news

On 23 November 2024, I gave a talk on the UN Peace Bell at the Japan Chapter lecture in the Tama area, in Tokyo. It was a cold day with a northerly wind, but about 30 people attended. After an opening address by Tama District Representative Kihara Yoshiko, Committee Member Hashimoto Keiichi explained how he first met the Association and our activities.

After that, I spoke about the origin of the UN Peace Bell and how it came to be, and everyone was surprised by the act of courage of Nakagawa Chiyuji. The participants were asked to ring the bell, and everyone rang it with all their hearts. At the end, they were presented with a magnificent bouquet of flowers.

　　　

 

On 17 November 2024, we were invited by Nagai Hiroshi, a member of the Association for the preservataion of UN Peace Bell, to participate in the Kanagawa Citizen’s Activity Fair. There were exhibitions, sales and demonstrations, and on the stage there was a magic show, singing show, Nankin Tamasudare and many other programmes. Despite the excellent programme, there were not many visitors, which was a pity. I spoke about the UN Peace Bell. I was very happy that all the participants took turns to toll the Peace Bell and pray for world peace at the end of the event.

　　

 

On 10 September.2024 Takai Michio, Director of the Association for the Preservation of the UN Peace Bell, and I visited the General Mission of Palestine in Tokyo and presented a peace bell weighing 4 kg to the General Mission. The presentation was attended by Ambassador’s Representative WaleedA.SIAM and First Secretary Eyad M.AL-HINDI. Also present was Akiyama Shingo, Director of the Kosovo-Japan Friendship Association, who acted as an intermediary. Ambassador We explained the origin of the Peace Bell to the Ambassador’s representative and helped him understand how important the bell is. The Ambassador explained the history of Palestine and the current tragic situation with images, and we could not help but pray for the safety of the people of Palestine. Suzuki Yuzuki provided excellent interpretation and helped us to understand the situation very well.

We rang the bell with the Ambassador and asked him to ring it every day for peace.

I really hope that this tragic war will end soon. The Ambassador gave us a Palestinian scarf as a commemorative gift.

　

On 28 October 2024, The winners of the 64th Essay Contest for Junior High School Students for International Understanding and Cooperation, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the United Nations Association of Japan, were announced. Among the 60 essays that passed the qualifying round of 2471 entries from across Japan, Yonei Airi from Jonan Junior High School in Uwajima city, Ehime, was awarded the Silver Prize. Her essay was entitled the ‘Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) How do you evaluate the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and what do you think needs to be done further?

The essay summarises what the students felt after taking part in the Jonan Junior High School’s traditional ‘Okinoshima Nature Conservation Activity’ and conducting an environmental survey after all the students transplanted the seedlings of the Hamayu that they had grown at school.

It was a wonderful essay.

On 28 October 2024, The 71st High School Students’ Advocacy Competition for International Understanding and Cooperation, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Association, was held at the Elizabeth Rose International Conference Hall of the United Nations University, where 27 high school students made presentations after qualifying from among 274 entries from across Japan. From Ehime Prefecture, Okumoto Kaito of Ehime Prefectural Uwajima Higashi High School gave a presentation entitled ‘What role should the UN play now to protect world peace and security?. I was encouraged by the fact that he had accepted Nakagawa Chiyoji’s thoughts on world peace.

He delivered his speech with dignity and was very impressive.

　　　　

The 8th Bell Ringing Ceremony of the Peace Bell was held in Osaka Expo Park on 24 October 2024, United Nations Day.

After the rain of the previous day, the day was blessed with fine weather and the event was held in a refreshing environment.

After an opening speech by Representative Takase Seiko, congratulatory speeches were delivered by Osaka Governor Yoshimura Hirofumi, Suita Mayor Goto Keiji and Osaka Prefectural Education Director Mizuno Tatsuro, followed by greetings from Osaka Prefectural Assembly members Ishikawa Tae and Otake Izumi and Osaka Expo Park Office Director Shinji Hajime. Also, a congratulatory address was presented by Okahara Fumiaki, Mayor of Uwajima City, Nakagawa Chiyoji’s hometown. Many other congratulatory speeches were received, but as the election was under way, we refrained from presenting them. In their congratulatory speeches, the participants expressed their concern about the current unsettled world situation and wished for world peace.

 

Everyone rang the Peace Bell with their hands together, wishing for peace. When a small child rang the bell, the applause was unintentionally overwhelming and moving.

The ceremony ended without a hitch with a closing speech by Director Ohno Jiro and a commemorative photograph.