ranging from classical masterpieces to contemporary music. It was interesting to hear the performers comment on a composition before rendering it. They also told us about their own instrument including some of the difficulties of playing it. The music selected for this concert as well as the performers’ comments made me realize that it was really a “peace” concert. I was enraptured by the beautiful sound of the flute and the harp, and stared in admiration at the marimba player manipulating various mallets skillfully and energetically. This peace concert titled “Message of Peace and Culture for the Next Generation” ended amidst great applause from the audience as if responding to the thoughts of Ms. Yamagata who said, “Today we played wishing for peace.” Many pupils and junior high school students were there as invited guests this year, too. I wish they will become interested in art and culture, and work for the construction of a culture of peace.

The 21st Meguro City International Exchange Forum
Ino Tadataka Museum & Tour of the Twelve Bridges of Itako
(Charter Bus Tour to Sawara & Itako)
Sponsor: Meguro Board of Education / Organizer: Meguro UNESCO Association
Nov. 30, 2008 / 85 participants including 30 foreigners
Keiko Kajitani, Director of Meguro UNESCO Association

Please take a look at the photo here. You will recognize boatwomen, on the both edges of the Itako-bune (rowboat). They were beautiful brides, 50 some years ago, going to their bridegroom’s house in an Itako-bune. This photo was taken after we enjoyed the breeze along the riverside. 12 people embarked into each of 7 rowboats.
Clear and high skies. A giant ginkgo tree in front of Dashi Kaikan (Float Hall) on the premises of Yasaka Shrine changed its leaves into beautiful burning yellow. No wonder people were releasing shutters with camera lenses pointing upward! Then we slowly strolled along the traditional houses until we arrived at the Ino Tadataka Museum. (Ino Tadataka was known for completing the first map of Japan using modern surveying techniques.)
Unexpectedly, Mr. Kobayahsi, Manager of Lively Town Promotion Department, Katori City Office, showed us around the museum. We were surprised to see the old maps of Japan in high quality, which found little disadvantage, even comparing to the modern maps. It is said that Tadataka started his travel around Japan in 1800 after he retired from his work as a land lord at the age of 55.
Most of the attendees fell asleep during the return bus to Tokyo. Perhaps they were dreaming about a Venetian boat trip after enjoying Japanese Venetian town. Thank you so much. I am sure you all have enjoyed the trip!