e-ShortNews

WE LOVE MEGURO
Reiko Kato, President of Meguro UNESCO Association

“I visited your house when I was a child!” said a woman out of the blue. She is a staff member at Meguro City Office in charge of “We Love Meguro 2009 – Road Cleanup along the Meguro River” (organized by Tokyo Meguro Rotary Club). I said, “Oh...Did you join in the ghost event, by any chance?” She replied, “Yes, I did...it was very scary...”.
We shared the “days long past” in an instant. We recalled a scene from an event held as part of an annual summer tradition organized by a children’s association called “Sunflower Group”. The event continued for 17 years from around 1955 in my house that was opened to children. When night fell, children walked around the neighborhood in the dark. When they came to the garden, a “ghost” appeared. That was actually an older child who pulled a white cloth over his head. When children were passing under a willow in the backyard, cold jelly-like konjaku came down toward them.
The gathering held twice a month throughout the year was planned and managed by children themselves. At one time, cheers from more than 60 children resounded throughout the house. In those days, they affectionately called my parents ‘Auntie’ and ‘Uncle’, and they called me their ‘Big sister’. In retrospect, that was the first time I engaged in a community activity.
Incidentally, I came to be involved in Meguro Board of Education as an instructor at ”Open School for Youth” (night school), which was meant for young people fresh from high school. They came to Tokyo en mass from rural areas to work.
On April 18th, the curtain went up for the 55th anniversary of the foundation of Meguro UNESCO Association thanks to the hard work of its predecessors. A new board of directors started its activity in unity with a strong determination to hand over UNESCO movements to the next generation with the support of activity committee chairs.

What can we do for the future in line with the action policy (i.e. develop community-based activities and at the same time, transmit messages to the world)? What will be needed? How effectively should limited financial resources be used in a volunteer organization? Above all, what role should each member play to further expand UNESCO movements? In addition, this year marks the fifth year since Meguro UNESCO Association, as an incorporated nonprofit organization, was born from a voluntary organization. It is time to review the articles of incorporation, detailed rules and others. There is a mountain of other tasks to do and they are heavy. I sincerely ask members for corporation.

This year, let us engage more in local activities including local heritage, environmental issues, educational and cultural activities, etc., mainly working on young people to hand down the UNESCO movements to future generations. I am sure that the “movement in a region on Earth, though small in scale” eyeing the whole world will be functioning as a wave for world peace.
-translated by Hiroko Minowa

Report on the 5th General Assembly of Meguro UNESCO Association

April 18 (Sat), 2009, from 14：00, at Meguro School Support Center Attended by 190 members (among them 137 were letters of attorney)

The conference started with an opening address by Ms. Reiko Kato, the president of Meguro UNESCO Association, extending her gratitude towards all the people who gave cooperation to Meguro UNESCO Association, and she referred to her resolution to proceed toward the 55th anniversary of the association to be celebrated this year. Then, the congratulatory addresses were made by Mr. Aoki, Mayor of Meguro City, Mr. Oshio, Superintendent of Education of Meguro City, and Mr. Tajima, an advisor to Meguro UNESCO Association. At this moment, Ms. Kato presented Mr. Oshio with a “guidance material concerning environmental problems” made by the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan.
The bills including activity reports, a statement of accounts, an audit report in FY 2008, reelection of board members, activity plan and a budget plan in FY 2009 were discussed and approved.
As this was a year to reelect board members, the nomination committee proposed names of candidates and all of them were approved by those in attendance. Then, new directors elected officers from among them. The association’s new system was prepared to start through the regular procedure and we have just marked a new step forward.
The conference closed at 15:30.
-written by Yoshio Shimizu and translated by Keiko Matsuura

FY2009-2010, 36 directors and 2 auditors
Reiko Kato, Noboru Mochizuki, Akiko Miyashita, Mitsutoshi Masuda, Masumi Saito

Study Tour in Cambodia



UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust for the Promotion of International Cooperation and Mutual Understanding

Mar. 26 to Apr. 5, 2009

Participant: Hanae Nishimura, 2nd year student of Denenchofu Futaba High School

After the general assembly, Hanae Nishimura, a youth member of Meguro UNESCO Association, made a presentation　on the Cambodian study tour (organized by the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan), in which she recently participated. Her presentation lasted for about 15 minutes and she talked earnestly about her experiences and her thoughts. She included witnessing the poverty in Cambodia and learning about the history of its tragic civil wars. She also mentioned the friendly interaction with the Cambodian students and children of Terakoya community learning centers.

Participants at the assembly listened to her presentation attentively and questions were asked enthusiastically afterwards.

We expect our youth members to continue to enjoy many activities.

-written and translated by Emiko Nishimura

Meguro UNESCO Japanese Classes

Awarding “KURURINPA upside-down stuffed animals” to students with perfect attendance
Masumi Saito, Teaching staff member of Japanese Classes

I am always touched by the way senior members of Meguro UNESCO manage classes earnestly
One day, when an exchange gathering at the end of the winter term was held, there was a surprise gift of flower bouquet from Class A (beginners’ class) students. The teachers couldn’t hold back their tears.
Language teachers like us could be one of the first Japanese that some friendship members meet after coming to this country. Struggling with the language barrier, we try our best leading the class by eye-contact, hand signs and gestures. Three months soon fly. Some of the friendship members leave Japan, expressing “thank you” and “good-bye”. We wonder who would come for spring class which will commence in April. Such exchanges have been witnessed for more than 20 years.
There are 3 Japanese courses: twice a week morning course (Tue. & Thu.), Tuesday evening course, and Saturday morning course. Each course is divided to 7 levels. There are also Kanji (Chinese character) classes of 7 levels. Students can learn basic Japanese in two years through these courses.
Also, students with perfect attendance or good attendance are rewarded. During this term, among 164 total students, 18 students attained perfect attendance and 21 were recognized for good attendance. KURURINPA upside-down stuffed animals were presented (*) to these students. The photo was taken in Tue/Thu class. Looking at these beautiful smiles, with my appreciation and friendly feelings for them, I hope that they will love Japan more, and hope to pray together for the peace of the world.

* KURURINPA upside-down picture postcard conveys the message, “We want to change ‘I cannot go to school’ to ‘I can go to school’”. KURUINPA stuffed animals were created by the cooperation of Dentsu Group. The profit of these stuffed animals will be donated to World Terakoya Movement of UNESCO. For further information, please contact Meguro UNESCO Office.
-translated by Ikuko Imamura

What’s it like at UNESCO in Paris?
Report from an Internship at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris

Lecturer: Ms. Aya Miyazaki (Youth member of Kamakura UNESCO Association)
Present Moves at UNESCO
Lecturer: Prof. Eiji Hattori (Professor at Reitaku University, Chargé de Mission to the Executive Office
of the Director-General of UNESCO, Adviser to Meguro UNESCO Association)
May 16 (Sat.), 2009 13:30- at Lunch Room of Gohongi Elementary School / Attendees: 38
Mami Kawaguchi, Youth member of Meguro UNESCO Association

A long awaited lecture was given by two lecturers. One was Aya Miyazaki who experienced an internship at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from last August to September. The other was Prof. Eiji Hattori, who had been active as Chargé de Mission to the Executive Office of the Director-General of UNESCO. Many attended so as not to miss this great opportunity.

What Ms. Miyazaki had learned from her experience were; 1) Working at an international organization especially requires self-discipline and a sense of responsibility. 2) Mastering foreign languages (esp. English and French) as a tool is
compulsory. 3) Knowledge of the social and human structure of UNESCO. 4) Japanese need to train themselves to be more sociable and fluent in foreign languages, and our geographical distance from other countries seems to create psychological distance as well. In order to work at UNESCO, it is necessary for us to be sociable, positive, responsible, professional, able and fluent in foreign languages. Prof. Hattori, who spoke after Ms. Miyazaki, added that “personality” counts most.

Prof. Hattori spoke about “Present Moves at UNESCO”. The biggest move is to recognize “the cultural diversities”, in other words “cross-cultural understanding”. This move is mainly attributed to what he proposed in 1985, “dialogue among civilizations”, which attracted many people and led to the Silk Road project, attended by 2,000 scholars from 30 countries.

At the end a member of Meguro UNESCO Association made a report on the activities of the youth group from FY2005 to 2008. The analysis of intercontinental conduits from Prof. Hattori, the activities at the Headquarters from Ms. Miyazaki, and the local activities from the member of Meguro UNESCO, gave us a chance to see the activities of UNESCO from various directions. If I may conclude the afternoon, I can say that cross-cultural understanding is basically having hearts of mutual respect among people. The lectures were a precious chance to look into us, members of Meguro UNESCO Association, and made us think again what we could project toward people locally as well as the people around the world. What will it be like at the Meguro UNESCO international exchange summer youth program this year? -translated by Nobuko Matsushita

Volunteers Contributing Their Time to “English Short News”

In 1999, the English version of our newsletter made a fresh start after a period of suspension. Thanks to many people performing voluntary and unremunerated work, we can now celebrate its 10th anniversary. Ms. Hiroko Minowa and Ms. Keiko Matsuura have been our translators since 2000, and Ms. Ikuko Imamura since 2002. They are all busy women, playing an active part in society. In 2007 our translating staff became even more competent with Ms. Matsushita participating. This year Ms. Mami Kawaguchi joined us as a young and powerful member.

In retrospect, I cannot help being overwhelmed by so many people’s generosity and goodwill that has supported our activity. Mr. Tokio Inoue took upon himself the job of translating the foreword (now taken over by Ms. Minowa) for many years since the first issue of the newly-resumed English Short News, to ensure its regular publication. Ms. Tomomi Saeki was a fast worker, whose translation flew back to me like a boomerang as soon as I sent her an article. The American-raised Ms. Mariko Doioka enhanced the quality of our newsletter with her fluent English. Ms. Sachiko Ito supported us greatly with her sophisticated layout of the pages as well as translation and proofreading. In recent years, Ms. Liko Kanno, a young director of our Association, has been doing the page layout, willing to stay up all night if necessary.

What is indispensable in such translation process is native proofreading. Since 2000, Mr. John Cochrane and Mr. Robert York, who once studied in a Japanese class of our Association, have been sacrificing their precious time to support us. The English version is now published four times a year, but in the first several years it was issued more than ten times a year. Even in those hectic days they proofread all the articles so willingly and kindly. I really admire their volunteer spirit.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the publication of English Short News, the PR committee decided to “include in each article its translator’s name” and to introduce the translating staff in the April 2009 issue of the Japanese version. We also sent a copy of the latest English version (No. 252-3) to all Meguro UNESCO members. It is our sincere hope to improve our English newsletter so that it can help promote international understanding. We earnestly await readers’ frank opinions and comments.

-written and translated by Michiko Miyamoto

BULLETIN BOARD



■Meguro UNESCO International Exchange Summer Youth Program

- Let’s go hand in hand!

Cross-cultural understanding is the road to peace -

Dates: Aug. 14, Fri. -16, Sun. (Two overnights)
Place: YMCA Tozanso (1052 Higashiyama, Gotenba-shi, Shizuoka-ken)
Program: UNESCO lecture, discussion, exploring the nature at the foot of Mt. Fuji, campfire, etc.
Eligibility: Youth of any nationality (5th graders – 35 year olds)
Fees (incl. lodge, meals, transport): Foreign youths – 5,000 yen / Japanese youths under age 18 - 10,000 yen / members of Meguro UNESCO - 15,000 yen / non-members of Meguro UNESCO - 18,000 yen

Orientation Meeting for participants: Aug. 1, Sat. (14:00 ~) / in the lunchroom of Gohongi Elementary School

For Application: Contact Meguro UNESCO by July 31 (Fri.)

(Fax: 03-5725-6160 E-mail: meguro@unesco.or.jp)



■Learning Japanese for the First Time (13 lessons)

Dates: Every Tues. & Thus., from Sep. 8 to Oct. 22

Time: 10:00 – 12:00

Place: Nakameguro Square 2F（2-10-13 Nakameguro）

Instructors: Members of Meguro UNESCO trained in teaching Japanese

Eligibility: Foreign residents studying Japanese for the first time, Age 16 and over

Class Size: up to 30 students

Fee: \2,500 (for the textbook “Japanese for Everyone”)

For application: Write “Learning Japanese for the First Time”, your name, address, and phone number on a postcard or fax sheet and send it to Meguro UNESCO.

Child care available for children aged 2 or above

If needed, write “Child care needed” along with name, sex and age of your child.

Inquiries: R. Iwasaki (Tel/Fax: 03-3771-3105)

Y. Yoshitake (Tel/Fax: 03-3717-7418)



■Meguro UNESCO　Japanese Language Classes

Beginners- Intermediate (No classes on public holidays)

“KANJI” classes also available on Sat.

Place: Meguro School Support Center (3-6-10 Nakameguro)

* No parking available

Eligibility: Foreigners, 16 years of age and over

Instructors: Members of Meguro UNESCO (Japanese language instructors)

Fees: [tuition] (1) \6,000, (2) \3,300, (3) \2,700, [others] cost of textbooks

Further Information: R. Iwasaki (Tel/Fax: 03-3771-3105)

Y. Yoshitake (Tel/Fax: 03-3717-7418)

 Applications will be accepted at the venue on the day of your attendance.



■Meguro UNESCO New Language Courses

Each course consists of 15 classes in total held once a week. Class size: up to 30 studensts. Fee: 6,000 yen. For application, write the name of class, your name, age, address, phone number on a double postcard and send it to Meguro UNESCO. The first day of each course will include a UNESCO lecture and some orientation.

[1] Training Course for Teaching Japanese

- For those who would like to work as volunteer teachers

Dates & Time: Sept. 2 – Dec. 16, Every Wed. (10:00 – 12:00)

Place: Nakameguro Square 4F (2-10-13 Nakameguro)

Instructor: Ms.Masayo Yamaki, Representative / Tokyo Society for the Study of Japanese

*UNESCO lecture (Sept. 2): Singing voices of Noh (a traditional Japanese performing art) and Noh chant.

-Voice training workshop based on Noh vocalism

Lecturer: Ms. Yoko Yamamura, Kanze School Noh performer [2] Italian Language Class -Ciao!-

Dates & Time: Sept. 8 – Jan. 26, Every Tue. (18:30 – 20:30)

Place: Midorigaoka Bunka Kaikan, Room 3 (2-14-23 Midorigaoka)

Instructor: Ms. Simona Mariani, instructor at Italian Cultural Institute

*UNESCO lecture (Sept. 8): Conservation of world heritage, Terakoya literacy movement, etc.

-Photographic exhibition of world heritage sites in Italy

Lecturer: Ms. Yui Ozaki, NFUAJ Secretariat