Awards Ceremony for the Seventh Iue Asia Pacific Culture Prize and Iue Asia Pacific Research Prize

The Awards Ceremony for the 7th Iue Asia Pacific Culture Prize and Iue Asia Pacific Research Prize was held at the Osaka International Convention Center on October 10 (Fri.), 2008.
In Part 1 of the Awards Ceremony, Mr. Satoshi Iue, Representative Director of Asia Pacific Forum, Awaji Conference Japan (Representative Honorary Member, SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.) presented Mr. Kyoei Wakabayashi, President of Shanti　Volunteer　Association (SVA), winner of the Iue Asia Pacific Culture Prize, with the award certificate and a prize of 5 million yen, and Ms. Sayuri Inoue and Ms. Setsuko Sonoda, winners of the Iue Asia Pacific Research Prize, with the award certificate and a prize of 1 million yen.
Following the award presentation, there was an explanation of reasons for the Selection Committees’ decision by Culture Prize Selection Committee Chair, Mr. Yoneo Ishii and Research Prize Selection Committee Chair, Mr. Makoto Iokibe, followed by words of acceptance by the award winners and an introduction to the research projects chosen for the Iue Asia Pacific Research Prize. In Part 2 of the Ceremony, Mr. Shunko Chino, Executive Director of Shanti Volunteer Association, gave an overview of their activities through a presentation titled “Living Together, Learning Together – Picture Books (Education) Begin to Achieve Success in Asia.” This was followed by a commemorative discussion under the theme of “Living Together, Learning Together – The Challenges of the International Volunteer” by Mr. Chino and Ms. Masako Hoshino, Special Advisor of Japan International Volunteer Center, coordinated by Mr. Yoneo Ishii (Director General of the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records, National Archives of Japan).
The Awards Ceremony was attended by Mr. Om Prakash, Consul-General of India in Osaka, Mr. Ivan Prokhorov, Consul-General of Russia in Osaka, and Mr. Edward Dong, U.S. Consul-General of Osaka-Kobe, as well as about 70 participants who listened attentively to the prizewinners’ speeches and the commemorative discussions.