1. Journal
Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan explains the importance of sports in resolving conflicts and building peace (01/12/2018)
HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Generations for Peace met with GPAJ President Sukehiro Hasegawa, Vice President Mio Sato and Secretary General Masakuni Tanimoto and explained the activities of the Generation for Peace (GFP) since it was founded as a peace-through-sport initiative of the Jordan Olympic Committee in 2007.
Ken Inoue of GPAJ makes a presentation in ASEAN Regional Forum workshop on preventive diplomacy. (29/11/2018)
Four principles of co-existence, namely non-violence, respect for diversity, sharing and caring, and mutual cooperation were presented by Mr. Ken Inoue of the Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan.
Fact-Finding in Preventive Diplomacy: Intra- and Extra-Regional Cooperation proposed by Naoko Kumagai at ASEAN Regional Forum (29/11/2018)
Naoko Kumagai, Associate Professor of International University of Japan, found fact-finding is indispensable for the reinforcement of confidence building and useful for preventive diplomacy measures, in particular early warning and mediation.
UN Justice Officials wanted General Wiranto tried for Crime of Humanity, while the Timorese leaders wanted Reconciliation with Indonesians (29/11/2018)
At the ASEAN Regional Forum held in Nanjing, China, GPAJ President explained that the UN had pursued retributive justice while Timor-Leste preferred restorative justice and reconciliation and friendship following establishment of truth.
At ASEAN regional forum meeting in China, Professor Takaaki Mizuno of Kanda University of International Studies asserted top leaders’ mutual visit as a model case of Preventive Diplomacy. (29/11/2018)
Mizuno considers China and Japan have managed potential risk of getting into the Thucydides trap so far and at least have taken tangible steps to build a minimum trust and mutual understanding by agreeing the resumption of visits by the leaders of both countries after a long hiatus.
Paris Peace Forum: Thank you, Dr. Richard J. Ponzio, for Joseph Schwartzberg`s book, Transforming the United Nations System. (13/11/2018)
Ponzio says: Between now and 2020 (the UN’s 75th anniversary), I am working with partner organizations to advance the recommendations of the Albright-Gambari Commission on Global Security, Justice & Governance, including in the areas of “coping with violent conflict & state fragility”, “climate & people”, “governing the hyperconnected global economy”, and “UN and broader global governance reforms.” For further details, please visit: https://www.stimson.org/programs/just-security-2020
Paris Peace Forum: Dr. Sharei, Executive Director of the Center for United Nations Constitutional Research explains the possibility of reviewing the UN Charter by resorting to Article 109, while Hasegawa calls for transformation of the global system just as the Japanese leaders transformed the governance structure of Japan during the Meiji Revolution. (12/11/2018)
Sharei and Hasegawa engaged in debate on how the Charter review process can be started, while Francisco Plancarte, a Mexican lawyer and long-time promoter of UN transformation according to Art. 109 called for the creation of a global parliament.
French President Emmanuel Macron joined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the Paris Peace Forum and called for international solidarity. (11/11/2018)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau along with several other heads of state and government listened as Merkel, Macron and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres spoke about the importance of the U.N. and other multilateral institutions to address global problems.
Former Ambassador of Japan to the United Nations and now Distinguished Professor of the International Christian University Motohide Yoshikawa Holds a Special Seminar on UN peace operations. (23/10/2018)
Guest Speaker Professor Sukehiro Hasegawa interacted with a group of about 35 students and scholars of the ICU in Mitaka City, a northern part of the metropolitan Tokyo. Please click here for a summary of his presentation.
Diário de Notícias: “Devemos reconhecer a vontade da Indonésia de aceitar Timor porque podia ter sabotado a independência” (13/10/2018)
Entrevista a Sukehiro Hasegawa, que foi chefe da Missão das Nações Unidas em Timor, e esteve em Lisboa para uma conferência no IDN. Fala sobre crescer depois da Segunda Guerra Mundial e da importância da paz global.
Visit to Padrão dos Descobrimentos in Lisbon (11/10/2018)
My dear friend, Mr. Victor Angelo, took me and my wife to this impressive monument on the edge of the river leading to the Atlantic Ocean. It is dedicated to the 15th to 16th century Age of Discovery when Portuguese explorers set out across the oceans to seek the New World. They took one hundred years before they finally reached Japan in 1543. Please click here for detail.
At a forum organized by the Japan Institute of International Studies, President of the Japan Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan, Mr. Sukehiro Hasegawa, noted that, as stated clearly in the Constitution, Japan should pursue gaining an honorable position in the international community even though the chances of Japan becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council has decreased. (27/09/2018)
In a discussion moderated by Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae, Chairman of the Japan Institute of International Studies, the participants shared various viewpoints on the role and limitation of the United Nations in light of the dramatic global situation, the main issues before the UN General Assembly this year, and challenges Japan faces in the United Nations system On the issue of the United Nations, Professor Motohide Yoshikawa, former Ambassador of Japan to the United Nations and Professor Sukehiro Hasegawa, President of the International Peacebuilding Association of Japan shared their views and perspectives.
Preparation for the 2019 JCK Youth Forum and the 2019 JCK OB/OG meeting started. (23/09/2018)
At the United Nations Association Office in Tokyo, the preparatory meetings for the next year’s JCK Youth Forum and the JCK OB/OG were held with Ms. Misato NAGAKAWA presenting a plan.
Realistic Hope or yet Another Delusion for Peace in South Sudan (18/09/2018)
UN Security Council is meeting on the prospect of accommodations between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his former deputy leader Riek Machar after they signed a peace deal at the IGAD summit meeting in Addis Ababa, Sept. 12, 2018.
Several Mikoshis, or portable miniature shrines, were carried by Japanese and foreigners in the streets of Shibuya City during autumn festivals. (16/09/2018)
The arrival of autumn is celebrated by carrying the Mikoshi shrines that are said to hold the spirit of the deity of that shrine. Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle to transport a deity while moving between main shrine and temporary shrine during a festival. It is paraded around local areas and signifies the prevention of misfortune and wishing for the happiness of its people. The mikoshi is shaken and rocked not just to make a racket, but rather a gesture for the deity, to have it involved in the fun of the festival. Also rocking the mikoshi is thought to enliven the land.
Sen Genshitsu, 15th Grand Master of Urasenke and President of the UN Association of Japan, elucidated the relationship between an individual or a nation and the international community, and pointed out the necessity of understanding what the United Nations stood for. (10/09/2018)
At the same annual meeting of the heads of UN Associations of Japan, China and Korea held on August 27, 2018 at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul, Professor Ahn Byun-Jun of Korea gave a lecture on a theme entitled “Challenges to the Liberal International Order”.
President of the Kofi Annan Foundation, Mr. Alan Doss, has indicated that Mrs. Annan and the family appreciated condolence messages from Japan. (03/09/2018)
President of the Kofi Annan Foundation, Mr. Alan Doss, has indicated that Mrs. Annan and the family appreciated condolence messages received from many people in Japan and that the Foundation will continue to uphold Kofi Annan`s legacy.
The final plenary session of the International Student Conference was held at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, Tokyo. (02/09/2018)
International student councils, where students from 30 countries from around the world and Japanese students conduct international exchanges and discussions, discussed the issues faced by the world in the week from August 25 while travelling around together in various parts of Japan. On the final day of September 2, we announced the results of our discussions and asked the president of the International Peacebuilding Association of Japan and former UN Secretary General and asked the chairman of the Japan International Peacebuilding Association to evaluate our presentations. (Masaaki Mabuchi, Emily Okabe)