No.212-3

A Special Lecture for the Fiftieth Anniversary
Crossing the Divide -? The Role of Education and Culture in Alleviating Conflict

Lecturer: Mr. Akio Harada, a former Public Prosecutor General
Date: Oct. 23^rd, 2004(Sat.) Place: Moriya Kyoiku Kaikan

Mr. Harada retired from his post as Public Prosecutor General last June to teach at Stanford University from November. He took time off his busy schedule to give the speech just before leaving for the US. He started by talking about Inazou Nitobe in a mild tone you cannot expect from his serious title.
Mr. Nitobe served an Assistant Secretary General of the League of Nations at the same time as Chief Secretary of International Committee for Intellectual Cooperation during World War I, which developed into UNESCO later on. He played a major role in promoting international exchange beyond the difference in ideology and culture as well as in reconciling conflicts between countries. He said, "I wish to be a bridge across the Pacific Ocean” in his young days and made it come true.
Later in the speech, Mr. Harada indicated that war on terrorism could be brought to an end only when people on both sides embrace different thoughts and cultures, which he concluded from the analysis of the divide and conflicts in the post-9-11 world. He also illustrated how the states of Japan and the US differ in nature with some episodes in his working experience at Japanese Embassy in the US. He concluded the instructive speech by answering difficult questions politely.
The whole story will be described in the fiftieth anniversary issue. Please look forward to it.

-Yukio Okusawa, PR committee

UNESCO Lecture “The Present State of the World Terakoya Movement in Afghanistan”

Lecturer: Mr. Yukitoshi Matsumoto, National Federation of
　　　　　　　　　UNESCO Associations in Japan (NFUAJ)
　　　　Supported by: Meguro Board of Education; Organized by: Meguro UNESCO
　　　　Date/time: Oct.4, 2004 18:30-; Venue: Nakameguro Youth Plaza

Mr. Matsumoto, who was now back in Japan from Afghanistan tentatively due to the increasing deterioration of security with the national presidential election near at hand, started his presentation by briefly explaining the current situation of Afghanistan. He analyzed the problems Afghanistan has been facing from different angles, such as various ethnic groups, vulnerable economy, existence of military cliques, insufficient education systems, by using NFUAJ’s video tapes. Mr. Matsumoto gave a full and detail presentation regarding the Terakoya by using various visual materials and giving examples from his 2-year experience in the country. As Terakoya is not only a place for children but often used for vocational trainings as well, many people learning in the Terakoya, regardless of gender and age, are eager to learn, trying to rise from the destroyed nation, he reported. We felt great respect for their efforts and hoped that the country will be reconstructed as early as possible.

Since this March, NFUAJ, JICA (the Japan International Cooperation Agency) and the Education Ministry in Afghanistan jointly started the program to establish Terakoya in the Afghan education system, so that many people, including women and adults who had lost opportunities to study in the war-time period would get the equal opportunity to study. We all hope for the safety of Mr. Matsumoto who is going back to the country facing the danger of war and that there will be a huge progress in the country.

Photo: Terakoya class in Istalif. Due to the custom in Afghanistan, women and men’s class are strictly divided. Woman staff also took the photo.

The 23rd International Meguro UNESCO Bazaar (a report)

October 14 (Thu.) at St. Paul’s Church Hall

Foods, ceramics, crafts and hand-made fruits-cakes, which were donated or made by people supporting “the World Terakoya Movement”, were sold at the bazaar. This time, the “KURURINPA Cards” sold well, because they became well-known through the exhibition of "UNESCO World Terakoya Movement / KURURINPA" held in summer in cooperation with Dentsu Group.

The main feature of the bazaar, the set lunch of Ma-po Dou-fu, prepared by the friendship-members, Zhao Xia, Zhang Hui Min, Tung Shih Li, and Wang Xu Yun, acquired a high reputation and there were voices requesting for the recipe. When Li Qin and Zhang Yong Hui who washed rice for the lunch early in the morning during rainfall, appeared with their classmates, the hall was filled with the excitement.

Also more than 60 foreign books were donated for “Megumi Movement of Reading” (donating foreign language books to foreign inmates of Tochigi Prison and elsewhere).　Thank you for your contribution.

Although the bazaar raised more than \100,000, some problems still remained in recruiting volunteer staff and PR activities.

Also, a mini-bazaar was held at the UNESCO Art Exhibition Corner from Nov. 24 to 28 where hand-made crafts and cards were sold.

-Seriko Chatani, Chairperson, International Support Activity Committee