At the 2025 Council Meeting of the Kyoto International Peacebuilding Center (KPC), Executive Director Hiroki Nakayama presented a detailed overview of the Center’s past accomplishments and future initiatives. His remarks covered KPC’s collaboration with the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), educational programs linking art and peace, and long-term preparations for the 50th anniversary of Kyoto University of the Arts in 2027.
Nakayama began by reviewing the ACUNS Annual Meeting, held in Japan for the first time last year, in which KPC played a central role. The ACUNS Japan Branch Office—established in 2022—had its agreement renewed in May 2025 following discussions in Vienna with ACUNS President Professor Bauman, confirming continued cooperation. He also announced that ACUNS will officially participate in the university’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2027.
He then outlined the success of the “Art and Peace” public lecture series, launched in 2022 for working professionals. Over the past years, the series has explored diverse themes including music education, performing arts and Russian ballet, visual media and cuisine, and most recently, the preservation of cultural heritage in partnership with the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. For the 2025 academic year, a new theme is being developed with input from participants and Council members.
Nakayama also described plans for the “Asia Art Forum” (tentative), the main commemorative event for 2027. Built on three pillars—① fostering artistic exchange with Asian universities, ② creating forums for presentations and discussions on art and peace, and ③ providing an open dialogue platform among students, faculty, and Council members—the project aims to embody KPC’s mission of linking creativity and peace. Related initiatives include the Asia Conference of Technical Universities (scheduled for November 2025), cooperation with the Asian League Institute of the Arts (ARIA), and coordination to invite ACUNS President Bauman as keynote speaker.
Nakayama concluded by introducing the ambitious “10,000 Cubes of Peace” project, which will exhibit cube artworks created by students under the theme of peace—on a scale large enough to aim for a Guinness World Record.
“Through these initiatives,” he affirmed, “we will continue to share the vision of building peace through art with society and the world.”
For the full transcript of Mr. Nakayama’s remarks and details of the Council meeting, please see below.
【Full Transcript (English Translation)】
Last year, the ACUNS Annual Meeting was held in Japan for the first time, with the participation of the Kyoto International Peacebuilding Center (KPC). On June 19, 2025, a preparatory meeting took place at the National Diet, followed by a reception where faculty members from Kyoto University of the Arts gave presentations. A Kyōgen performance was also staged for the first time at the United Nations University. With the support of our faculty and Council members, we successfully organized several breakout sessions.
Our university currently hosts the ACUNS Japan Branch Office, which was established under a three-year agreement in 2022. In May 2025, Chairman Tokuyama visited Vienna and met with ACUNS President Professor Bauman to renew the agreement, ensuring the continued operation of the branch. They also agreed on ACUNS’s participation in the university’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2027.
Regarding educational activities, since 2022 we have offered a public lecture series titled “Art and Peace” for working professionals. The first year focused on music education, providing opportunities for artists to reflect on the connection between their work, society, and peace. The second year addressed performing arts in the context of the war in Ukraine—particularly Russian ballet—with the cooperation of Professor Kamiyo. The third year examined the relationship between art, peace, and media such as film, photography, and cuisine. Last year, we collaborated with the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties to explore cultural heritage preservation and peacebuilding. The theme for the current year is still under consideration, but we plan to design it incorporating your insights and experiences.
We are also advancing plans for the 2027 Kyoto University of the Arts 50th Anniversary Art Event, structured around three main pillars:
- Deepening exchange with Asian universities and students based on the principle of “a nation built on art.”
- Creating opportunities for dialogue and presentations on the interconnection between art and peace.
- Building a participatory platform where students, faculty, and Council members can exchange ideas freely.
The event, tentatively titled the Asia Art Forum, is open for name suggestions. This November, the Asia Conference of Technical Universities will be held with over 100 applicants. Organized by ICA Kyoto under the direction of Professor Mami Kataoka, Director of the Mori Art Museum, it will serve as a precursor to the 2027 forum.
In cooperation with ALIA (Asian League of Institute of the Arts), we are considering hosting its 2027 General Assembly on our campus, inviting representatives from member universities. We are also coordinating to invite ACUNS President Bauman as a keynote speaker.
Another major idea is the “10,000 Cubes of Peace” project—a massive art installation featuring cube artworks on the theme of peace, created by students, with the goal of setting a Guinness World Record.
All these initiatives are scheduled for October 2027. We sincerely hope for the active participation of all Council members in building a shared space for dialogue and creativity.
(Reported by Koki IMON)