VOL. 1, No. 13

JANUARY 13, 2017

THE

NMUN KOBE TIMES
Kobe City University of Foreign Studies

The Delegates’ Voyage
Finally Comes to an End

The delegates of ECOSOC making a placard vote at the last session at the Kobe City Chamber on Nov. 26, 2016.

A week after the National Model United
Nations (NMUN) in Kobe was over, some 30
delegates gathered at Kobe City University ofForeign Studies (KCUFS) to reflect on what theirfour months’ journey had brought to them. In
the final session on Dec. 3, of the six course
sessions to prepare for the NMUN, they
discussed for the last time in groups by countryand committee, not about their policies, butabout their experiences they had had since thefirst class took place on July 9.
The class began with a comment byProfessor Lori Zenuk-Nishide. She firstexpressed her thanks to all the people who wereinvolved in the NMUN. She mentioned thatstudents had learned to respect those who weredifferent from themselves in many ways, bynationality, university and personality, whowere different from themselves in many ways,
by nationality, university and personality,
through this NMUN. “What can I do to empowermyself, how can I empower others? I’m hoping
you will take this up in your life, not only in the
NMUN but forever,” Prof. Zenuk-Nishide said.
The delegates then separated into countrygroups, where they mainly shared how muchpreparation they had undertaken and what they
did to gather information. After that, thestudents went into each committee group―theGeneral Assembly (GA), the United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), theSecurity Council (SC), the Economic and SocialCouncil (ECOSOC) ―where they talked about
not only about the good memories they hadshared, but also about the challenges they hadconfronted.

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Challenges Built Us Up―GA
Taichi Maemura, a Serbian delegate, had a hard time because he and his partner could not
find a suitable working group (WG) for their policies. Nevertheless, he was able to create one
through strenuous efforts. Although the group’s working paper (WP) was not accepted in the end,
Maemura said that the process had helped him grow. Juri Ishida, a Ugandan delegate, realized theimportance of cooperation. At first, she thought her speaking skills were not good enough, but
gradually she realized that sharing information for a Draft Resolution was more important.
Eventually, this made her feel comfortable talking with other delegates in English.

What NMUN Bought to Us―UNHCR
Through the NMUN, each delegate appeared to have become more confident, improved theirEnglish communication skills, and had a lot of discussions. Six delegates in the UNHCR shared theirchallenges during the conference. They said that finding a WG that matched their policy wasdifficult. Following the discussions and responding promptly was also a challenge. Summing up,
they suggested that it was very important to have adequate communication with their partners.

Thorough Preparations Paid Off－SC
A pair of New Zealand delegates—Miyu Higashi and Dai Danyan—reflected on the NMUN
with the Assistant Secretary-General Hidekazu Tanaka. While
preparing for the conference, they thought they had done
enough research. They also thought that speaking better English
would make them more comfortable, so they practiced making
speeches in turn, listening and giving advice to each other. In theconference, however, they did not feel confident enough tonegotiate or discuss things adequately, as 60-70 percent ofcommittee delegates were native English speakers, some ofwhom had also experienced NMUN before. It was hard for themto keep up with fast conversations and to respond promptly. Still, they
did a good job giving their speeches. In the end they agreed that critical thinking was one of themost important elements in the NMUN.

Tough but Fruitful―ECOSOC
Looking back at the conference, the delegates of the ECOSOC shared their experiences of thecommittee sessions. Many of them said that one of their best memories was making speeches at theKobe City Chamber, which no other committee members did. They discussed both good experiences
and challenging ones. For example, Koyo Hayakawa, a Ugandan delegate, mentioned that it wasdifficult to articulate policy effectively to other delegates. Still, he tried to present his country’s
policy in general to specific terms, which was his strategy for gaining supports from other countries.
After a short break, the delegates formed a large circle and freely shared their experiences
over the last four months. Many of them said that the NMUN was a tough experience, but one thatmade them more mature. Fuyuko Kobayashi, a Serbian delegate of theECOSOC, noted that after graduation she was going to become an
English teacher in Kobe city. “I want to tell my students that the MUN is
the greatest way to learn about global issues,” she said. Mariko Baba, aUgandan delegate of the ECOSOC, thought that NMUN taught her how
to be an international citizen. She was very glad to see everyone trying
to cooperate with each other. Risa Katto, a Serbian delegate of GA, said
that she could recognize how small she was. She also noted that her
partner was the best for her, and he was always cool and supportive.

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After the delegates spoke, the professors who had supervised them made some comments. “I
just want you to say it was really hard, but really great to work with all of you,” said Prof. Donna
Tatsuki. “Seeing the work you’ve done and how much you care about the future, I’m not as worried
about it anymore,” she added. Prof. Zenuk-Nishide encouraged the delegates not to see this as an end.
“Whatever your sphere of influence, you can carry NMUN and work towards making the world abetter place in terms of environment, human rights, peace and security. I think that really is ourmandate,” she said. At the end of the session, certificates of participation for NMUN were given to thedelegates and student journalists who had covered the course and the conference.

Two Teams and One Pair Win Awards
At the end of the NMUN conference on Nov. 26, Australian andSomali country teams from the Consortium of Foreign Studies inJapan (Gaidai Rengo) and the Consortium of Universities in Hyogo
were given the Distinguished Delegations Award and Honorable
Mention Delegations Award, respectively. The two delegates that
represented Ghana in GA also won an Outstanding Position Papers
Award.
The NMUN Kobe Times heard from these award-winners.
Nakayama (left) and Kaede Ueda
Shinju Nakayama, a delegate in ECOSOC from Hyogo Consortiumand one of the six-member Australian team, realized that listening to and respecting others’ opinions
is very important—though at first she had thought she had to be aggressive at the conference. In theconference, she could achieve her goal: explaining her ideas effectively, and negotiating with otherdelegates. As a next step, Nakayama mentioned that she wanted to take part in the next NMUN in
Canada as a delegate of ECOSOC. Taking this experience intoaccount, she wanted to work “with Japanese goodness.”
Motoko Akabe, a representative of ECOSOC and memberof the Somali delegation, believes that teamwork led to winning
the award. She thought that the six delegates played their roles
well and that their work was appreciated. During theconference, she made a point of speaking to the delegates of thecommittee every day. She tried to impress on others the special
circumstances of Somalia, because its actual profile in theinternational community seemed lower than other countries.
“It was important to convey to others what Somalia could do. I
Motoko Akabe at the center
didn’t want delegates from other countries to feel thedifference in power between their countries and ours.”"Unbelievable” was how Nao Takato and Ayaka Yamane—delegates of Ghana (GA)—recalled
the moment when they were called at the ceremony. They said they were especially grateful to Prof.
Zenuk-Nishide and their mentor Ryoichi Shigeno, a senior ofEnglish Studies Department, for their unfailing assistance.
As it was for Takato, Yamane’s image of Ghana was thatof a cacao producer. As she continued to do research, however,
she realized that Ghana was also active in world peace, officiallycalling for the elimination of Weapons of Mass Destruction(WMDs). The country is proud of its leading role in Africa,
although its achievements often receive less worldwide
attention than that of developed countries. The team was
happy about winning the award, and that Ghana received
Yamane (left) and Takato
attention it deserved, at least in the NMUN. Both Takato andYamane want to join the NMUN again, eager to perform better next time.

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Special Interview
For the last issue of our newsletter, the NMUN Kobe Times staff writers interviewed Secretary
General Sachiho Tani, Assistant Secretary General Hidekazu Tanaka, and two out of four Assistant
Directors of UN organizations, which the NMUN Japan simulated. Let’s hear what they say as theylook back on their NMUN experience.

Repaying for What She Learned from NMUN
Few dreamed the NMUN in Kobe would become real. However, the same people worked hard to
make the event come true, and for Sachiho Tani and everyone else it was a moving experience. As
Secretary General, she had been preparing the conference from scratch,setting the agendas for each committee, planning the cultural tours,
and training the delegates and student volunteers among many otherthings. According to Prof. Zenuk-Nishide, who had been looking for agood Secretary General for the Kobe conference, she thought Tani
would make a great leader right away after meeting for the first time,back when Tani was just a freshman in the KCUFS InternationalStudies Department.
Prof. Zenuk-Nishide’s hunch proved right. However, last three years
were a bumpy road for Tani, there being no precedents for the job ofSecretary-General in the whole country. At the last session on Dec. 3, Tani
remarked that she was envious of the delegates, wishing she’d had such an assistance three years ago.
It was also Tani’s wish that those who follow her would learn and realize the sense of achievementthat she gained from NMUN. Over the three years, Tani participated in several NMUN conferences,including ones in NY, Prague and Rome, and clearly appreciated what she learned on those occasions.
Working for the NMUN was thus one way to return the favor. Tani hopes now for just two things: forthe delegates to build on their experience in the NMUN, and for the others to understand the potential
and usefulness of this activity.

A Secret MVP Recalls His Three-Years for NMUN
Although he received little media attention, Hidekazu Tanaka was a real hero—the secret MVPof the NMUN. As the Assistant Secretary-General of NMUN Japan, he not only organized theconference, but also took charge of supporting the students’ Organizing Committee, himself serving
as a volunteer guide in a Kobe tour and sitting at the information desk to help delegates from aroundthe world to enjoy their stay in Kobe. The English Studies Department senior also worked as asimultaneous interpreter for the Japanese audience at ECOSOC’s last session in the Kobe City HallChambers on Nov. 26. For the last three years, Tanaka and thosearound him had focused on just one goal: the success of theconference.
His three years were filled with both sweet and bitter
memories. As a sophomore, the NMUN in New York had been afiasco due to the language gap. Working hard to improve his
English and learn more, however, he felt more confident andcomfortable in the 2015 NMUN in the Czech Republic, as well as in
the New York NMUN the following spring. He was especially
happy when he gained the appreciation of his team members forhaving been a competent leader.
Initially, Tanaka was unsure about the role which anAssistant Secretary-General should play. He thus resolved to do
anything and everything he could for Team Kobe. Looking back on his three
years of devotion to the NMUN, he believes that it was like a classroom for him—a place to learn how
to work with other people for one goal. Speaking to the last class on Dec. 3, Tanaka implored thedelegates to treasure the human relationships they had made there.
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Once in a Lifetime Experience
Emily Johnson spoke of NMUN in Kobe as “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” As the AssistantDirector for UNCHR, she worked with the Director, an American, and supervised working papers anddraft resolutions submitted by working groups ofinternational delegates who represented designatedcountries. “NMUN truly offers a life-changing
experience, enabling participants to see diplomacy andinternational issues from another perspective,”
Johnson said. Like Tanaka, Johnson also cherished theteamwork experienced during the NMUN conference.
“The bond forged with members and the memories
shared with them were very special, having gone
through challenging times together, supporting eachother,” she said.
As a senior in the International Studies
Department, Johnson is expected to graduate inMarch 2017. Still, she hopes to continue her involvement
Johnson (left) and Director Tsesa Monaghanwith NMUN in one way or another. For the next NMUN
conference, she hopes to see more students participating from Asia, Africa and South America—justlike the people who comprise the real world. At present, the NMUN is run mainly by North American,
European and Japanese participants. It would also be desirable for other countries to host theconference. Compared with the previous NMUNs, Johnson felt that the delegates at this one werekinder, and more cooperative with each other than competitive.

Message to the Next Generation“It was a blissful, extremely educational, deeply meaningful and memorable event,” said
Tomomi Hashimoto, a senior in the International Relations Department, who played the role ofAssistant Director of the Security Council. The successful cooperation of large number of student
volunteers not only helped delegates weave closer ties and forge stronger friendship, but also trained
and tested the abilities of many to become capable individuals. The participation of Asian delegates,
especially from the Philippines, contributed much to asense of equality in the propagation of ideas,
conversations and understanding, and truly made theevent international.
Hashimoto strongly hopes that not only
delegates, but everyone who has participated inprevious NMUNs will understand better what
globalization truly means. Through interaction withpeople from various backgrounds, they have learnt
firsthand how to influence their own environment,
making it a better place when they return home. “Theworld is much more vast, much more meaningful, andmuch more complex than one might imagine. The issues of today
Hashimoto (right ) and Director Kristina Mader are strongly connected to decades of prior history, and wereshaped by many players. Most of the time, the reality of a situation is uglier than one would expect:
war, famine, human traffickers and other international crimes,” she contemplated, adding that “Theworld needs more help than one might think, and we can help it more than we realize. Understanding
international issues helps us see the big picture and how our actions can affect the world. Sometimes
we can connect the dots when addressing major issues.”

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Journalists Speak At Last
From the first class on July 9 of the NMUN special preparation course, 11 student journalists
joined the delegates to receive training for covering the conference. Let’s hear them speak about what
the last four months have meant to them.
From the first class in July, I
sometimes thought of giving up thejob of journalist. Professors, otherjournalists, and delegates helped mea lot. I realized what a small thing I
can do. I am a freshman, so I want totry everything actively and expand
my world, with this experience as
the first step. --Tomomi Yamazaki

With a lot of people who supported
us, we successfully published 13
newsletters. The job was not easy,
but it gave me a lot of precious
encounters, which will be mytreasures in my life. I’m really happy
to have worked as a journalist of theNMUN Kobe Times!
--Nanami Takano

I really appreciate the people whosupported us. Through being ajournalist, I really recognized I could
not do anything by myself. I realizedthat to believe in others and do thebest with them is the most importantthing. --Takahiro Kamo

I learned that it is very hard to inform
correctly and give beneficial
information, but it was the duty of thejournalists. During the conference, I
had mainly been in charge of layout,
and I learned how to place articles
and photos on pages for readers toread easily. --Shione Shiraishi

Actually, I didn't have muchconfidence in my English, so I was
not sure as to whether I could write
good articles in a journalistic way, orsubmit the articles on time. Thanks
to the people who helped me, I
enjoyed this conference—including
the difficulties! --Honoka Morita

These five months of experiences
taught me a lot about the fascinating
things of NMUN. I haven’t figured out
how to utilize my NMUN experiences
yet, but I'll be trying to find the answer
to this question from now on.
--Ayami Tomae
I could feel the passion of many
people through their activities, which
drove me to write articles, andmotivated me to improve my English.
The NMUN Japan broadened myperspective as a global citizen andtaught me about the real situation inthe world. --Hiroka Abe

Honestly, it was really tough topublish articles every day without
delay, but I had a sense ofaccomplishment in the end. Best ofall, I was honored to participate in
the conference as a journalist andwork together with the great
members. --Hiroko Shiotani

To tell the truth, I was unwilling towork as a journalist before theactual NMUN conference. However, I
totally enjoyed it. Thanks to thiswork as a journalist, my English has
improved a lot, and now I feel more
confident with it. --Ryo Ueno

I was so happy to get involved insuch a great event. Should thenewsletters give you something, ourefforts will pay off! I appreciate all
the people who kindly supported us.
Thank you very much. --Sae Oishi
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