SENDAI

Sendai

UNESCO
AssociationParis
FRANCESENDAI

SendaiJAPANSendai UNESCO Association
5F Sendai Daiichi Seimei Bldg., 3-1-1 Kokubuncho, Aoba-ku,Sendai City, Miyagi 980-0803, Japan
TEL: +81-22-224-2581 FAX: +81-22-302-3406
E-mail: sendai@unesco.or.jp URL: https://www.unesco.or.jp/sendai/
Photo courtesy： Sendai-city Tourism Division / Sendai Tourism, Convention and International Association /JOZENJI STREETJAZZ FESTIVAL Association / Sendai Aoba-matsuri Sponsorship
Courtesy："The Platform for Future Co-Creation of UNESCO Activities" byJapan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)REPUBLIC OFKIRIBATI

What is UNESCO?
UNESCO is a United Nations organisation which stands for:UnitedNations
Educational
Scientific andCulturalOrganisation

SENDAI

Under the philosophy of “Since wars begin in theminds of men, it is in the minds of men that thedefences of peace must be constructed”, UNESCO
promotes international cooperation in the fields ofeducation, science, culture and communication for
creation of peaceful world.

Greetings from the President

What is Non-governmental UNESCO Movement?

From Sendai to the WorldFor citizens to voluntarily engage in activities to create global peace insympathy with the UNESCO Constitution of the United Nations.

As Sendai UNESCO Association is the ver y first non- governmental UNESCO
association established in the world to support the activities of UNESCO (UnitedNations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), Sendai is sometimes
referred to as the sanctuary of the non-governmental UNESCO movement. By
upholding the UNESCO Constitution, we are working towards a “peaceful world” and“building a sustainable society.”

We work independently to achieve peace at the local level in collaboration with the UNESCO and theJapanese National Commission for UNESCO. We, Sendai UNESCO Association, are the very first
non-governmental UNESCO association in the world. There are currently about 300
non-governmental UNESCO associations in Japan and about 3,500 associations/clubs in the world.

Sendai UNESCO Association, which has a history of more than 70 years, has its own
activities such as support for ESD activities at children’s camps, UNESCO Colleges as
informal education, and UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPNet), as
well as the “Future Heritage Movement” and the “World Terakoya (Japan’s traditional
community learning centre system) Movement” to support literacy education. We also
carry out collaborative projects with the UNESCO Associations nationwide.
In recent years, the activities of the youth club by young members have become
active, and it is highly expected that young members will play an active role from a
global perspective.
On the other hand, however, there are many global issues such as ethnic conflicts,
global warming, climate change and human rights that become obstruct to thecreation of our “sustainable societ y”. The United Nations has set up “SDGs(Sustainable Development Goals)” and is actively promoting ESD (Education forSustainable Development), as UNESCO is one of the leading organisations.
As a public interest corporation, Sendai UNESCO Association is actively working on
ESD and SDGs, and is committed to work as one of the active stakeholders to achievesustainable development goals in collaboration with the public and private sectors.
Dr Kazuyuki Mikami
PresidentPhoto. Hideki Onuma

Collaboration with the National Federation ofUNESCO Associations in Japan
National Federation of UNESCO
Associations in Japan is a federationconsisted of about 300 active
UNESCO Associations and Clubs inJapan.
The education passes love and careon history, culture and nature to thefuture.
We are actively working on thefollowing activities to protect andnurture the spirit of "The minds ofmen that the defences of peacemust be constructed":

United Nations system

UNESCOMembershipJapan National Commission for

UNESCO

Admission

The Constitution ofUNESCOEmpathy
National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan(Non-Governmental Organisation)

about 300 active
UNESCO Associations and Clubs● World “Terakoya” Movement● World Heritage Activities/Heritage for the Future Project● Post-Natural Disaster Educational Support and Disaster Prevention & Reduction Education●Youth Programmes for Achieving SDGs
*Terakoya=Japan’s traditional community education system

2015~

History of Sendai UNESCO Association●1st Miyagi UNESCO Kids

Camp (Youth Branch)

On 19th July 1947, over 600 citizens gathered at the Assembly Hall ofthe Tohoku University to celebrate establishment of Sendai UNESCO
Cooperative Association, where the "Declaration of Establishment" wassent to the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. This is the very beginning of
the Non-governmental UNESCO Movement and spread to the world.
Declaration at the openingofthe UNESCO Cooperative Association
The Japanese people who have abandoned the ways of war, now
desire very earnestly a lasting peace; and hope to contribute to its
advancement by joining the international cultural movements The
people repent form their former attitude and are determined toadvance in a new direction cherishing love of truth and hoping for therealization of a universal culture.
“Since war begins in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men thatthe defense of peace must be constructed.” The importance of thispassage in the preamble of the UNESCO Constitution we feel mostdeeply especially after our experiences in the last Great War. We also
think, especially in Japan, this educational movement to eliminate
the cause of war and foster peace must not be entrusted to national
leaders and a few representatives, but must be started even now inthe mind of every man. This is the reason why the UNESCO
Cooperative Association has been set up as our mental preparation,
before we can be officially admitted to the UNESCO. We expect that
this movement will presently be developed all over the country.
The present Japanese have been emancipated from the past
militarism, are trying hard to contribute to the establishment ofpeaceful thought, and sincerely request universal sympathy andassistance for this exertion.

2012●Visit by UNESCO Director General, HE Irina BOKOVA

for inspection of the tsunami affected area

●1st International Student Exchange Meeting(Youth Branch)

2006●Launching of Non-governmental

UNESCO Movement Day

2011●East Japan Great Earthquake/Tsunami(Miyagi Prefectural Citizen College:
informal education)●“Kizuna” Message from the World●SALON & ZOOM Lecture (July)●Launching of "Let's convey it witha painting! Treasure of my town"
Painting Exhibition

2016

1977

2011

●Launching of UNESCO Women’sUniversity (informal education)

1991●Establishment of the UNESCO Cooperative

Association (July: the first in the world)

1991

2001

●Friendly mutual visit between

Japan and the US

1948
Non-governmental UNESCO
Movement in Sendai

House and relocation of the office (May)2017●70th Anniversary of Non-governmental UNESCO

Movement Memorial Ceremony in Sendai●Lecture by Dr Rajendra K Pachauri, a Novel Laureate

1989●Launching of International

1967

Exchange Festival (bazaar etc)

●1st UNESCO Member

1958

Movement National Assembly in Sendai

1957●Completion of Sendai UNESCO House●Designated UNESCO

publication deposit library1955●1st Sendai UNESCO Summer School●Friendly visit to Morocco andCountry Flags Parage●14th Non-governmental UNESCO

1947●Demolition of Sendai UNESCO

1981

1971

1961

1951

2020~

●Co-hosted “Ainu Fair in Sendai”

2005

1947

●2nd National Congress of2021

Disaster UNESCO Kids Camp

●Launching of UNESCO College

2018

UNESCO headquarters in Paris

1984●1st World Congress of UNESCO Clubs

and Associations in Sendai●Launching of a bronze sculptures “Young Girl”

created by Churyo Sato

●UNESCO College ESD Class in “Climate Change”

2019●Study Tour (Youth Branch. September)●“World Peace and Disaster

Prevention Project” (November)

"Let's convey it with a painting!
Treasure of My Town"
Painting Exhibition

Non-governmental UNESCO
Movement Day
Contribution to the World Peace & Passing
on the UNESCO Philosophy

Development of Youth – the Future Leader

Nationwide memorial functions are held tocommemorate establishment of Sendai
U N ES C O C o o p e r a t i ve A s s o c i a t i o n (n owSendai UNESCO Association) on 19th Julyeach year.

UNESCO College(informal education)

This popular event is held to develop the spiritof love and care to one’s
hometown by paintings
made by the pupils of
primary and junior secondary schools.

International Understanding& ExchangeTo Live in Multicultural Co-existing SocietyInternational exchange programme beganwith support to foreign students in Sendai has
now advanced to support to realisation of multicultural co-existing society. Also, we participate the Sendai World Festa organised bySendai Tourism, Convention & International
Association (SenTIA) to spread the UNESCO
Philosophy and introduce Japanese culture.

Cultural Heritage for the Future Generationand Preservation of Natural Heritage
An informal education programme to study local
heritages. Histor y on natural disasters anddisaster prevention are added after the Great
East Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Disaster.

Peace for Tomorrow

Spread the Sprit of Pea ce. Leave No One Behind
For Non-governmental UNESCO Movement based on co-learning and co-acting in collaboration withthe people and organisations that share the common value for “Creation of Peaceful and Sustainable Society”

Activities to Assist Fulfilling SDGs
(Sustainable Development Goal)"UNESCO College ESD Class" &"From the Disaster Hit Area to theFuture connected by SDGs"

Overseas Grassroots UNESCO Movement
UNESCO Future Co-creation Platform Project
We will expand and deepen contact and exchange with the Republic of Kiribati
in the Central Pacific in Non-governmental UNESCO Activities and education inboth countries in partnership with institutes and UNESCO Association nationwide in Japan.

Co-Learning for Sustainable Global Environment
As a Local ESD Promotion Focal Point, we provide
opportunities for studying local and social issues. In
particular, Sendai being the severely affected by theGreat East Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Disaster, wea re v i g o r o u s l y p r o m ot i ng t h e awa re n e s s p r o grammes with a theme of “From the Disaster Hit
Area to the Future connected by SDGs”.

Citizens Participation Activities
Prompted by Partnership

SALON & ZOOM Lecture
Diversified Co-Learning using Internet
Newly introduced activity in the midst of COVID-19
pandemic for co-learning. Taking advantage of ICT wehave been inviting guest speakers even from a f a r a n dover sea s for many times. T he c our ses provided
are education, science and culture; ver y UNESCO.

© Randi Rotjan
New England Aquarium© UNESCO