Osaka, Japan - Ambassadors for Peace in Osaka prefecture, the second largest prefectural unit after Tokyo, launched a council on May 31, 2014, to enhance their campaign for sound families and a peaceful society.
About 680 people including members of the National Diet, municipal assemblies and leading figures in religion, education and business assembled at a civic hall in Osaka for an event that also commemorated the UN-designated Global Day of Parents (June 1).
At the outset, a Korean monk who has been at a Buddhist temple in Japan for nearly 20 years, recited a prajna teaching invoking world peace.
Welcome remarks by Dr. Yasushi Takigawa, head of the inaugural organizing committee, were followed by greetings by distinguished guests. The council's board members received certificates of appointment from Rev. Eiji Tokuno, chairman of the National Council of Ambassadors for Peace.
Chairman Tokuno spoke about Japan's domestic and international crises as well as their solutions. In order to overcome Japan's crises, he stressed the need for enhanced collaboration among Japan, South Korea and USA. Concerning the worsening relations between Japan and South Korea, he appealed for bilateral cooperation in preparation for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. As a concrete future project, he urged the construction of a Japan-Korea undersea tunnel.
Regarding Japan's domestic crises, Chairman Tokuno pointed out the importance of education and a strong family foundation to counter ongoing problems such as the large number of suicides and divorces.
In closing the rally, 11 people received certificates of Ambassador for Peace from Chairman Tokuno.