General Meeting 2022
Message from President
~Always in mind for Peace of the World ~
Today we hold the Annual General Meeting face to face for the first time since 2019. I am very happy to meet you in person, taking thorough measures against Covid 19. Today is also the last day for me as President of PPSEAWA-Japan. I feel so relieved to have fulfilled the 6 years of the extended term from 2016~to 2021, supported by the Members. I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to you all.
In the meantime, due to the Pandemic, the world has changed dramatically, and the PPSEAWA encountered many difficult problems which had never been experienced before and I struggled with them every day. But on the other hand, it has brought with it some beneficial outcomes.
Firstly, COVID 19 gave us the opportunity to promote digitalization and globalization for the members. Zoom took root within us, and it increased interaction at home and abroad, and helped us broaden our horizons. The mailing list among all the members contributed to reduce the distance between PPSEAWA- Japan with PPSEAWA-International and the United Nations with
Secondly, the PPSEAWA-Japan Home Page, standing on our own, was a long-cherished desire, and I am pleased to announce it is finally up and running. The Home Page has an important role as PPSEAWA’s “Window“ especially when the access to information is limited due to COVID 19. This time we initiated putting up the Country Reports presented by the President PPSEAWA-Japan in English at the International Conferences, in order for people abroad, the foreign Embassies in Japan and foreigners living in Japan to get to know our activities.
Thirdly, under the financial difficulties caused by the pandemic, bag-charms of pigeon- whistles and letter-seals made by volunteers were newly introduced as PPSEAW-Goods for fund-raising for the first time in a while. And many members generously made donations. The Board has been encouraged by their warm heart to support PPSEAWA-Japan.
Apart from the COVID 19 pandemic, we seek to correspond with social trend
in and out. One of them is the sharp increase of “foreign residents” in Japan due to the globalization. The number now accounts for about 8.9 million. In order to widen the circle of the so called “Internal-International Communication,” I will propose the revision of the rule of “Associate -Membership “ later in this Meeting.
The second issue to tackle, in the world- wide trend of aging, is passing the torch on to the Youths. We have invited youth observers at monthly board meetings since last year, and so have decided that 3 youths should be included as new board members starting from May. We will make appropriate conditions in regard to “Work-life Balance” for them.
The third is the “society of gender equality (Danjo Kyodo Sankaku Shakai)”, in other words, a society of equal collaboration between men and women. PPSEAWA was created as a women’s association in 1928. But in order to implement “gender equality”, which has become an increasingly big voice throughout the world, I think t it is important for men to join women’ s associations and circles and experience sympathy with women and understand them. We introduced the supporting- membership for men in 2017. I believe male supporting members will contribute to make PPSEAWA-Japan more and more active.
2021 was the year when we felt especially close to the conflicts and disasters around the world. On the UN Peace Day, one of our members, who currently works for the World Bank (IBRD) in Myanmar, made a touching lecture on the chain of “poverty and conflicts.” In January 2022, the huge volcanic eruption occurred in the Kingdom of Tonga. Since PPSEAWA-Tonga and PPSEAWA-Japan are historically very close to each other, I mailed the President of PPSEAWA-Tong to offer at most support. However it has been impossible to get in touch with her, presumably due to the destruction of the internet system there. What on earth could we do …? We feel so helpless・・・ but I was impressed by the lecturer’s words in the Peace Day’s talk , “ Please do not forget about Myanmer!” I understand the idea is to keep Myanmar in our thoughts as this will lead to Peace some day. In 2022, the War between Russia and Ukraine began, and the world has become that much more tense. They say the center of the world economy and politics will soon move from the US and Europe to Asia and the Pacific lead by India and China. Then, the role of PPSEAWA will come increasingly important, and I will be watching over the Youths of PPSEAWA to act wholeheartedly and contribute to global Peace.