Youth and Student Seminar Theme: “The Kind of Peace We Aspire to Create”　Tokyo Council of UNESCO Associations Seminar Theme: “Eighty Years After the WWII: What Does Peace Mean to Us?”

“2025 Annual Tokyo Council of UNESCO Associations Training Seminar”
Youth and Student Seminar Theme: “The Kind of Peace We Aspire to Create”Tokyo Council of UNESCO Associations Seminar Theme:“Eighty Years After the WWII: What Does Peace Mean to Us?”

Date: February 23, 2025, 13:00-17:00
Venue: Asagaya Regional Community Center

In 2025, Japan marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 75th anniversary of its membership in UNESCO. To commemorate these milestones, the 2025 Annual Tokyo Council of UNESCO Associations Training Seminar featured a special lecture by Ms. KUBOTA Tomoko, President of the Suginami Koyukai Association, an organization representing survivors of the atomic bombing. Ms. KUBOTA shared her personal experiences as an atomic bomb survivor and spoke about the importance of preserving memories of war for future generations.

　Following her presentation, representatives from six UNESCO Associations and Clubs shared their own experiences and memories related to war. From the Minato UNESCO Association, President TANABE delivered a presentation entitled “Memories of the Prewar and Postwar Years,” reflecting on his personal experiences and observations of Japan before and after the war. After these presentations, participants were divided into nine discussion groups, where they engaged in active exchanges of ideas on the theme of peace. During the final plenary session, each group shared proposals for concrete actions that could contribute to building a more peaceful society.

　To further develop these ideas into practical initiatives, participants agreed to organize a follow-up meeting entitled “Connecting to the Future,” where they will discuss how to transform the proposed actions into meaningful activities. The seminar brought together 33 participants for the Youth and Student Seminar, 85 participants for the Tokyo Council of UNESCO Associations Training Seminar (including seven members from the Minato UNESCO Association), and 39 participants for the exchange gathering.)

(Written by SATO R., Standing Director, and translated by SUDA Y., the PR & Internet Committee Associate)