Thinking About Peace as ‘Our Own Matter’ with the Next Generation
On September 11, 2025, an experiential workshop titled “Thinking About Peace as ‘Our Own Matter’ with the Next Generation” was held at JICA Headquarters as part of the 5th Education Cooperation Week, organized by NPO Forum2050.
A New Form of Youth-Led Dialogue
The most distinctive feature of this session was that young people from elementary to university students served as MCs and facilitators. Maya Fujimoto (1st year high school student) acted as the overall moderator, while Kanji Yamagiwa (6th grade elementary student), Yuka Tsukuba (2nd year university student), Akari Itaya (1st year university student), Hana Miyoshi (2nd year university student), and Kazuha Amaya (1st year high school student) shared their thoughts on peace through their respective experiences.
The Value of Peace Realized Only When Lost
The session featured particularly impactful testimonies from two guest speakers.
Igor Yevtushuk, Vice Chairman of NPO Japan-Ukraine Friendship Association KRAIANY, shared his experience of coming to Japan from Ukraine, which has been ravaged by war for three and a half years, emphasizing the importance of “realizing the value of peace only after it is lost.”
Additionally, Ichiro Hatakenaka, Representative of the Future Research Institute for Wellness and Abundance, shared his experience of being diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and given a terminal prognosis, yet finding revival from despair through continued social contribution activities. He spoke to participants about the importance of efforts to protect peace in daily life.
Connections with Children Around the World
During the session, videos were screened featuring children from Cambodia and Bangladesh expressing their hopes for the future. The candid voices of these local children served as a catalyst for Japanese participants to view peace as “their own matter.”
Keywords Born from Dialogue
The open discussion at the heart of the session began with the question “What motivated each of us to develop interest in the world, the future, and peace?” and proceeded to an active debate on “What can we do to help more people develop stronger interest in co-creating a peaceful future?”
During the floor discussion, the following keywords for building peace were contributed and visualized in real-time chat:
- Compassion and Empathy
- Humor and Smiles
- Knowing and Learning
- Courage
- Dialogue and Respect
- Connection
Message to the Next Generation
At the session’s conclusion, Takumi Ueshima (former JICA Executive Director), who serves as an auditor for Forum2050, spoke about the responsibilities of adults and senior generations from the perspective of “enabling children worldwide, including those in Japan, to play leading roles in co-creating a peaceful future.”
“Listening to the young people’s comments today, I felt hope for the future. We adults have a mission to create an environment where young people can speak and act with confidence.”
Participant Voices
Participants shared the following feedback:
“I was moved by seeing young people from elementary to university students confidently facilitating. I realized that thinking about peace is not something ‘special’ but exists as an extension of our daily lives.” (Education professional in their 30s)
“The Ukrainian speaker’s testimony was heavy, but Mr. Hatakenaka’s story gave me strength to live. It made me reconsider that peace is not something to be taken for granted.” (High school participant)
“Watching the videos of children from Cambodia and Bangladesh made me feel connected to children around the world.” (Elementary school participant)
Looking Forward
Takao Toda, Representative of Forum2050 (former JICA Senior Counselor), expressed future prospects: “By continuously providing such youth-led dialogue opportunities, we want to expand the circle of people who view peace as ‘their own matter.'”
This session served as a valuable opportunity demonstrating that educational cooperation extends beyond support for developing countries to significantly contribute to the growth of young people in Japan and their increased interest in the world. It was a meaningful session where each participant was able to find their own “first step toward peace.”
【Session Overview】
- Date: September 11, 2025 (Thursday) 18:30-20:00
- Venue: JICA Headquarters (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
- Organizer: NPO Forum2050
- Participants: Wide range of ages from elementary students to elderly
- Format: Experiential workshop
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Forum2050 operates under the concept of ‘Children of the World: Each Child’s Vision for the Future Shapes Humanity’s Destiny,’ collaborating with businesses, schools, educational institutions, and others. Together with children, we create opportunities for them to contemplate peace and development in the future human society, fostering partnerships.
