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)

Professor Sukehiro Hasegawa gave a lecture at the Model United Nations Conference All-Japan Convention held in Tokyo on December 27, 2023. More than 200 students from all over Japan heard the lecture on how to cultivate their kokorozasi, or will, to demonstrate leadership in order to promote peace and human dignity in the international community. Please click here for details.

Happy New Year 2024. Just before the arrival of the New Year, Stefan Hiroshi、Corinne Mariko and her son, Cedric, visited the Showunji Temple in Hiroo with Hasegawa family relatives.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mahathir, who visited Japan to attend the Japan-Asian Summit, gave an interview to NHK on December 15 and stated that while Southeast Asia has become a site of intense conflict between the United States and China, Japan has set itself apart from both countries.

Thank you for helping to hold a seminar with former United Nations Under-Secretary-General Ibrahim Gambari at the International House of Japan with the assistance of International Christian University and Waseda University students under Mr. TANIMOTO Masakuni`s supervision.

President Jose Ramos-Horta of the Republic of Timor-Leste spoke online to more than 1000 participants of the SDGs Global Governance Summit 2023 Tokyo held on 6 November 2023 in Shibuya City, Tokyo. Please click here for the video message.

At the invitation of Professor UEKI Yasuhiro of the Sophia University, following the introductory statement made by Ms. NEMOTO Kaoru, Director of the UN Information Office in Tokyo, Professor HASEGAWA spoke about the successful peacebuilding carried out by the national leaders with the assistance of the United Nations.

Professor HASEGAWA Sukehiro spoke to the employees of the Sunny Health Corporation about the prospect for the United Nations to play like the Government of World Federation in global governance.

Father Toshiaki Koso, Pastor of St. Ignatius Church, made opening remarks at the memorial ceremony and symposium for the International Day of Peace adopted by the UN General Assembly, which were held on 21 September 2023 at the St. Ignatius Church and Sophia University, Tokyo.

The International Day of Peace was commemorated at the St. Ignatius Church of Mary Cathedral, Sophia University in Tokyo. (21/9/2023)

The scholars and practitioners debated the efficacy of the New Agenda for Peace. Please click here for the audio recordings of their remarks.

After three years of recess, the JCK Youth Forum was held in Beijing, China, from August 23 to 26, 2023. Nineteen Japanese students joined Chinese and Korean students in a series of discussions on such global issues as the need for marine environmental protection, digital technology, population aging, the role of youth in global governance, and sustainable development.

Rector Tschilizi Marwara of the United Nations held a conversation with
Professor Sukehiro Hasegawa about the state of peacebuilding
in the wake of Ukraine and Sudan.