e-ShortNews

Fumiko Harada, Director of Meguro UNESCO Association and
Vice President of Tokyo Liaison Council of UNESCO Associations

　The phrase “Tokyo Liaison Council of UNESCO Associations” sometimes appears in the Short News of the Meguro UNESCO Association. It is the name of an organization that has been established for exchanges and cooperation among Tokyo-based UNESCO Associations, clubs, etc. as well as the promotion of nongovernmental UNESCO activities. To achieve that goal, it has set up a committee to expand the organization, promote the establishment of a new UNESCO Association, and spread and support UNESCO activities among young people. Member organizations work together to hold events as needed. For example, the organization managed the National Convention held in Meguro last year. It also organized a children’s camp, a Cambodia study tour, etc. It has now started preparations for the UNESCO Activity Study Session for the Kanto District to be held in Tokyo in 2010.

　The Meguro UNESCO Association was founded in 1954. The history of the Tokyo Liaison Council of UNESCO Associations seems to have started in 1961, when the 17th National Convention was held in Tokyo. It can be assumed that the predecessor of the organization with a different name was formed then. Now, there are 279 nongovernmental UNESCO organizations in Japan under the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan (NFUAJ) and about 3,600 of them in the world.

　Incidentally, Ms. Kato, President of the Meguro UNESCO Association also holds the position of vice President of NFUAJ. Mr. Eiji Hattori, advisor of the Meguro UNESCO Association, is also honorary president of WFUCA (World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations). They are brilliant leaders worthy of an Association that operates locally and internationally.

　The Tokyo Liaison Council of UNESCO Associations consists of 14 affiliated bodies with different sizes, bases and activities. The Council is made up of 2 directors elected from each Association, and councilors in proportion to the number of members, from whom the president, vice presidents, director-general and auditors are selected. Each Association conducts distinct activities featuring its own regionality and tradition. Recently, newsletters of the Tokyo Liaison Council of UNESCO Associations, published via e-mail, have been giving updates on various Associations, opening the way to cross-organizational participation in a lecture, a concert and other events.

　Although our grassroots organizations have various characteristics and features, they can achieve more fruitful results when they join hearts and resources. I would like to think that when we can expand the circle of this solidarity to the global level, nongovernmental UNESCO movements will flourish and we will be able to feel world peace being brought closer.

-translated by Hiroko Minowa

an. 31, 2009 12:30- / Lunch Room of Gohongi Elementary School / 90 participants

Unfortunately it was a rainy day, but when I entered the lunch room, the bright smile of the Meguro UNESCO members and a lot of the dishes on the table greeted me.
The party started with greetings from Ms. Kato (president of Meguro UNESCO), in which she announced that it is the 55th year since Meguro UNESCO started. Mr. Aoki who is Mayor of Meguro City, the vice-principal of Gohongi Elementary School and many participants took part in this party in spite of their busy schedules.
During lunch and chatting, there were some performances such as the chorus by the children of Meguro UNESCO Junior Club “Cosmos” and the brass band playing by the youth. After that, there was an entertainment called “Nininbaori”, which is an old Japanese game, and the room was filled with big laughter from everyone. Thanks to the courageous young people who took up the challenge. After lunch, the dance YMCA instructed by the friendship member Samira-san made us work out very comfortably. At last, the party was ended with fun lottery as usual.
It was a heart-warming exchange party between the members at New Year. I hope that it was a good opportunity for the people who participated for the first time to be interested in our UNESCO activities, and that they will join us here after.
When I got out the room, the rain had stopped and I thought there were bright prospects for Meguro UNESCO.
-written by Atsuko Shimizu and translated by Mami Kawaguchi

Meguro UNESCO Exchange Salon: Japanese Home-style Dishes for Guests
2009.2.19 (12:15~14:30) / Nakameguro Square Cooking Room / 35 participants

25 friendship members studying in Meguro UNESCO Japanese classes learned Japanese table manners and enjoyed various dishes prepared by some Japanese members. “It was really a heart-and-body warming meal” was one friendship member’s comment that pleased the volunteer staff.

Sponsored by NPO Meguro UNESCO Association, Meguro Board of Education
Lecturer: Tadahiko Katori, honorary member of Tokyo National Museum
Jan. 30 (Fri.) 14:00 – 16:00 / Midorigaoka Cultural Hall / 34 participants

Over 1,200 years ago, a seated statue of Rushana-butsu (the largest bronze Buddha statue in the world) was built at Todaiji Temple in Nara, taking 2.6 million man-days. Mr. Katori, who specializes in ancient casting technique and the history of Japanese metal work, showed us a video depicting a brief history of the great Buddha, which, destroyed twice over the centuries by a fire during battles, has been restored to its present state. He then started to speak with light sense of humor that had once attracted university students belonging to a rakugo (comic storytelling) study group.
He said that Emperor Shomu, considering Buddhism of vital importance, decided to build a 16 meter high giant statue (approx. 15m after its restoration). He built this because during the Tenpyo era, when he reigned, there were so many natural disasters, epidemics, and political unrest, just as today. Todaiji Temple at that time was a major “cultural center” with six thousand priests and five hundred priests’ dormitories, and people had the wisdom to make the most of technical experts from abroad, especially from the Korean Peninsula, Mr. Katori noted.
Among other interesting things he told us about the Great Buddha, the most remarkable one was “the Buddhist view of the universe” engraved on the lotus petals on the base of the statue. Using a rubbed copy of a lotus petal, he explained how the engraving resembles our present-day universe with the Solar System, the Galaxy, and the ever-expanding Macrocosmos, and that people in the 8th century already had the idea of a vast universe containing everything, both living and inorganic.
Regrettably Mr. Katori had little time to refer to the casting technique of the great Buddha, which is described in detail with illustrations in his book “Nara-no Daibutsu” published by Soshisha Publishing Co. We would like you to read this unimaginable historical drama.
-written and translated by Michiko Miyamoto

Sponsor: Meguro Board of Education
Organizer: Meguro UNESCO Association
Mar. 1, 2009 / 92 participants

The 21st Meguro City International Exchange Forum, “Bus tour to Kamakura-- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Great Buddha, Takedera Temple and Komachi Dori Street”, was held by Meguro UNESCO Association sponsored by Meguro Board of Education.
Meguro UNESCO Association has been introducing Japanese cultures, such as Kabuki and Noh play to foreign people. This time, the program was a chartered bus tour to the ancient city of Kamakura. 87 adults and 5 children, total number of 92 participants divided on board to two buses, which departed Megurogawa Funairiba Park at 8:30am on Mar.1 as scheduled.
The 92 participants included Meguro UNESCO members, Japanese non-members, and people from various countries. As I looked around the bus #2, there were people from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Iran, USA, Germany, China, Côte d’Ivoire, etc. In the bus, I could hear Japanese, which must have been taught in UNESCO Japanese classes, and other languages such as English, French and Korean.
And now, the bus arrived at the first site, Hasedera (Hase Kannon Temple), famous for flowers and scenery. An old Tabu-no-ki tree in front of the entrance gate quietly indicated the temple’s history. We walked beside plum trees along a pond, early blooming cherry blossoms, and went up the stairs to find “Hase Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy)”, the largest wooden carved kannon in Japan. It was regret that the unclear weather veiled the beautiful scenery of Kamakura town which could be seen from the temple.
Then, we visited the Great Buddha of Kamakura. 92 participants gathered in front of the Buddha to take some photos together. After we enjoyed tea-ceremony dishes for lunch, we visited Kamakura Hachimangu Shrine. How fortunate we were to see Shinto-style wedding, listening to Shinto flute music beside a giant gingko tree! After we left the shrine, we walked along Komachi Dori Street. There were groups of people enjoying sweet sake called Amazake and Oshiruko (sweet red-bean soup with rice cake), which must be relaxing after coldness and rain outside. There were also people who enjoyed looking at Kamakura-bori lacquer work in craft shops.
The tour then took us to our last destination, Houkokuji Zen Temple of Rinzai sect, which was founded in 1334. The participants enjoyed Moso bamboo grove. We left for home, after promising to see each other again at Japanese classes and summer gatherings. I would like to express my appreciation to everyone who made this tour happen.
-written by Yoichi Shimosato and translated by Ikuko Imamura

January 29 (Thu), 2009 14:00 - at Midorigaoka Cultural Hall
Sponsored by NPO Meguro UNESCO Association, Meguro Board of Education
Lecturer: Ms. Mariko Kimura, (Education and Culture Division, NFUAJ, Former Representative of NFUAJ Cambodia Office)

In June 2008, I had an opportunity to visit Afghanistan for the first time in over two years. It seemed there were more people and buildings in the city of Kabul since I had worked there. What caught my eyes especially was that there were more women, who were still wearing Burqa*, walking in the cities and villages. When I visited the terakoya community learning center in the village of Istalif after a long absence, what surprised me most was that a woman was studying among men in what used to be an all-male class. In Afghanistan men and women never sit together in classes because of their cultural tradition. In conservative farming regions it is totally impermissible for a woman to appear in a place where men from outside her family gather. The first terakoya in Afghanistan was founded in the village of Istalif, at a top of a hill from which the view was splendid. Since that time, it has accepted many learners into the literacy class and technology training class as a terakoya for men. No women ever joined the learning circle. “It would be too noticeable to let women walk up the hill.” was their explanation. Therefore, all the literacy classes for women take place at local houses and vacant houses. The first woman I met at the terakoya was a medical doctor. She ventured to join the class to polish her English because English was a crucial tool to attend various training courses run by medical institutions and supporting organizations, and to deepen her knowledge as a doctor. In the unstable condition of the country I saw women gradually participating in the social activities at many places, which shows that the country is slowly but steadily going forward.
One staff member at the Istalif terakoya said that as theirs was the first, it would continue to be a model terakoya in Afghanistan. Through his words I could see a strong pride that they themselves were actually practicing the ideal that all terakoya should be open to anyone who wants to learn.

[* A cape type garment worn by women of Afghanistan which covers whole body. It was considered a symbol of women’s suppression at the time of Taliban rule, but it is still used for practical reasons, such as protection from strong sunlight and sand dust, and hiding their faces. The color of blue, matching the sky, is very popular.]
-translated by Nobuko Matsushita