ACUNS convened its Annual Meeting at the UN University and the Komaba campus of the University of Tokyo from 20 to 22 June 2024. A diverse and global community of nearly 400 individuals, with 300 hailing from overseas, engaged in a robust discussion on global governance and sustainable development, reinvigorating research to bolster multilateral solutions. (20/6/2024)

It was a unique and historic moment, and my grandson, Kenji, the third from left, played a key role and was even on live national TV! I thank my son, Stefan Hiroshi, for devoting much of his time and effort to helping Kenji become a great player. He is a great father! (Sukehiro Hasegawa) (02/06,2024)

Mitsuo Ohashi, president of the World Federalist Movement of Japan, stated at the 75th anniversary general meeting of the Japanese Parliamentary Committee for World Federation that 80 years have passed since the end of World War II and that we are currently in the greatest crisis since the war ended. For more information, please see the full text of the article. (23/05,2024)

I was a student of Masataka Kosaka when I was in college, so I have a realism-based way of thinking, and I was involved in diplomacy from that perspective when I was Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, I am sure you know that diplomacy cannot be improved by simply maintaining the status quo or focusing on reality. To borrow a phrase from Mr. Kosaka, “Diplomacy is about attaching the wings of ideals to the politics of reality.” I would like to work together with all of you to achieve this firmly.(2024,23/05)

In his opening remarks at the 75th Anniversary General Meeting, Mr. Seishiro Eto, Chairman of the Japanese Parliamentary Committee for the World Federation, stated that he would like to propose to the Prime Minister’s Office after incorporating the discussions at the meeting and putting them in writing. (23/5,2024)

Fumio Kishida, the 101st Prime Minister of Japan, delivered a congratulatory address at the 75th Anniversary General Meeting for Japanese Parliamentary Committee for World Federation. For more information, please see the full text of the article(23/05,2024)

Nine classmates who attended junior high school together in Tokyo’s Shinagawa City decades ago met for dinner on May 10 at the Hong Kong Garden in Meguro City.　From left to right are Emiko Satomura, Seishiro Hirabayashi, Rikuo Ujita, Takaaki Uchida, Shinichiro Nishiyama, Sumiko Ueno, Keiko Akimoto, Toyoko Tsujii, and Sukehiro Hasegawa. Nevertheless, the number of people who can attend the reunion is getting smaller every year. (10/5/2024)

As the intergovernmental negotiating team is exploring options for UN Security Council reform in New York, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Permanent Representative to the UN, spoke at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo on April 18. In response to a question from Professor Sukehiro Hasegawa, she stated that the US is interested in and actively exploring the possibility of expanding the membership of the UN Security Council, including the permanent membership of Japan, Germany, and India, along with major African and Latin American countries. However, it remains to be seen whether this proposal will be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly members and ratified in accordance with the constitutional procedures of two-thirds of the member states of the United Nations, including all five current members of the Security Council. The Japanese government is called upon to exercise strong visionary leadership.

Click here to find out more. (4/5/2024)

Minister Masahito Moriyama will promote dialogue and cooperation with India in both education and science and technology. India is one of the most important countries in the Global South and the Government of Japan is keen to strengthen relations with India. We also believe that Japan should learn from India, especially since India is advanced in science and technology.

For more details of his remarks, please click here. (23/4/2024)

Minister of Education and Science MORIYAMA Masatoshi, and members of the National Diet of Japan exchanged their views with Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor of the O.P. Jindal Global University, exchanged their views on the importance of education for Japan and India in strengthening the role of leadership in the international community. Please click here for what each participant said at the meeting. (23/4/2024)

At the end of the consultation meeting with members of the National Diet of Japan, Vice Chancellor of the O.P. Jindal Global University of India Raj Kumar presented the University robe to Mr. Seishiro ETO, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of the National Diet of Japan for World Federalism, Mr. Mitsuo OHASHI, Chairman of the Japan Society for World Federalism and Mr. Hisayuki FUJII, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Liberal Democratic Party. (23/4/2024)

After World War II, Japan joined the United Nations with high hopes and ideals. Now, however, disappointment is spreading over the UN’s dysfunction. Professor Motoyoshi YOSHIKAWA, former ambassador to the United Nations, urges Japan to use the United Nations for national interests instead of idealizing it.

For more details, please refer to the article in Gakushikai Bulletin No. 9 (2024-II) by clicking here. (22/4/2024)

A former UN Assistant Secretary-General, Mr. Bill Paton, asserts that the war in Gaza lays bare, once again, the frightful arbitrariness of international justice. International rule of law has always been about rule by great powers. If we want a more just and peaceful world, developing countries – constituting the global majority – must stand up and demand one law for all.

Please click here for his full paper. (21/4/202)

Ms. Akiko Noda explained that UNDP has always been engaged in field-based projects before, during, and after conflicts, as well as before and after natural disasters, listening to and consulting with people, governments, and civil society on their concerns, and working together to create solutions for further development.

For more information click here (5/4/2024)

On 3 April 2024, the Kyoto Peacebuilding Center (KPC), the Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan (GPAJ), and ACUNS Tokyo Liaison Office (ACUNS-Tokyo) organized a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla Schwarz of Kosovo, who was visiting Tokyo, to explain the situation in Kosovo. She recognized the importance of making reconciliation efforts but saw continued security threats from Serbia. Ambassador Ilidio Ximenes da Costa from Timor-Leste explained how the Timorese national leaders saw a similar situation differently and achieved reconciliation and friendship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia by following the Nelson Mandela approach of putting truth before justice. (3/4/2024) You can see details here.

Amy E. Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), explained IOM’s latest activities at a discussion meeting with members of the National Diet of Japan from both the ruling and opposition political parties, organized by the Japanese Parliamentary Committee for World Federation. The participating Diet members asked for an explanation of the differences between the roles of IOM and UNHCR. They also pointed out the challenges in accepting more foreigners in Japan. For more information on what was discussed at this meeting, please click here. (27/2/2024)

Dr. Arbenita Sopaj, a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan (GPAJ) the Special Assistant to the Ambassador of Kosovo and Mr. Keitoku Ikegami, a member of the GPAJ, acted as Masters of the Ceremony of the Independence Day and 15 th year of Diplomatic Relations Kosovo- Japan celebration hosted by the Embassy of Kosovo in Japan. Ambassador Dr. Sabri Kiçmari of the Republic of Kosovo spoke to the diplomats and officials of the Japanese government who participated in the Independence Day reception held at Hotel Okura in Tokyo on February 20, 2024. (20/2/2024)

Thank you to Professor Takaaki Mizuno for inviting me to his final lecture at Kanda University of Foreign Studies. It was the most rewarding opportunity to talk with his students on this special day. I was impressed that his students were learning in-depth about contemporary international peace and development issues. The video that showed students’ discussions on behalf of the countries involved regarding conflicts occurring around the world was insightful and remarkable. (22/1/2024)