Where Does “Joy” Come from？
Nobuhiko Asaeda's violin had a supremely clear and majestic tone; Sou Tanaka, a young pianist, played with sensitivity, sincerity, and delight; the children from Higashiyama Elementary School tried  hard to create harmony, staring intently at the baton; and Norie Nagasue,
their teacher, conducted these sixty boys and girls at their most mischievous
age. The "UNESCO Peace Concert" materialized as the earnest wish
of Mr. Asaeda, who has been working for the UNESCO movement, finding time
in his busy schedule of recitals and concerts, in order to "share
with children the joy of music", and it was also our long-cherished
wish to offer Meguro citizens an opportunity to listen to the Higashiyama
Elementary School Orchestra. The hall was filled with a variety of people,
ranging from infants and their parents to the aged. It was a rare opportunity
for people from other countries and Japanese to spend time together, and
it was also a precious chance for people of different generations to come
together. Everyone shared their joy with everyone. We were honored by the
attendance of many guests, and it happened to be the day that Makoto Hirao,
who has had great empathy with the UNESCO movement, finished his term as
superintendent of education for the city. I felt grateful again to many
people for their kind support.These were the moments of joy and gratitude I had on September 30, 2000. Two weeks before the concert, the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan held a study and training session for the staff of secretariats from UNESCO associations in various parts of Japan. During two days of stormy weather, people representing each region, from Okinawa to Hokkaido, exchanged opinions, focusing their eyes on tomorrow. I was there as one of the people responsible for the session, and was amazed again to see so many different characteristics that approximately three hundred organizations, all under the same name of "UNESCO Association", have displayed in carrying out their activities, depending on where the organization is located, how it was established, how big it is, and who is supporting it. It can be said that UNESCO's activities boast various colors and features, and naturally enough, there is not one method that can be applied to all the associations. Several times during this session the motto of Meguro UNESCO crossed my mind. - "Working voluntarily and with joy - that's the UNESCO movement." “Joy” is not merely what you are given. It is also what you can create yourself. We will be happy if we can overcome our troubles and worries, and develop UNESCO's activities which all of us can be enthusiastic about. The Meguro UNESCO Association celebrated its forty-sixth birthday on October 3. Leafing through the diary that Satoru Kamegaya, (our honorary member, an honorary citizen of Meguro) wrote on the very day our association was established (Printed in a book published to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the founding of the association), I feel I might be allowed to say that we have realized some of our predecessors' dreams. Our association still has many problems, and I'd like to ask for every member's further cooperation and earnestly wish to "send out more joy". Photo: The Higashiyama Elementary School Orchestra practicing before the curtain rises. Photo: The Higashiyama Elementary School Orchestra practicing before the curtain rises. next page |