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On 5 July2025, I gave a lecture on the “Birth of the UN Peace Bell and its donation to the UN” to 90 participants of the Sakura City International Culture course and 10 related people at the Sakura City Central Community Centre. This lecture was made possible through the introduction of Mr Ishizuka Yoshiaki, a former principal of a Japanese school in New York, who became a member of the Association.

The Sakura City International Culture course was established in 1990 with the aim of fostering citizens who can think from an international perspective and act as cosmopolitans. Some of the graduates are active at the forefront of international exchange and friendship. I am very grateful to Mr Suzuki Akihiro, Secretary General, for allowing me to give a lecture at this traditional course for citizen in Sakura city.

Mr Katsura, Director of the Association, did a good job of assembling the video for the lecture. After the lecture, all participants rang the Peace Bell and prayed for world peace.

　　　

 

 

On 1 June, Director Katsura and I visited the Osaka-Kansai Expo. We first visited the UN Pavilion, where the 4kg UN Peace Bell is displayed. We were welcomed by Mr. Maher Nasser, the representative of the UN Pavilion, and Ms. Ichikawa Naomi, who is assisting with the display of the Peace Bell. We were told that the Peace Bell is placed at the entrance and visitors are welcome to ring it at any time, and that Nakagawa Chiyozi, who presented the Bell to UN Headquarters in 1954, would be happy to see it from the other side of the veil.

In the evening, we were invited to attend a reception by the Permanent General Mission of Palestine in Japan. Ambassador Waleed Ali Siam welcomed us as we had presented a 4 kg replica of the UN Peace Bell to them for peace and tranquility in September last year. We enjoyed watching traditional Palestinian costumes and folk dances.

　　　　

On 24 May, Mr Yoshikawa Motohide, Advisor of the Association for the Preservation of UN Peace Bell, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN, visited the UN Pavilion at the Kansai Expo in Osaka, Japan.

He had met again with Mr Maher Nasser, UN Assistant Secretary-General, and had tinkled the Peace Bell.

We are very happy to hear this wonderful news and appreciate to be sent the photo.

On 5 May 2025 a Children’s Day event was held in Osaka Expo ’70 Commemorative Park. Organized by the Global Cultural Symbol ‘Koinobori (carp streamer)’ Project, the event was held together with children to raise ‘Koinobori’ for children. In addition to making and hoisting the carp streamers, the event included the ringing of the UN Peace Bell, dragon flute performance, dragon dance, calligraphy, soap bubbles and much more.

After opening remarks by Dr Nakamura Tetsu, representative of the Japanese Culture Education Society, and Takase Seiko, representative of the Association for the Preservation of UN Peace Bell, the activities began. The event was called to action by student volunteers and Mr. and Mrs. Taniyama, Director of the Association, and the general participation of parents and children exceeded 200 people. Colorful carp streamers danced in the clear sky and many children gathered in the park to make handmade mini carp streamers. Small UN peace bell was rung and soap bubbles were blown, a scene befitting Children’s Day.

There are more than 50 countries and regions in the world today that are still in conflict. On Children’s Day, we wished that the whole world would become a planet filled with children’s smiles and laughter.

　　　　　　

 

 

A jogging event was held on 24 April 2025 to commemorate “the International Day on Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace”, led by Mr Maher Nasser,UN  Assistant Secretary-General and Commissioner-General of the UN at Expo 2025.    

Many officials, including representatives of the overseas pavilions of various countries and the Expo Association, took part in the event and jogged from 7am on the Great Roof Ring. The event was signalled to start by the sound of the Peace Bell, rung by a representative of the Expo Association. Ms Ichikawa of the UN Pavilion contacted to tell us that the event had started impressively with the sound of the peace symbol.

The UN Pavilion receives more than 1,500 visitors every day, and the Peace Bell is also very popular, with many people ringing it in hope for peace.

 

(Photo courtesy of the UN Pavilion.)

　　　

On 19 April 2025, “the Earth Day Tokyo 2025 Opening Ceremony” and “Hello Earth Stage” organised by Earth Day Tokyo was held at the Yoyogi Park Event Square Outdoor Stage.

The event started with chorus and Hawaiian music by members of the Inamori Art Project Group. It was followed by reports on the activities of Hattori Michiko, Director of the NPO “World Hibakusha Exhibition”, and Endo Ryokyu of “Light of Hope”. Finally, Ms Takase, representative of the Association spoke about the UN Peace Bell and rang the 1 kg Peace Bell she had brought with her. All participants observed a moment of silence and prayed for peace.

The stage event went smoothly with fluent MC’s Hatta Kentaro and Bo Rika. It was a beautiful Earth Day, blessed with good weather.