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ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading promotion in Asia and the Pacific

Tokyo, Japan, 8-10 December 2009

Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)

Publications of ACCU’s Book Development and Reading Promotion Programmes

Asia‐Pacific Copublication Programme (ACP)

1. “Folk Tales from Asia” Book 1 – 6

2. “Festivals in Asia” and “More Festivals in Asia” 3. “Let’s Play Asian Children’s Games”

4. “Stories from Asia Today 5. “My Village, My Family, My Asia” – a collection for young readers” Book1, 2 and 3 (1~4)

6. “Laughing Together” and 7. “Can You Find Me?” 8. “Making Toys and Playing Together”

“Together in Drama Land” – A Fun Picture Book for the Very Young

9. “Guess What I am Doing!” 10. “Read Me a Story!” 11. “The Last Ticket” and “The Wall” ‐ A Picture Book for Children published ‐ Asian/Pacific Literature for Young People

on the occasion of the International Literacy Year

12. Ecology Series – “Trees”, “Water”, “The Sun” and “The Earth”




13. “Meet My Friends!” ‐ A Picture Book to Promote International Understanding Published on the occasion of the

International Year for the Culture of Peace

Materials Development on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)

“Animals in Asian Tradition

– Intangible Cultural Heritage around Us”

Material Development for Copyright Awareness

“Asian Copyright Handbook” and

“Introduction to Copyright and How to Use It”

Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations

Catalogues 1978 ‐ 2009

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TTookkyyoo,, JJaappaann,, 88 ‐‐ 1100 DDeecceemmbbeerr 22000099

FFIINNAALL RREEPPOORRTT

Organiser

Asia‐Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)

Published by: Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) 6, Fukuromachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8484 JAPAN [email protected] Tokyo Colony, Welfare Factory Oota, January 2010 [150] (CD-ROM: Orange Corporation, January 2010 [150]) ©Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU), 2010

Table of Contents (Booklet)

Publication of ACCU’s Book Development and Reading Promotion Programmes…...1

EXPERTS MEETING (8 ‐ 9 December 2009 )

1. INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………………..…7

1.1. Background

1.2. Proceedings

2. KEYNOTE SPEECHES ………………………………………………………..…………15

2.1. Mr. Virgilio Almario “ACCU Then and Beyond”

2.2. Mr. DOMON Yasuo, “Issues of the Japanese Publishing Industry and its Future”

3. ANNEX ……………………………………………………………………………….….. 26

3.1. General Information

3.2. Programme Schedule

3.3. Participants List

3.4. Opening Speeches

3.5. Mr. Muhammad Aslam Rao (Pakistan)’s Resolution on behalf of the participants

3.6. Mr. Ahmed Zahir (Maldives)’s address as a representative of participants

3.7. Closing Speech by Mr. SATO Kunio, Director‐General, ACCU

3.8. Photographs of the Experts Meeting

SYMPOSIUM (10 December 2009 )

1. Introduction: Background and Proceedings……………………………………………. 40

2. Programme Schedule

3. Participants List

4. Keynote Speech by Mr. SATO Teiichi, Former Ambassador, Permanent Delegation of

Japan to the UNESCO

5. Opening Speech by Mr. SHIRAISHI Masaru, President, ACCU

6. Photographs of the Symposium

Table of Contents (CD‐Rom)

EXPERTS MEETING

COUNTRY REPORTS

1． Mr. Shamsuzzaman Khan (Bangladesh)

2． Ms. Deki Yangzom （Bhutan）

3． Mr. Lang Sophat (Cambodia)

4． Ms. Nuzhat Hassan (India) *

5． Mr. Agus Lukman Hakim (Indonesia)

6． Mr. Hamid Reza Shahabadi (Iran)

7． Ms. MOMO Yuriko (Japan)

8． Ms. Khanthamaly Yangnouvong (Lao PDR)

9． Ms. Izzah Binti Abdul Aziz (Malaysia)

10． Mr. Ahmed Zahir (Maldives)

11． Mr. Aung Kyaw Oo (Myanmar)

12． Mr. Nayan Raj Pandey (Nepal) *

13． Mr. Muhammad Aslam Rao (Pakistan) *

14． Mr. Eliakim Tokacap Apelis (Papua New Guinea) *

15． Mr. Virgilio Senadren Almario (Philippines)

16． Ms. Nirmala Kumari Ekanayaka Hangamuwa Widanage (Sri Lanka)

17． Ms. Usanee Watanapan (Thailand) *

18． Mr. Nguyen Thang Vu (Viet Nam) *

* These participants are six out of eight participants who made their presentation with slides. Their

powerpoint presentations are available.

SYMPOSIUM

Panellists’ presentations

- Ms. MATSUOKA Kyoko

- Ms. Usanee Watanapan

- Ms. Batchuluun Yembuu

- Mr. Timote Vaioleti

- Mr. H. Arief Rachman




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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background

“ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading Promotion in Asia and the

Pacific－ACCU’s achievement inherited by Asia and the Pacific towards the future of books

and reading–” was organised by the Asia‐Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) in

Tokyo from 8 to 10 December 2009 in co‐operation with the Japanese National Commission

for UNESCO and the Japan Book Publishers Association.

As ACCU had decided to conclude its programmes in book development in the fiscal year

of 2009, the Meeting was held to evaluate ACCU’s contributions in the field, to share

current issues facing each country and to discuss future cooperation among the countries

and organisations in the region that are expected to inherit ACCU’s mission in the

development of books and promotion of reading habits.

ACCU, since its inception in 1971, has been carrying out regional programmes in areas of

book development, literacy and culture in Asia and the Pacific, with the support and

assistance of UNESCO and the UNESCO Member States. In the field of book

development, ACCU has conducted programmes in capacity building, production of

quality reading materials, and network building. Based on its wide experience and

network, ACCU was chosen as the co‐ordinating agency of UNESCO’s Asia‐Pacific

Co‐operative Programme in Reading Promotion and Book Development (APPREB) and has

been acting as its secretariat since 1992.

Such programmes by ACCU greatly contributed to the promotion of reading habits,

development of publishing industry and raising awareness of the creators and government

officials on copyright in the past years. Today, there are more publishers, improved

production of reading materials, better distribution systems, more libraries and schools,

and various organisations and networks that can support each other. Such

accomplishments would not have been possible without the efforts of the people working

in these fields in each country and region.

However, since the 1990s, although many countries may have become self‐sustainable and

even have the ability to support others in Asia, there still remain severe issues and

problems that need to be overcome. As ACCU has achieved its role as a regional centre

and decided to conclude its book development programmes by the end of March 2010, we

held this Meeting for the countries and organisations in the region to inherit ACCU’s

mission and co‐operate with each other for the further development of books and reading

in their countries.




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1.2. Proceedings

Day 1: 8 December 2009, Tuesday

OPENING CEREMONY

The opening ceremony began at 9:30 with two opening addresses moderated by Ms.

OHNUKI Misako, Director of Culture Division of ACCU, who introduced the first speaker,

Mr. ASAI Takashi, Deputy Secretary General of Japanese National Commission for

UNESCO. In his speech, he expressed his gratitude towards ACCU’s contributions to

building a solid, active and cooperative network in Asia and the Pacific for the

development of books and reading in the region, on behalf of the Japanese National

Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and

Technology. Then, Ms. Ohnuki invited Mr. SATO Kunio, Director‐General of ACCU to

give a welcome address. He briefly introduced ACCU’s programmes on book development

and reading promotion and thanked all the concerned organisations and individuals for

their contributions during more than 30 years of its history. Also, Mr. Asai and Mr. Sato

encouraged the participants to inherit the mission and spirit of such ACCU programmes to

be continued by their own hands in the region even after ACCU concludes these

programmes at the end of the fiscal year 2009.

After the opening addresses, twenty participants who represented 18 countries in Asia and

the Pacific region introduced themselves and meeting orientation was given by Ms.

TSUCHIYA Eri, Programme Specialist, Culture Division. She briefly gave an overview of

the programmes of Culture Division, and objectives and agendas of this Meeting.

At the end of the opening ceremony, Mr. Virgilio Almario, Dean of the College of Arts and

Letters, University of the Philippines was selected as a chairperson at the suggestion of

ACCU and with approval from the participants before the group photo session.

KEYNOTE SPEECH I

“ACCU Then and Beyond”

By Mr. Virgilio Almario, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters, University of the

Philippines

Following the opening ceremony, the keynote speech for Day 1 was given by Mr. Almario.

He firstly recalled his personal memories of participating in ACCU’s programmes since the

1970s. Also he introduced the various projects and activities initiated by ACCU for book

development and reading promotion in the region, including Training Courses on Book

Production, Mobile Experts team dispatched to Asia and the Pacific, workshops for

copyright awareness, Asia/Pacific Copublication Programme (ACP), Noma Concours for

Picture Book Illustrations, and Asia‐Pacific Co‐operative Programme in Reading Promotion

and Book Development (APPREB). He concluded with his statement that Asian countries

must continue what ACCU started with the same spirit which values group work and

networking to achieve the goals of book and reading promotion in the region.

After the keynote speech, the Meeting proceeded to the Sessions. Each session included




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presentations by two participants who had closely worked with ACCU since its inception

and in recent years, followed by discussions where the chairperson invited participants to

comment on the presentations or share their papers which ACCU had asked them to

prepare for this Meeting.

Paper Presentations and Discussion Sessions

TOPIC: Basic Facts and Achievements of ACCU Programmes in the field of Book

Development and Reading Promotion in Asia and the Pacific Region

1st SESSION

(1) Mr. Nguyen Thang Vu, Chairman, Publication Council, Kim Dong Publishing House (VIETNAM)

The paper highlighted the role and contribution of ACCU in the book and reading

promotion programmes in Vietnam in three major programmes, those of ACP, Training

Courses and Copyright. Through a detailed chronological description of the programme,

participants gained insight into the changes that these programmes had brought into the

publishing industry of Vietnam, reading among children, and in nurturing the growth of

regional understanding through books.

(2) Mr. Muhammad Aslam Rao, Secretary, National Book Fundation (PAKISTAN) The paper focused on the past and present situation of book and reading promotion

development in Pakistan; with emphasis on three important periods of development, that

is; (i) the period before the establishment of the National Book Foundation, (ii) the period

after the National Book Council was established, and (iii) the period after the National

Book Foundation participated in ACCU’s programmes. The third phase of development

illustrated the contribution of ACCU’s programmes in the overall process of developing

reading habits among the people of Pakistan, and their impact on the quality of book

production through the activities initiated by the National Book Foundation.

2nd SESSION

(3) Mr. Hamid Reza Shahabadi Farahani, Director, Publication Department, KANOON (IRAN)

This paper highlighted the importance of books and reading to Iranian culture and

educational organisations in relation to the development of the human capital. Through the

numerous activities carried out by the various institutions, Iran has over the years worked

towards achieving the goals and supporting the objectives of ACCU’s book and reading

promotion programmes.

(4) Ms. Izzah Abdul Aziz, Director, Literature Department, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (MALAYSIA)

This paper gave detailed information on the impact of ACCU’s book and reading

development programmes in Malaysia. ACCU played a significant role particularly in the

development of children’s and young adults’ book publishing. In the promotion of

reading, she mentioned that Malaysia had established a strong structural foundation for

the coordination of activities for all sectors and levels of society. The success of the book

and reading programmes was proven by the increase in the number of participants, visitors




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and activities of the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) from year to year.

Discussion (Sessions 1 &2)

1. Maldives participant’s response to Mr. Rao’s paper is as follows:

i. Acknowledged the importance of sharing information among member countries,

particularly regarding the methodology of the survey on literacy carried out by

Pakistan

ii. Agreed on ACCU’s important role in stimulating the growth of children’s book

publishing, and particularly in Maldives after the government’s educational

reform.

2. Bhutan’s participant was impressed by the existence of different types of book clubs to

promote books and reading in Pakistan and she would like to suggest this programme

be adopted by the government of Bhutan.

3. The participant from India asked how the National Book Foundation operates without

government financial assistance.

4. In response to the question of the Indonesian participant on the role of the private

publishers in book development in Malaysia, the speaker explained that private

publishers are usually involved in activities which have direct commercial impact.

Most of the activities are carried out by related associations (for example, Malaysia

Booksellers Association, Malaysia Book Publishers Association, Malaysia Printers

Association, etc.)

5. In terms of textbook publishing, there is less monopoly of government in educational

book publishing in Indonesia. Textbooks can be uploaded and printed or sold at the

government’s controlled price. In this case, the government is involved only in the

assessment of the book produced by different publishers.

Summary

1. Participants expressed interest in adopting the strategies of successful reading

promotion activities of other member countries.

2. Continuous consultation and meeting among member countries on book and reading

development programmes were recommended where the geo‐political and

socio‐political conditions do not give priorities to publishing and reading.

3. The National Commissions for UNESCO in member countries must be the coordinators

to document all information on APPREB.

4. There is a need to formulate a mechanism whereby member countries use it as a forum

to consult each other on matters related to book and reading development.

5. Calendaring the book fairs of member countries to enable the publishers to plan their

participation, especially among Asian publishers, was suggested.

6. ACCU could get information on Book Fairs in member countries to encourage the

participation of publishers from Asian/Pacific countries.

In the Session 3, “Reflection of Day 1”, the chairperson asked the Meeting rapporteur, Ms.

Izzah Abudul Aziz, to give a short summary of the discussions of the day as above, and the

programme for Day 1 ended at 5:00 pm.




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Day 2: 9 December 2009, Wednesday

KEYNOTE SPEECH II

“Issues of the Japanese Publishing Industry and its Future”

By Mr. DOMON Yasuo, Director‐General, Kondansha Editorial, Co., Ltd.

Day 2 started at 9:30 with the keynote speech by Mr. DOMON Yasuo, Director‐General of

Kondansha Editorial, Co. Ltd. He focused on the current publishing industry in Japan,

bringing into light four major issues faced by the industry (with specific reference to

Kodansha) that is: (i) industry reorganisation, (ii) digitisation and electronic books, (iii) The

National Year of Reading, and (iv) the globalisation of publishing. The rapid advancement

in information and communication technology affected greatly the conventional publishing

industry, as well as the reading habits of society. In order to survive in the industry, the

mission of the industry in future will be striking a balance between pursuing the economic

potential of commercial publishing and establishing cultural value.

Discussion

In response to the keynote speech, participants expressed their concern over the bleak

current situation of the book publishing industry in Japan, and reflected on the future of

the publishing industry in their countries. Another important topic which was discussed at

length, was sharing information on the various reading activities that Kodansha carried out

in order to sustain readers from different age groups for the survival of the industry; which

among others are the Bookstart Programme, Reading Aloud and Ten Minutes Reading. It

was also pointed out that on a recent reading survey, the change from paper‐based to

digital‐based reading will have a bad effect on the brain function of the child, affecting the

child’s ability to express himself imaginatively and creatively.

Paper Presentations and Discussion Sessions

TOPIC: Current Situation and Issues to be Tackled on Book Development and Reading

in Asia and Pacific

4th SESSION

(1) Ms. Usanee Watanapan, Head, Institute of Translation and Second Foreign Languages Promotion, OBEC, Ministry of Education (THAILAND)

This paper highlighted in detail the importance of ACCU training courses in shaping

and developing the book industry of Thailand, the utilisation of the trained personnel

in the various public and private organisations in similar book development training

activities, and the appointment of some of these trained book personnel to head

important organisations or committees related to books and reading. The ACP

programme is a success in Thailand, whereby almost 1 million copies of ACP titles

were distributed to schools, which usually became the favourites of children as well as

adults. Extensive reading promotion campaigns are carried out in Thailand with

activities involving students and the community carried out by teachers, librarians and

activists of non‐governmental organisations.




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Discussion

In answer to the question on whether reading promotion in Thailand is carried out in

schools only, the speaker clarified that it covers other sectors as well, such as reading

campaigns in schools which are carried out by teachers, voluntary groups or students,

and other reading activities carried out in public libraries on weekends by librarians.

Reading campaigns for the public will involve non‐governmental organisations and

members of the community.

(2) Mr. Nayan Ray Pandey, Board Member, Book Development and Reading Promotion, Sajha Prakashan (NEPAL)

The paper presented the current situation of book and reading development in Nepal;

emphasising the governmental support in providing essential infrastructure, the

impact of ACCU’s programmes in Nepal and the problems faced and

recommendations to resolve the problems by Nepal and the role of Sajha Prakashan in

publishing and distributing ACP books to schools.

Discussion

1. In response to Nepal’s achievements, the participant from Laos informed the

meeting that Laos also has a success story in terms of book and reading

development. The increase in the number of titles published between 1990 to 2009

was tremendous. This was not only the result of the government policy in

education, along with this development, there was also development in the

infrastructure, which encouraged the business in book publishing and reading

campaigns. On the question of the rapid increase in the number of titles, Ms

Ohnuki explained it was the outcome of the mobile team of experts’ workshops for

artists and writers in 1993 and 1995, as well as financial support from Japan and the

USA.

2. After a lengthy discussion on Home Library, the participants realised that the

concept and operations of Home Library or Community Library (which operates at

home or in the shop) in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Pakistan, differ from

one another.

3. The Sri Lanka participant also reported that the implementation of ACCU

programmes in Sri Lanka were carried out by various related agencies and

involved every sector. A special mention was made of the Home Library in Sri

Lanka which operates in individual homes and can be utilised by neighbours.

Books purchased for the home library will be given 50 % discount.

5th SESSION

(3) Ms. Nuzhat Hassan, Director, Under Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, National book Trust, India (INDIA)

This report highlighted the role of various organisations of the Indian government and

the private sectors in the education, publishing and promotion of reading habit

programmes throughout India with statistics from surveys and research to support the

achievements as well as issues related to the programmes.




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(4) Mr. Eliakim Tokacap Apelis, Assistant Secretary, Curriculum Development and Assessment Division, Department of Education (PNG)

This paper focused on the situation of book and reading promotion programmes in

PNG and the initiatives and efforts carried out by the government and the assistance

received from other countries and non‐government organisations to address issues

related to these programmes. Only a brief report on ACP programmes in PNG could

be presented as the speaker had difficulty in locating information. The paper also

highlighted problems of lack of funding, book personnel and reading promotion.

Discussion

1. In view of the problems still faced by member countries as presented in all the

papers, participants agreed more initiatives and efforts have to be made among

them especially after the closure of the book development programmes of ACCU.

2. Problems envisaged by participants after the closure of the programme are (i) the

quality control aspect of ACP books in view of the diverse needs of the

participating countries, (ii) Surveys carried out on books and reading undertaken

by an individual organisation might not be accepted by the government or related

private organisation, (iii) the need for political will to address development in

books and reading promotion, and (iv) the need to set up a reliable base for

monitoring of progress of the programmes carried out.

Summary

1. Discussions on the establishment and types of libraries, especially home library,

illustrate the various ways and approaches of promoting books in the regions

which members can learn and share with one another.

2. The common issues and problems highlighted in the papers are related to lack of

funding and trained book personnel to sustain book development in this region.

3. In view of the problems still faced by member states, more will have to be done

among member countries even after ACCU’s book development programmes have

ended, and one solution is to establish networking with international organisations

such as IBBY, International Library Association etc.

4. There is a need for political will to address book and reading development as well

as set up a reliable data base of the programmes.

CLOSING SESSION

As Mr. Rao from Pakistan suggested, the chairperson Mr. Almario gave him an opportunity

to present the resolution of the Meeting as follows (Please see page 35 for more details):

1. The resolution statement firstly acknowledged the valuable services rendered by

the former Book Development and Cultural Division of ACCU in the promotion of

reading habit and dissemination of cultural heritage in the Asia and Pacific region,

and the role that it plays in developing the book industry in the member countries.

2. The Meeting unanimously resolved that decision makers in Japan reconsider the

decision of the closure of the book development programmes in the Cultural

Division of ACCU and if not possible should evolve alternate strategies for

perpetual and sustainable continuation of the objectives and spirit of the activities

being performed by them.




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In response to the call for decision makers to reconsider the closure of the book

development programmes in the Culture Division of ACCU, Mr. Sato explained that, due

to financial constraint on government spending, the Japanese government had decided to

stop subsidising to ACCU and therefore the Culture Division will be closed because there

would be no funding. The Education Division remained because it would still be funded by

UNESCO and other private sectors. The hard times faced by publishers in Japan today

made it impossible for ACCU to get support from the publishers. He, therefore, encourages

member countries to form a network to sustain the book and reading promotion

programmes and reassured the members of the possibility that UNESCO may come up

with new funding.

After Mr. Sato’s comments, alternative strategies were discussed;

1. Participants agreed that networking among members is the most important

strategy in continuing the ACCU’s book and reading programmes.

2. Mr. Rao was named as the coordinator of the meeting among interested members.

The venue for the meeting will be at any Book Fairs due in January or March 2010.

3. The purpose of the meeting is to draw up a proposal on the nature of networking

and cooperation.

4. Participants were asked to report on the decisions of the Meeting to their

organisations and seek the possibility of attending the meeting.

As a result of the final discussion, it did not reach decisions as to which organisation

should play a leading role in taking initiatives to undertake the book development and

reading promotion programmes in the region after ACCU finishes its operation of the

Culture Division. However, some participants expressed their wills to continue

communicating among selected participants to organise a gathering in early 2010 and

establish a network after consultations with their home offices. Mr. Almario also suggested

that participants should present what they discussed to pass on ACCU’s spirit and

principles to their organisations.

Before the closing address of Mr. Sato, Mr. Ahmed Zahir was invited to say a few words on

behalf of participants. Please go to page 36 to read his speech.

Lastly, after Mr. Sato’s closing speech, Mr. Almario thanked all the participants and

announced the closure of the two‐day sessions of the Meeting on Book Development and

Reading Promotion at 5:00 pm.

On the third day of the Meeting, 10 December, Culture Division and Education Division of

ACCU held the “Symposium on Asia‐Pacific Regional Cooperation for the Promotion of

Culture and Education”. Please go to pages from 40 to 52 for more details.




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2. KEYNOTE SPEECHES

2.1. Mr. Virgilio Almario, Dean of the College of

Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines

“ACCU Then and Beyond”

On the one hand, I am extremely happy to be back here in the Asian Cultural Centre for

UNESCO (ACCU) and be reunited with friends and colleagues. On the other hand, I am so

sad to hear that after 35 years, the ACCU is phasing out its book development operations.

This is a time to remember.

I would like to remember the first time I visited Tokyo in September 1979 to attend the

ACCU 12th Training Course on Book Production. I was late by almost a week. My official

excuse was that I had to attend to a lot of duties before I could leave the Philippines. My

Adarna children’s book project was then merely three years old. But the real reason that I

could not leave the Philippines was because I was in the list of activists against Martial Law.

The military did not want to give me clearance despite the fact that Mrs. Imelda Marcos

supported and financed my children’s book project.

Fortunately, on one occasion I saw Mrs. Marcos

talking with General Fabian Ver, the highest military

official then, and I seized the opportunity to tell Mrs.

Marcos my problem, who in turn requested General

Ver to help me. Right then and there, General Ver

signed a note asking an intelligence officer to clear

me and help me get my passport. I got my passport

in one day and my Japanese visa, through the help of

the UNESCO office in the Philippines, in two days.

I remember Tokyo in September, a bit too cold for someone like me from the tropical zone,

so modern but so clean and so precise. So unlike my cluttered, polluted, dirty Manila. The

chauffeured limousine bus from Narita to Tokyo was clean, convenient, and on time. The

taxi from the Tokyo terminal to the ACCU building had a uniformed driver, was big and

clean, and reliable despite the heavy city traffic.

And I remember the ACCU building. I thought it was a

magnificent place. So huge compared with the dingy and

tight offices of publishing houses in the Philippines. Yet still

crowded when I saw the staff offices cramped and filled with

books and materials they had accumulated from all over Asia

and the Pacific. Everybody moved like clockwork. All the

sessions and meetings during the whole training course




16

started and ended on time. Even

the trainees’ breakfasts had to be

timed so that we could be at the

hotel lobby to be herded by the

ACCU staff towards our daily train

rides to the ACCU building.

I remember the very amiable and

helpful ACCU staff. Always ready

to assist the participants for

anything we needed. Making

collect calls for some of us who get

homesick, offering umbrellas when

it rained during lunch breaks,

arranging meetings with other Japanese writers, artists, or publishers, and even escorting

us to our first trips to Ginza or first attempts to shop at Akihabara, some of them become

lifetime friends. The very vibrant Shinji Tajima, the Indian dance expert Takeo Kurokawa,

Ms Jo, Ms Momo, the very efficient, patient, and intelligent Misako Ohnuki.

I remember the late Ryoji Ito, the first director general of

ACCU, who became like a father to me in pursuing my

new‐found career as writer and producer of children’s

books. He nurtured me while attending the training course,

facilitated my additional acquaintance with other publishers,

advised me about some aspects of developing my book

project, encouraged me to persevere amidst a hostile

political and commercial climate for children’s books in the

Philippines. Sometimes I felt that he even promoted me in Japan and that he was

instrumental in my subsequent frequent visits to Japan, sometimes twice a year, even

attending workshops outside ACCU, like a children’s theatre festival and a weeklong

seminar on children’s toys and games in Asia. I fondly remember his toothy smile while

sharing shabu‐shabu with us and handing me ACCU ball pens after serving as chair or

rapporteur in an ACCU meeting. And how can I forget him dressed as a geisha dancing in

the often hilarious closing programs at Hakone?

I remember my first spectacular Kabuki and long but meditative Noh presentation, my

visit to a wonderful Picasso museum, the combination of the very traditional and highly

technological, a blend which characterizes modern Japanese culture. Every visit to ACCU

was expectedly an encounter and increasing fascination

with Japanese culture: the hotel kimono, green tea, a cup

of sake under the cherry tree, a glimpse at the elusive

peak of Mount Fuji, the blur of people and villages

during the bullet train ride to Kyoto—which I guess are

the unwritten but significant ingredients of all the

experts meetings and training courses sponsored by

ACCU and held in Tokyo.




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This is also a time to commemorate. I would like to commemorate for Asia and the Pacific

the various projects and activities initiated by ACCU to develop and improve book

production and promote reading and literacy in our region.

First and foremost, the Training Course on

Book Production which was started in the

1960s and became an annual central program

in 1969 until 2003. It trained a minimum of 12

persons from 12 different countries every year,

most of whom were writers‐editors,

publishers, and printing technicians, and who

in way or another contributed to the

development of book production in their

respective areas. Its length, usually one

month long, made it the most expensive but

most intensive educational activity of the ACCU. Until now, it is a unique and important

endeavour in the region. Due to insistent demands, the ACCU many times transformed the

training into specialized courses on editing periodicals, publishing educational children’s

books, illustrating for children, and translation.

Training was not limited to the Tokyo‐based Training Course on Book Production. In

answer again to mounting demand, the ACCU initiated in 1973 the formation of the Mobile

Experts team to offer short‐term workshops in various places of Asia and the Pacific. The

team in the beginning was composed of Japanese experts. But later on, ACCU invited other

Asian experts for every team. This strategy encouraged dialogical learning between the

Japanese and other Asian experts and helped expose the other Asian experts to conditions

outside their own countries. By 1996, the teams of Mobile Experts have visited countries

like Laos, Viet Nam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Malaysia, Philippines,

Thailand, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Maldives, Korea, Mongolia, and

China. The teams worked on writing and illustrating for children, editing, and other topics

for participating students, educators, writers, editors, and artists.

After just a few years, it was commonly agreed that the training courses and workshops

greatly benefited the people involved in publishing in the region, like this glowing written

report in 1985:

I personally feel that the training of personnel in book production is a

very valuable approach and that a person chosen to train in these areas

of book publication will enrich his/her skills. My country does not have

the resources to train such personnel and the training will be very well

received.

I also think that by dispatching experts teams for the book production

training course held in Asia/Pacific, it brings with it many many

intellectuals and experts to share their knowledge and interest of the

book world, aiding some countries that may find it difficult to get their

books published with their limited resources.




18

I personally coordinated for the Philippines an illustrators’ workshop in 1997 which was

held in the University of the Philippines, and participated in by more than 20 young

illustrators who trained under a very imaginative artist from Japan.

In 2005, ACCU also involved itself in issues related to the respect and promotion of

intellectual property by giving workshops about copyright. During that year, two

workshops on copyright were held in Viet Nam and Myanmar. They were followed by

similar workshops on the topic in China, Mongolia, and Bangladesh. In 2008, a national

training course on copyright awareness was convened for three days in Cambodia.

Another major activity of ACCU was the

Asian Copublication Programme (ACP), and

which later on was renamed Asian/Pacific

Copublication Programme in line with its

widening scope to include islands and new

countries in the Pacific area. Publishing books

and other reading materials is a necessary

component of ACCU’s training courses. The

centre itself must provide a model on how to

produce books with high quality. It must also

influence the region in publishing reading

materials which emphasize issues and problems in the region and the significance of which

local publishers are not aware.

ACP started with a series of regional consultations to plan common reading materials in

1971 and 1972. The consultations signalled a very important character of the ACP. It wanted

to democratize the planning and pre‐production works of the ACP by involving experts,

writers and artists of member countries. Instead of requesting and waiting for contributions

from member countries, it engaged experts nominated by member countries to choose

topics to be developed, write the texts, and illustrate and

design the book. The process was tedious, sometimes taxing

the patience of ACCU staff in coordinating with delinquent

experts, but the list of books that resulted from the ACP

system will attest to the great success of the project. The

master titles of ACP book are in English but are available free

for translation and reproduction in any language of the

world.

The series on folktales of Asia and the series on ecology were

particularly popular. Accordingly, the two series had the

greatest copies of reprinting in major languages of Asia.

ACCU’s tabulation show that the first collection of folktales

had more than 893,000 copies was translated into almost all

major Asian languages, and including editions in Spanish,

French, Portuguese, Hungarian, Swedish, Finnish, and

Danish. Of the ecology books, “Trees” was most reprinted at




19

237,500 copies. In India, “Water” and “Sun” were produced

in 11 languages. All in all, the ACP produced 28 master titles

in English which had a total of 4,571,999 copies. These also

contributed towards ACCU’s aim to galvanize talents and

resources in Asia towards book publishing and reading

promotion.

The ACP system was not limited to book

production. It was also used in special projects

of ACCU, like the production of literacy

brochures on clean water, livelihood, and

others, and the coproduction of animated

stories. And of course, ACCU utilized other

creative approaches to promote books, like

sponsoring cultural contests, book fairs, and

exhibitions, the most noteworthy of which is

the coordination of the Noma Concours.

Milagros del Corral in fact noted that “the

Noma contribution to book development worldwide is perhaps one of the finest

examples.”

I would like us to commemorate ACCU as a centre of regional unity. The advanced

capacity of ACCU to strengthen cultural unity in Asia and the Pacify was ably recognized

when it was chosen by UNESCO as coordinator of the Asia‐Pacific Co‐operative

Programme in Reading Promotion and Book Development (APPREB). Launched in 1991,

the APPREB planning meeting was held in Tokyo in 1993 under the supervision of ACCU.

Milagros del Corral, UNESCO director of the books and copyright division, attended the

meeting and accentuated the importance of APPREB as a networking agency in the region.

However, she seemed to echo the ACCU’s past and present activities when she said that

APPREB

hopes to achieve its stated objectives of helping in the acquisition of lasting

literacy and lifelong reading habits for all; the development of quality books

for children, supplementary readers and literacy materials; the creation of

rural reading centres and mobile libraries; the strengthening of national

capabilities, capacities and infrastructures; and the mobilization of resources

(particularly human resources) by supporting training programmes for the

upgrading of book promotion, production and distribution skills and the

training of book industry trainers.

These objectives, it is felt, can best be achieved through decentralization of

decision‐making as regards programmes and funding to the network

members, strengthening individual and institutional co‐operation

experiences, encouraging research and development, and stimulating

on‐going critical review of programme effectiveness and output.




20

Thus the usual activities of ACCU continued from 1993

as part of the APPREB objective to assist member‐states

based on their expressed needs. This is the reason why

the Training Course on Book Development sometimes

focused on topics like book marketing, use of computers

in publishing, and other subjects requested by APPREB

member‐states. National training courses and seminars

included the APPREB need for developing manuals for

village libraries, translation workshop, and formulation

of a national book policy. Furthermore, in an ACP planning meeting, the delegates

approved the use of internet to promote APPREB linkages. The proposed APPREB site can

offer information about the book industry in member‐states as well as serve readers who

want to buy books published in the region.

Truly, as centre of regional unity, the ACCU has facilitated the exchange and propagation of

ideas and activities regarding book and reading promotion in Asia and the Pacific. But its

mission is not yet complete. The book industry in many Asian countries is not yet

sustainable. Books are still beyond the reach of poor families. Illiteracy is rampant in many

rural areas. In short, there are many things waiting to be done for a more literate and thus

more functional generation of Asians.

ACCU’s operations on book development may be coming to an end. We cannot halt it.

However, this should not be a terminal meeting for the spirit that ACCU has nurtured

during the last 35 years. This should be a time instead for us to be most resolute to continue

whatever ACCU started in our region. We should

dedicate our time to perpetuate the ACCU spirit. We

should follow individually or as a group the ACCU

example. First, ACCU’s faith and trust in the capability

of Asians. Second, ACCU’s leadership regarding the

value of group work and of networking to achieve the

goals of promoting books and kindling the book

industry. Let us begin now at this meeting.




21

2.2. Mr. DOMON Yasuo, Director‐General,

Kondansha Editorial, Co., Ltd.

“Issues of the Japanese Publishing Industry

and its Future”

The Japanese publishing industry is currently facing hard times, and in an effort to break

free from this situation, we must make a great transition. The four major issues the

publishing industry faces are 1) industry reorganization, 2) digitization and electronic

books, 3) the National Year of Reading, and 4) the globalization of publishing. Today I will

speak about the current situation in Japan for each of these four topics, and I hope it will be

helpful for you when you consider the future of the industry in your country.

It has been 40 years since I began working at Kodansha, which is said to be the largest

all‐round publishing firm in Japan. In those 40 years, I worked as editor of magazines and

books. This year Kodansha celebrates its 100th year in publishing, and its policy,

“publishing books that are enjoyable and useful,” has remained unchanged. I have also

been the editor of general magazines and in charge of the publishing department for

children’s books and picture books, and I am currently director‐general of an editing

affiliate of Kodansha. I would like to speak about these four topics based on my own

experience. Before I start, here is a quick overview of publishing in Japan and at Kodansha.

In FY 2008, 76,322 new books were published, with 210 new releases hitting the shelves

daily. Kodansha released a total of 2,148 titles last year, at a rate of 6 new titles a day. For

magazines, the industry total was 3,613 titles, and Kodansha periodically releases 48 titles.

However, in the past few years, the number of magazines that were discontinued has

increased dramatically. In the short period from January to August of this year, 160

magazines were discontinued—that is a 40% increase from the previous year. Magazines

are said to be a mirror of society and of the times, and magazine sales are continuing to

decline. The sales of comic books are also declining.

(1) Industry reorganisation

The topic of industry reorganisation refers to the formation of groups through the

consolidation and partnership of publishing firms with printing companies, wholesale

distribution companies, and bookstore chains. One specific example is Dai Nippon Printing

Co., Ltd., the largest company in the printing industry, which formed a capital tie‐up with

the publishing company, Shufu No Tomosha; major bookstore groups, Junkudo, Maruzen,

and Bunkyodo; and the leading library distribution company, TRC (Toshokan Ryutsu

Center) and is about to corporatize these companies. Bookoff, a new and secondhand

bookstore chain with 900 stores nationwide, will also acquire capital, and this new

distribution route is drawing attention. The move is to control distribution from planning,

editing, and publishing upstream to the printing and binding in the middle and




22

downstream to the bookstores. Major printing company, Toppan Printing, strengthened its

alliance with the leading bookstore chain, Kinokuniya Group. Behind these changes is the

reality that we are in a publishing slump, and books and magazines are not selling. Sales

for the Japanese publishing industry peaked thirteen years ago at 2.65 trillion yen (29.6

billion dollars) in 1996. After that, it has continued to drop below 100% of the previous year,

and unfortunately, the number is projected to drop to around 2 trillion yen (22.3 billion

dollars) this year to the same level as 20 years ago. Many publishing firms, wholesale

distribution companies, and bookstores are foundering due to the decreases in sales across

the board. Printing companies that produce print media are in the same situation. In FY

2008, 1,228 bookstores closed their doors, and the small and mid‐sized rural bookstores are

practically disappearing. At the same time, large nationwide chains that focus on major

metropolitan areas, such as Tokyo, are increasing the floor space of their stores. The

Internet bookstore, Amazon Japan, is continuing to grow rapidly. And convenience stores,

such as Family Mart, have seen an increase in sales for magazines, showing the

diversification of the distribution routes.

In Japan, with the increased progress in the digitization of society, both the publishing

industry and readers are finding themselves in very new environments. The Japanese

publishing industry was created under the retail price maintenance system and the

consignment system. Magazines and books are cultural creations, and the aim was to

enrich the lives and hearts of the citizens by selling books and magazines for the same price

regardless of time or location. For this reason, the system was such that the distributor

(bookstores) could return any books that were left over. However, the financial crisis last

fall in the United States accelerated the already dropping consumption, and with these

changes in the environment, the return rate of magazines and books has risen to 40%. As an

additional blow, advertisement revenue for magazines has dropped sharply. Publishing

firms have no way to make a profit. It has become increasingly difficult to smoothly

operate the company’s business. These past two years, Kodansha was also forced to declare

a deficit. Each company is struggling to survive. As a result, we have industry

reorganisation beyond the lines drawn between industries. We might even see alliances

and mergers between publishing firms in the future.

(2) Electronic books

This October, Amazom.com’s electronic book, the Kindle DX has become available for

purchase and use in 100 countries, including Japan. Sony and Samsung are also starting to

promote the use of their own electronic book terminals. Telecom companies are expanding

their magazine and book distribution services for mobile phones. The Kindle DX retails at

279 dollars (25,000 yen), and software is available for a little over 10 dollars (900 yen), less

than half the price of a book. Only 20 cm tall, 13 cm wide and 0.9 cm thick, this terminal can

hold about 1,500 books. More than 400,000 have been sold in the US and Europe. In Japan,

starting from October 1, readers can buy individual articles from digitized magazines. They

can purchase articles they have seen in ads for 10 to 50 yen (11 to 55 cents). These articles

can be downloaded to their mobile phones and read on the spot. In Japan, as we often say

that media is the creature of the age, sales in 2008 in the mobile phone content market

increased 17% from the previous year, growing to 1.35 trillion yen (15 billion dollars). The

Japan Magazine Publishers Association launched the Magazine Content Digitization




23

Promotion Consortium, and the entire industry is working to create a business plan. In

Japan, we are currently building a system to distribute content via the Internet, aiming to

begin charging readers for electronic versions of newspapers and magazines in two years.

In America, the Google Inc. has announced that it would start delivering for fee‐based

electronic books of the content in Japan in FY 2010. Just as the American writer Alvin

Toffler pointed out in his book The Third Wave published in 1980, “the media is identical to

social structures and organisational structures,” and “technological innovation innovates

social structures and communication methods,” we can see this happening before our eyes.

In the United States, newspapers are being discontinued and cut down one after another. In

mid‐15th century Germany, Johannes Gutenberg invented the mechanical printing press,

and that was the start of the present age of mass distribution. The dramatic development of

digital technology since the start of the 21st century has changed the structure of the

existing distribution system, and the emergence of the electronic book from both sides of

software and hardware is about to change the world of books. In the future, there is a good

possibility that companies from other industries, such as IT, telecom, and electronics, will

enter the world of publishing to advocate a new business model for the industry. It is

thought that behind closed doors, companies are busy creating a new platform for the

next‐generation information and communication. In a sense, the possibilities for books are

expanding, but how will the contents of the books change, and how will they stay the

same? It is the role of publishing firms to create content (the first C). In the current business

model for the publishing industry, content is then put into containers (the second C), such

as magazines and books, and placed on conveyors (the third C), which are wholesale

companies and distributors who bring the products to the reader. This is about to break

down. Through digital technology, the three Cs are changing, and the ground under related

industries is shaking. In Japan, starting from July 24, 2011, all television broadcasts will be

digitized, and this has accelerated the fusion and integration of communications and

information media, such as broadcasting and the Internet, with publishing and newspaper

media. Due to these special circumstances, the publishing industry in Japan is facing the

giant wave of digitization.

(3) National Year of Reading

The hard times the publishing industry faces are a sign of the shift away from print media,

but I believe it is not a sign that people are no longer reading. Ten years ago, we at

Kodansha began a reading promotion business we called “Let’s play with books, the

Nationwide Storytelling Team.” It was a storytelling movement targeting young children

and elementary school children. Loading 500 picture books onto a large bus, the team

visited kindergartens, preschools, libraries, and civic centres nationwide, putting on

large‐scale picture story shows and holding storytelling hours using large‐sized picture

books. The aim was to show young children how interesting picture books are, and how

fun the stories can be. Of course storytelling requires special skills. Volunteers around the

country, who were certified as reading advisors, supported the activities. Two large buses

travel all over Japan, from north to south, each visiting two or three locations daily. In ten

years, the team has held storytelling hours at 11,500 locations for 1.05 million children. The

truth is that about 20 years ago, comic books and TV games were a hit among children, and

we feared that children were straying from picture books and children’s books. Since then,

in Japan, there has been a movement to show children early on the wonders of stories and




24

picture books and expose them to the joy and fulfilment

of reading. Starting with the children’s encounters with

books group in 1993, legislative and administrative

branches of the government and the private sector came

together in 2000 to pronounce that year as the Children’s

Reading Year. Each organisation conducted various

reading promotion activities. Entering the new century,

in addition to the storytelling activities by Kodansha, the

Ten Minutes of Reading Before School Starts program began in elementary, junior high, and

senior high schools. In this program, students quietly read a book of their choice for ten

minutes before classes start. And there is another, the Book Start movement started in 2001.

This was a movement targeting infants, where at the medical examination for newborns,

the local municipality would give the families two picture books for storytelling and a bib,

and have the mothers and fathers show them the picture book and read the story to them

while holding their baby. As a result, children will be exposed to picture books from when

they are babies. The Japan Paediatric Society is also cooperating as part of their child

raising support activities. This has already been conducted by 718 municipalities in Japan,

covering 40% of the country. This movement has spread to other countries in Asia, such as

South Korea and Thailand. Activities promoting reading such as Book Start, the

Storytelling Movement, and Ten Minutes of Reading have improved the child reading rate

and increased sales in the children’s book industry. However, the straying of adults from

reading has become very serious. In a recent survey, 25% of people in their thirties had not

read one book a month. About four years ago, the Characters Culture Promotion

Organisation was established on the understanding that we must properly pass down the

culture and language of Japan to future generations. This organization is made up mainly

of members of the publishing and newspaper industries. It is also part of the reading

promotion activity. The message of next year’s National Year of Reading is to treasure

characters and words and enjoy reading. Empress Michiko of Japan, an avid reader herself,

has said that “the experience of reading has later become my roots and my wings.” I

believe these words express the importance of reading beautifully.

(4) Publishing and globalization

Picture books, comic books, and animation have leapt over the language barrier, crossing

over to countries around the globe. And Google’s book search site was a source of

controversy. As digitization spreads throughout the world, it has become increasingly

important to protect the rights of intellectual creations (content) and copyright. In addition,

we must be aware of the information that is released from the limitless number of websites

and blogs on the Internet. We must make efforts and have the intellect to determine

whether or not the content is reliable. It is also necessary to have the editing ability to

convert the content to digital screens and to express it. The question now is “what is the

role of the editors of the new age?”

I think the ACCU (Asia‐Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO) has contributed to the

improvement of culture and development of societies across borders. Their activities

include efforts to promote literacy, develop books, promote reading, encourage educational

exchange, protect intellectual property and copyright, and protect cultural property. I have




25

participated as one of the international jury members in the Noma Concours for Picture

Book Illustrations organized biennially by ACCU and have seen for myself the original

works in the wonderful picture books. This concours was established to support artists

who cannot publish picture books in their home country and to award artists. It has

introduced many picture book artists to the world. Picture books help children create a

world of common understanding with no prejudice beyond country, race, religion, culture,

traditions, or customs. The book development and reading promotion programs ACCU

conducted dealt with the same issues the Japanese publishing industry now faces. Our job

as members of the publishing world is to contribute to the improvement of culture and the

development of society through the media of books and magazines and to provide content

that will enrich people’s lives. Technical books and high quality literature, picture books

and children’s books, books with a bookmaking form worthy of collecting, and expensive

art books will probably continue to be available in print form, but for casual reading and

magazines, it is most likely that they will soon be replaced by digital media.

As for the future of publishing, the key will be in striking a balance between pursuing the

economic potential of commercial publishing and establishing cultural value, which is the

mission of the publishing industry. It all depends on whether, in this digital society, we are

able to continue to provide high quality books and books the readers need.

I believe that by continuing to provide readers with high quality books that contribute to

the improvement of culture and the development of society, regardless of whether it is

print media or electronic media, and “not be driven out by bad money, but let good money

flow,” we can create a new future for the publishing industry. To make this happen, I hope

that the big wave that is currently hitting the Japanese publishing industry, the next

generation platform with the three Cs of digitization, will be designed in a shape that is

reasonable for both the publishing companies and the readers. Because I want people to

always be able to pick up a book. Obviously it is because I believe that “books and reading”

are essential to the development of character and society.




26

3. ANNEX

3.1. General Information

The Asia‐Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) will organise “ACCU Experts

Meeting on Book Development and Reading Promotion in Asia and the Pacific －ACCU’s

achievement inherited by Asia and the Pacific towards the future of books and reading –”

from 8 to 10 December 2009 in co‐operation with the Japan Book Publishers Association

and the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO. At a time when ACCU will

conclude its programmes in book development in the fiscal year of 2009, the Meeting is to

evaluate ACCU’s contributions in the field, to share current issues facing each country and

to discuss future cooperation among the countries and organisations in the region that are

expected to inherit ACCU’s mission in the development of books and promotion of reading

habits.

On the third day of the Meeting, ACCU will have the “Symposium on Asia ‐Pacific

Regional Cooperation for the Promotion of Culture and Education”, followed by the

“Meeting of Experts on NFE Policy and Programme for the Promotion of EFA in Asia and

the Pacific” to be held from 11 to 12 December.

(1) Background ACCU, since its inception in 1971, has been carrying out regional programmes in areas of

book development, literacy and culture in Asia and the Pacific, with the support and

assistance of UNESCO and the UNESCO Member States. In the field of book

development, ACCU has conducted programmes in capacity building, production of

quality reading materials, and network building. Based on its wide experience and

network, ACCU was chosen as the co‐ordinating agency of UNESCO’s Asia‐Pacific

Co‐operative Programme in Reading Promotion and Book Development (APPREB) and has

been acting as its secretariat since 1992.

Such programmes by ACCU greatly contributed to the promotion of reading habits,

development of publishing industry and raising awareness of the creators on copyright in

the past years. Today, there are more publishers, improved production of reading

materials, better distribution systems, more libraries and schools, and various organisations

and networks that can support each other. Such accomplishments would not have been

possible without the efforts of the people working in those fields in each country and

region.

However, since the 1990s, although some countries may have become self‐sustainable and

even have the ability to support others, there still remain severe issues and problems that

need to be overcome. As ACCU has achieved its role as a regional centre and decided to

conclude its book development programmes by the end of the fiscal year 2009, we should

like the countries and organisations in the region to inherit ACCU’s mission and co‐operate

with each other for the further development of books and reading in their countries.




27

(2) Objectives The objectives of the meeting are;

To evaluate ACCU’s programmes on book development and reading promotion from

1971 to the present

To share and analyse the current situation and issues on book development and

reading promotion in each country and find strategies to tackle the problems

To build a solid, active and cooperative network in Asia and the Pacific for the future

development of books and reading in the region

To confirm that the spirit and principles of ACCU’s programmes on book development

and reading promotion will be continued in book‐related organisations in the region

and in each country and that leading organisations will play essential roles to assure

further development of books and reading promotion in cooperation with the

respective National Commissions for UNESCO

(3) Organisation Asia‐Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)

In co‐operation with:

Japan Book Publishers Association

Japanese National Commission for UNESCO

(4) Dates and Venue Dates: 8‐10 December 2009

Venue: Hotel Metropolitan Edmont

3‐10‐8 Iidabashi, Chiyoda‐ku, Tokyo 102‐8130

Tel. 81‐3‐3237‐1111

Fax. 81‐3‐3234‐4371

(5) Participation Participants will be representatives of organisations that play leading roles in book

development and reading promotion and that have co‐operated in ACCU’s book

development activities from the following 18 countries:

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Laos, Malaysia,

Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka,

Thailand, Viet Nam

(6) Reports by the participants Participants are required to submit a Country Report in line with the Country Report

Guidelines including outcomes of the book development and reading promotion activities

in their countries resulting from participation in the ACCU’s Book Development Activities

in the past 30 years, and the current situation as regards books and reading in their

countries. In addition, participants are requested to fill in a questionnaire on the state of

publications and distribution in those countries. For more details, please see the Country

Report Guidelines and the questionnaire. Please submit the Country Report and the

questionnaire to ACCU (e‐mail: [email protected], Fax: +81‐3‐3269‐4510) by Monday, 30

November 2009.




28

(7) Working language and documents Simultaneous interpretation will be provided between English and Japanese.

The documents of the Meeting will be prepared in English.

(8) Financial arrangements ACCU will provide each of the participants with:

Travel Expenses: A return air ticket (economy class) designated by ACCU between the

international airport nearest to the participant’s residence and Narita Airport, and

transportation costs between Narita Airport and the Meeting venue.

Living Expenses: A single room is booked for each participant during the Meeting by

ACCU. A fixed amount of Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) at the ACCU rate is

provided to cover meals and other necessary expenses, such as phone and laundry for

six days from 7 to 12 December 2009.

(9) Correspondence All inquiries and correspondence concerning the Meeting should be addressed to:

Mr. SATO Kunio

Director‐General

Asia‐Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)

No. 6 Fukuromachi, Shinjuku‐ku,

Tokyo, 162‐8484 JAPAN

Telephone: +81‐(0)3‐3269‐4436

Facsimile: +81‐(0)3‐3269‐4510

E‐mail: [email protected]

URL: http://www.accu.or.jp/en, http://www.accu.or.jp/appreb




29

3.2. Programme Schedule of Day 1 and Day 2

Monday, 7 December 2009

Arrival in Japan

Registration

Day 1 Tuesday, 8 December 2009

@“Hako”, Hotel Metropolitan Edmont

9:30‐10:00

10:00‐10:30

Opening Ceremony

(1) Opening speech

‐ Mr. ASAI Takashi, Deputy Secretary General, Japanese National Commission for

UNESCO

‐ Mr. SATO Kunio, Director‐General, ACCU

(2) Participants’ Self Introduction

(3) Participants’ Orientation

‐ ACCU

(4) Election of Office Bearers

(5) Photo Session

Keynote speech I “ACCU, Then and Beyond”

‐ Mr. Virgilio Almario, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters, University of the

Philippines

10:30‐11:00 Break

11:00‐12:30

Basic Facts and Achievements of ACCU Programmes in the field of Book

Development and Reading Promotion in Asia and the Pacific Region

1st SESSION:

(1) Mr. Nguyen Thang Vu, Chairman, Publication Council, Kim Dong Publishing

House (VIETNAM)

(2) Mr. Muhammad Aslam Rao, Secretary, National Book Foundation (PAKISTAN)

(3) Discussion

12:30‐14:00 Lunch

14:00‐15:30

2nd SESSION:

(1) Mr. Hamid Reza Shahabadi Farahani, Director, Publication Department,

KANOON (IRAN)

(2) Ms. Izzah Abdul Aziz, Director, Literature Department, Dewan Bahasa Dan

Pustaka (MALAYSIA)

(3) Discussion

15:30‐16:00 Break

16:00‐17:00

3rd SESSION:

Reflection of Day 1 by the chairperson

Comments from Participants




30

Day 2 Wednesday, 9 December 2009

@“Hako”, Hotel Metropolitan Edmont

9:30‐10:30 Keynote Speech II

Issues and problems of publishing and reading in Japan and Asia – current

situation and future perspectives

‐ Mr. DOMON Yasuo (Advisor, Kodansha Publishers Ltd.)

10:30‐11:00 Break

11:00‐12:30

Current situation and issues to be tackled on book development and reading in

Asia and Pacific Region

4th SESSION:

(1) Ms. Usanee Watanapan, Head, Institute of Translation and Second

ForeignLanguages Promotion, OBEC, Ministry of Education (THAILAND)

(2) Mr. Nayan Raj Pandey, Board Member, Book Development and Reading

Promotion, Sajha Prakashan (NEPAL)

(3) Discussion

12:30‐13:30 Lunch

13:30‐15:00 5th SESSION:

(1) Ms. Nuzhat Hassan, Director, Under Ministry of Human Resource

Development, Government of India, National Book Trust, India (INDIA)

(2) Mr. Eliakim Tokacap Apelis, Assistant Secretary, Curriculum Development and

Assessment Division, Department of Education (PNG)

(3) Discussion

15:00‐15:30 Break

15:30‐17:00 6th SESSION:

Summary of Day 1 and 2 from the Chairperson

Comments from Participants

Closing of Sessions on “Book Development and Reading Promotion” (Day 1 & 2)




31

3.3. Participants List

PARTICIPANTS

Country Name Title Organisation

1 Bangladesh Mr. Shamsuzzaman

Khan

Director General Bangla Academy

2 Bhutan Ms. Deki Yangzom Curriculum &

Professional Support

Division

Department of School Education

Ministry of Education

3 Cambodia Mr. Lang Sophat Officer of Department

of Non‐formal

Education

Post‐Literacy

Programme

Development

Ministry of Education, Youth and

Sports

4 India Ms. Nuzhat Hassan Director

Under Ministry of

Human Resource

Development, Govt.

of India

National Book Trust, India

5 Indonesia Mr. Agus Lukman

Hakim

Head of

Administration

Division

Book Center, Ministry of National

Education

6 Iran Mr. Hamid Reza

Shahabadi Farahani

Director of

publication

Department of

Kanoon

KANOON (Institute for Intellectual

Development for Children and Young

Adults)

7 Japan Mr. DOMON Yasuo Director‐General Kodansha Editorial, Co., Ltd.

(Advisor, Kodansha Publishers Ltd)

8 Japan Ms. MATSUOKA

Kyoko

Director Tokyo Childrenʹs Library

9 Japan Ms. MOMO Yuriko Author, Translator

10 Laos Ms. Khanthamaly

Yangnouvong

Deputy Director National Library of Laos

Manuscripts Palm Leaf

11 Malaysia Ms. Izzah Binti Abdul

Aziz

Director

Literature Department

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

12 Maldives Mr. Ahmed Zahir Director, Education

Development Officer,

Literacy and

Community

Education

Centre for Continuing Education

13 Myanmar Mr. Aung Kyaw Oo Deputy Director

Press Scrutiny and

Registration Division

Printing and Publishing Enterprise,

Ministry of Information




32

14 Nepal Mr. Nayan Raj Pandey Board Member

Book Development

and Reading

Promotion

Sajha Publication Co‐operative Ltd

15 Pakistan Mr. Muhammad

Aslam Rao

Secretary National Book Foundation

16 Papua New

Guinea

Mr. Eliakim Tokacap

Apelis

Assistant Secretary,

Curriculm

Development and

Assessment Division

Enhancing Excellence in Education

through the Provision of Relevant

Curriculum & Quality Resources,

Teaching & Learning

17 Philippines Mr. Virgilio Senadren

Almario

Dean of the College of

Arts and Letters

University of the Philippines

18 Sri Lanka Ms. Nirmala Kumari

Ekanayaka

Hangamuwa

Widanage

Director, National

Book Development

Council of Sri Lanka


19 Thailand Ms. Usanee

Watanapan

Head, Institute of

Translation and

Second Foreign

Languages Promotion

Bureau of Academic and Educational

Standards, The Office of the Basic

Education Commission, Ministry of

Education

20 Viet Nam Mr. Nguyen Thang

Vu

Chairman

Publication Council

Kim Dong Publishing House

ORGANISER: Asia‐Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)

1 Mr. SATO Kunio Director‐General

2 Mr. IIDA Kazuro Managing Director

3 Ms. OHNUKI Misako Director, Culture Division

4 Mr. JIN Kenjiro Section Head, Culture Division

5 Ms. TSUCHIYA Eri Programme Specialist, Culture Division




33

3.4. Opening Speeches

Mr. ASAI Takashi, Japanese National Commission for UNESCO

I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for this opportunity to address you all on

behalf of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Education,

Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on the occasion of the opening ceremony at the

ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading Promotion in Asia and the

Pacific.

ACCU has been the front‐runner in the field of book development and reading promotion

in the Asia and Pacific region since its inception in 1971, with the support and assistance of

UNESCO and the UNESCO Member States. ACCU’s various activities in capacity building,

production of quality reading materials, and networking were highly appreciated among

many stakeholders. That is why ACCU has been chosen as the coordinating agency of

UNESCO’s Asia‐Pacific Co‐operative Programme in Reading Promotion and Book

Development (APPEEB) since 1992.

Book development and reading promotion are the important elements which lead to

education for sustainable development (ESD). It is true that these activities give great

impact on the ESD activities in the region. As the strong supporter and promoter of ESD,

the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Education, Culture,

Sports, Science and Technology would like to show our gratitude to ACCU for its

contribution in building a solid, active and cooperative network in Asia and the Pacific for

the development of books and reading in the region.

I am sorry to hear that ACCU has decided to conclude its programmes by the end of this

fiscal year, but we have to congratulate on the achievement of ACCU’s activities, which

raised our awareness to the importance of book development and reading promotion in the

region.

We strongly believe that ACCU’s programmes on book development and reading

promotion will be continued in book‐related organisations in each country, and the leading

organisations which inherited ACCU’s mission, will play essential roles to assure future

development of books and reading promotion in cooperation with the respective National

Commissions for UNESCO.

I will close my address by expressing my sincerest hope that the discussions at this meeting

will confirm the great sprits and passion of ACCU’s past activities, and each country will

pass on ACCU’s legacy for further development of books and reading promotion in the

region.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.




34

Mr. SATO Kunio, Director‐General, ACCU

It is my great pleasure to say a few words, on behalf of ACCU, the Asia‐Pacific Cultural

Centre for UNESCO, on the occasion of the opening of the ACCU Experts Meeting on Book

Development and Reading Promotion in Asia and the Pacific.

First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the participants from abroad,

from Bangladesh to Viet Nam, as well as from Japan for attending this meeting, leaving

important business unattended at home. I am very pleased to have with us so many experts

in the field of book development, publishing and reading promotion in Asia and the

Pacific.

My gratitude also goes to the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO and the Japan

Book Publishers Association for their generous support to ACCU’s programmes.

As you might know well, ACCU, since its inception in 1971, has been carrying out regional

programmes in areas of book development, literacy and culture in Asia and the Pacific,

with the support and assistance of UNESCO and the UNESCO Member States. In the

field of book development, ACCU has conducted programmes in capacity building,

production of quality reading materials, and network building. Based on its wide

experience and network, ACCU was chosen as the co‐ordinating agency of UNESCO’s

Asia‐Pacific Co‐operative Programme in Reading Promotion and Book Development

(APPREB) and actively acted as its secretariat from 1992 to the beginning of the 21st century.

Such ACCU programmes much contributed to the promotion of reading habits,

development of publishing industry and raising awareness of creators and government

officials on copyright in the past years. Today, I am very happy to see more publishers,

improved production of reading materials, better distribution systems, more libraries and

schools, and various organisations and networks that can support each other. Such

accomplishments would not have been possible without the efforts of the people working

in these fields in each country and region, especially your personal commitment.

Since the 1990s, many countries in the region have become self‐sustainable and have begun

to support others. Having seen this improvement as welcome achievements as a regional

centre, ACCU shifted its focus on programmes from book development and reading

promotion to promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage, especially in recent years. This

change coincided with receding role of UNESCO in reading promotion coupled with the

cancellation of UNESCO’s financial support to APPREB.

This meeting aims to share the current situation and issues on book development and

reading promotion in each country and to consider a cooperative network in Asia and the

Pacific for the future development of books and reading. Like our government installed last

October, ACCU is in a transition period, and a new management team will come in March

next year. Thus, we consider it opportune to invite back old friends and colleagues to

enable us to re‐examine our common experiences in the past and share issues for the future

in the region.




35

Taking this opportunity, I do hope the respective National Commissions for UNESCO and

governments will play more active roles in our endeavours.

I hope that the meeting will become an important step towards further encouragement

toward book development and reading promotion in the region.

Lastly, on behalf of ACCU, I would like to express once again our deep appreciation and

gratitude to all those who are attending this meeting. I and our staff will try our best to

make your stay with us as much pleasant as possible.

Thank you very much.

3.5. Mr. Muhammad Aslam Rao (Pakistan)’s Resolution on behalf of the

participants

Whereas the valuable services rendered by the Book

Development and Culture Division of the ACCU for the

promotion of reading habits and dissemination of cultural

heritage in Asia and Pacific countries has been duly

recognised by all the member countries;

Furthermore, it is also recognised that Japan has been

playing a leading role among the publishing industries of

Asia and Pacific countries and uniting them under one

umbrella of ACCU;

And ACCU being a binding force of cooperation, coordination and meaningful productive

interaction has motivated member countries to build their capacity levels and run their

publishing industries on a modern technological base.

Therefore, closure of these Divisions of ACCU on the pretext of economy would be unwise

and detrimental to the interests of promoting reading culture in Asia and Pacific countries

besides denying one united platform to these countries and that too at the cost of forfeiting

the leading role of Japan in this region.

As such, it is unanimously resolved that the decision makers in Japan should reconsider the

decision to close these Divisions of ACCU and if not possible should evolve an alternate

strategy for a perpetual and sustainable continuation of the objectives and spirit of the

activities being performed by them.




36

3.6. Mr. Ahmed Zahir (Maldives)’s address as a representative of participants

Mr. Chairman

ACCU Director General, Mr. Sato Kunio

ACCU Secretariat

My Fellow Participants and Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to say a few words on behalf of the

participants at the ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development

and Reading Promotion in Asia and the Pacific in this concluding

session of the two‐day meeting held here in the beautiful

Japanese city of Tokyo.

For the past two days we have been sharing our experiences, helping each other with our

own difficulties. For the past 30 or more years ACCU has been guiding us in our endeavour

to promote and preserve our cultural heritage, not only providing opportunities for a

common platform to voice our problems, but also organising experts meetings, producing

materials and carrying out personnel training for us. As we conclude this session, every

one of us is concerned with uncertainty about our future as ACCU itself is on the verge of

concluding its cultural programmes in the Asia‐Pacific region. We have one question in our

mind. Will there be someone who will guide and assist us in our times of desperate need?

We believe that ACCU has successfully accomplished its aim by greatly contributing to the

promotion of reading habits in the region by developing the publishing industry and

raising awareness of creators regarding copyright. We are grateful to ACCU for the

successful activities they have conducted in our regions, as today there are more publishers,

improved production of reading materials, and a better distribution system, as well as

more libraries and schools in Asia and the Pacific region. We still think there are severe

issues and problems that concern us. However we also believe some of us today can be

self‐sustaining and have even acquired the ability to lend a helping hand to others. We

must find a way to assist the needy ones among ourselves.

I need not repeat what each and every one of us has expressed here in this gathering, the

sentiments regarding the contribution and achievement of ACCU and its team. I simply

want to thank ACCU and its team for their tireless efforts and generosity in conducting

various programmes in the region. In the name of all the participating countries presented

here I simply salute ACCU and its secretariat for the encouragement and assistance

provided to us through various means to find solutions to our problems in the Asian Pacific

region.

We wish every success and a great future to ACCU and its team.

Thank you very much!!




37

3.7. Closing Speech by Mr. SATO Kunio, Director General, ACCU

Thank you very much everybody, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Ahmed Zahir and Professor Almario.

Thanks to your very charming chairpersonship and leadership we have arrived at the end

of the day’s meeting. In fact, it should have been a memorable day for many of the old

friends of ACCU particularly those involved in ACP Programmes, but unfortunately I

really have to give you a cold shower by indicating that ACCU’s important programme will

end next March due to the lack of financial support from the Japanese government. I am

very sorry but I hope that in some way through your network the spirit will survive and

eventually we hope many Asian countries will economically grow and take over with new

ideas and fresh personnel to revive this very important programme.

And this is a very touchy moment for us also. ACCU has been contributing a lot to the

progress in book development and reading habits but we have heard during 2 days there

are still a number of problems which we are facing throughout Asia and problems are

much more complex now than before.

One basic issue is that particularly in South Asia, the Government has been trying very

hard to provide Education for All, but many children dropped out and became illiterate

again.

One thing we have to try to do is to provide some reading materials. Otherwise they don’t

have any chances to maintain their literacy skills in many rural areas, for example in

Bangladesh, there is technological development which may deprive children and adults of

learning opportunities. Even though they may have no electricity they now have the solar

powered mobile phone. So without electricity, you can have a mobile phone because the

sun provides energy.

The Point is that even illiterate merchants need not worry about literacy because they can

talk over the phone without electricity. It is a sort of technological jump which is really

taking place and, as Mr. Domon mentioned, something really beyond our imagination may

happen very shortly, I am afraid, in Japan. This trend may affect your countries as well.

But, like many people, Ms. Momo indicates that this jump may affect children’s

development and children’s growth very seriously, so I think we have to maintain this fire

and provide reading opportunities to our beloved children throughout Asia.

In that mission, I am very sorry ACCU is failing but I hope that in your safe hands you will

really maintain this type of programme for the future. Perhaps Professor Almario will

kindly gather ideas through email. Before that, certainly ACCU’s secretariat is ready to

inform every important organisation in your countries about the termination of our

programme but at the same time, ask support from each country to promote reading habits

together with the promotion of basic education in your country.

I say again thank you very much.

Those who are leaving tomorrow, I wish a safe journey back to your countries and a happy

reunion with your families again. Those who are remaining tomorrow, and I think most of




38

you will kindly remain tomorrow and we will meet tomorrow afternoon again, and have a

dinner gathering afterwards, so that we will certainly be able to continue our discussion.

Thank you very much for coming to Tokyo to participate in ACCU’s meeting.

I don’t want to call this ‘the last meeting’ but rather hope to meet again in some other

capacities.




39

3.8. Photographs of the Experts Meeting

Participants and Organisers; from 4th left (to right) is Mr. SATO Kunio, Director‐General, ACCU and Mr.

ASAI Takashi, Deputy Secretary General, Japanese National Commission for UNESCO

Participants’ presentations and discussions




40

SYMPOSIUM

1. Introduction: Background and Proceeding

The “Symposium on Asia‐Pacific Regional Cooperation for the Promotion of

Culture and Education” was organised as the Day 3 programme for the “ACCU Experts

Meeting on Book Development and Reading Promotion in Asia and the Pacific – ACCU’s

achievement inherited by Asia and the Pacific towards the future of books and reading –“.

This symposium was followed by “Meeting of Experts on NFE Policy and Programme for

the Promotion of EFA in Asia and the Pacific” from 11 to 12 December, which was

organised by the Education Division of ACCU. 63 participants attended this symposium;

some of the participants from the former meeting attended the latter meeting.

Due to the Japanese government’s political reform, ACCU faced financial difficulties and

decided to downsize its programmes. It was decided that the Culture Division would be

closed at the end of March 2010 and would end the programmes on intangible cultural

heritage (ICH) and book development, or possibly pass them on to other existing leading

institutions, while Educational Cooperation Programmes and Personnel Exchange

Programmes would be continued. In this situation, before ACCU’s closing of cultural

programmes, ACCU organised this symposium to provide a platform for experts in the

field of education and culture; 1) to share current situations and learn from each other

strategies to tackle the issues they face in their countries; 2) to evaluate the contributions of

ACCU’s programmes in their countries and the region; 3) to ensure networking among

experts.

The symposium was opened by the MC, Ms. SHIBAO Tomoko, Director, Education

Division, ACCU. First of all, she invited Mr. SHIRAISHI Masaru, President of ACCU, to

give an opening address. He mentioned the overall achievements of ACCU’s book

development programmes in his speech, and also added that, as an individual himself who

had been working in the publishing industry for four decades, the experiences working

with ACCU brought him meaningful perspectives.

After Mr. Shiraishi’s opening address, Professor SATO Teiichi of International University of

Health and Welfare, who is the Former Ambassador, Permanent Delegation of Japan to the

UNESCO, was invited to address a keynote speech. He introduced UNESCO’s initiatives

of promotion of cultural diversity to the participants, including its background, transition

of the convention, and how it related to the educational and cultural development and

cooperation in the region.

Ms. Shibao thanked Mr. Sato for giving an insightful keynote speech to the present

participants, and then invited Mr. SATO Kunio, Director General of ACCU, as a moderator

and five panellists for the next programme, a panel discussion.

Each of panellists gave a 15‐minute presentation to share their experiences on a broad

theme of literacy, reading, books for the development of culture and education. Each

panellist not only shared their experience, observation, and aspiration based on his/her




41

own activities as well as the contribution of ACCU’s programmes, but also their

suggestions and recommendations for Asia‐Pacific regional cooperation.

Firstly, Ms. MATSUOKA Kyoko, Director, Tokyo Children’s Library, gave her presentation.

She shared her experiences as a librarian, utilising the ACP books in her library to show

participants how ACCU book development and reading promotion programmes had a

good influence on children in Japan and the world by providing them opportunities to

learn different stories about Asia, and how they were enjoyed by children in many

countries.

The second panellist was Ms. Usanee Watanapan, Head, Institute of Translation and

Second Foreign Languages Promotion, the Office of the Basic Education Commission,

Ministry of Education. She talked about the current situation of book development and

reading promotion in Thailand with lots of slides to show examples of such programmes

by the Thai government and the Royal family. She also mentioned how ACCU’s book

development programmes had contributed to education and the government’s reading

promotion in her country.

Thirdly, Ms. Batchuluun Yembuu, Director, National Centre for Non‐Formal and Distance

Education, Mongolia, gave her presentation. She talked about the current situation of

non‐formal education (NFE) in rapidly changing Mongolian society and transition of NFE

policies in Mongolia. Her presentation touched upon the challenge of placing NFE in a

lifelong learning perspective in her country and of promoting the reading habits of both

children and adults. As an example of international collaboration relating to

teaching/learning material in this field she talked about ACCU’s PLANET (Package

Learning Materials on Environment) and how it had been used by various national and

international organisations in her country.

The fourth presenter was Mr. Timote Vaioleti from the Asia South Pacific Association for

Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE). He discussed current situations in the Pacific in

addressing EFA goals from a civil society perspective. He also mentioned how the issues

of literacy, adult education and learning, life skill, gender and quality were discussed and

tackled by both by government and civil society organisations amid the rich cultural

diversity of the Pacific countries.

Lastly, Dr. H. Arief Rachman, Executive Chairman, Indonesian National Commission for

UNESCO, delivered his presentation on the current situation of education and culture in

his country – the role of culture in education and role of education for building a vibrant

culture. He also shared his thoughts on what is to be done by countries and by the

international community, especially ACCU, in order to build a peace and sustainable

future.

The panel discussion served as an occasion for the participants to exchange ideas and

views on Asia‐Pacific regional cooperation in the field of culture and education. After the

panellists’ presentations, the moderator opened the floor for participants to freely give

comments and ask the panellists questions. Moderated by Mr. Sato, there were so many




42

questions and comments raised from the participants and panellists’ responses that there

was not enough time for panellists’ final comments to summarise the discussion.

Towards the end of the symposium, Ms. Shibao thanked the moderator and the panellists

for their very lively discussion and active participation. Then, as she announced the

closure of the symposium, participants were invited to go to see the exhibition of ACCU

materials on culture and education, which includes books for children, photo panels,

reports, and literacy materials as well as a presentation of videos produced by ACCU.

After the exhibition, a networking dinner was organised by ACCU from 6:00 pm.

* Panellists’ presentations are available in PDF File in the CD‐Rom attached to this booklet.




43

2. Programme Schedule

Thursday, 10 December 2009

Room “Yukyu”, Hotel Metropolitan Edmont 2nd Floor

13:45‐14:00

Opening Speech

by Mr. SHIRAISHI Masaru, President, ACCU

14:00‐14:30

Keynote Speech

Prof. SATO Teiichi, Former Ambassador, Permanent Delegation of Japan to the

UNESCO

International University of Health and Welfare

“UNESCO AND THE QUESTION OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY 1946‐2007

Review and strategies – A study based on a selection of official documents

CULTURAL DIVERSITY”

14:30‐16:30 Panel Discussion

“Educational Practices and Book Development in Asia and the Pacific”

Panellists:

- Ms. MATSUOKA Kyoko, Director, Tokyo Children’s Library

- Ms. Usanee Watanapan, Head, Institute of Translation and Second Foreign

Languages Promotion, The Office of the Basic Education Commission,

Ministry of Education, Thailand

- Ms. Batchuluun Yembuu, Director, National Centre for Non Formal and

Distance Education, Mongolia

- Mr. Timote Vaioleti, Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult

Education (ASPBAE)

- Mr. H. Arief Rachman, Executive Chairman, Indonesian National

Commission for UNESCO

Moderator: Mr. SATO Kunio, Director General, ACCU

16:30‐18:00 Exhibition of ACCU publications and special showing of video materials

(ACP, AJP, PLANET etc.)

Room “Seseragi”, “Bouvardia”, and “Matsukaze”, Hotel Metropolitan Edmont

2nd floor

* Tea will be served.

18:00‐20:00 Exchange Meeting (Room “Banri”, Hotel Metropolitan Edmont 2nd floor)

Speech by:

Mr. TAMURA Tetsuo, Chairman, Japanese National Commissioner for UNESCO




44

3. Participants List of the Symposium

Country Name Title Organisation

1 Afghanistan Mr. Shafiq Ahmad

Qarizada

Senior program adviser and

EQUIP coordinator


2 Bangladesh Mr. A.F.M. Faruque

Hossain Cate

Director Bureau of Non Formal

Education (BNFE)

3 Bangladesh Mr. M.A. Rashid Training and Material

Development Division

Dhaka Ahsania Mission

(DAM)

4

*

Bangladesh Mr. Shamsuzzaman Khan Director General Bangla Academy

5

*

Bhutan Ms. Deki Yangzom Curriculum & Professional

Support Division,

Department of School

Education


6 Bhutan Mr. Sonam Tshering Chief Program Officer Ministry of Education

7 Cambodia Ms. Hun Phanna CWDA Acting Executive

Director

Cambodian Womenʹs

Development Agency

(CWDA)

8 Cambodia Mr. Kuoch Kou Lom‐A Deputy Director,

Department of Non‐formal

Education Post‐Literacy

Programme Development

Ministry of Education,

Youth and Sports

9

*

Cambodia Mr. Lang Sophat Officer of Department of

Non‐formal Education

Post‐Literacy Programme

Development

Ministry of Education,

Youth and Sports

10 Canada Mr. Charles Hopkins UNESCO and UN University

Chairs in ESD

York University

11 China Mr. Liu Jiantong Vice‐Director Ministry of Education

12 India Ms. Agarwal Anjali Additional Director State Resource Centre for

Adult Education, Indore

13

*

India Ms. Nuzhat Hassan Director, Under Ministry of

Human Resource

Development, Govt. of India

National Book Trust,

India

14 Indonesia Mr. Edy Hardiyanto Centre for Development

of Non Formal Education

15 Indonesia Ms. Susy Farida Directorate of Community

Education

Ministry of National

Education

16

*

Indonesia Mr. Agus Lukman Hakim Head of Administration

Division

Book Center, Ministry of

National Education

17

*

Iran Mr. Hamid Reza

Shahabadi Farahani

Director of publication

Department of Kanoon

KANOON (Institute for

Intellectual Development

for Children and Young

Adults)




45

18 Japan Mr. CHIBA Akihiro Advisor International Christian

University Institute of

Educational Research and

Service

19

*

Japan Mr. DOMON Yasuo Director‐General Kodansha Editorial, Co.,

Ltd.

(Advisor, Kodansha

Publishers Ltd)

20

*

Japan Ms. MATSUOKA Kyoko Director Tokyo Childrenʹs Library

21

*

Japan Ms. MOMO Yuriko Author, Translator

22

*

Lao PDR Ms. Khanthamaly

Yangnouvong

Deputy Director National Library of Laos

Manuscripts Palm Leaf

23 Lao PDR Mr. Khamman Ounpheng Deputy Director‐General,

Department of Non‐Formal

Education


24

*

Malaysia Ms. Izzah Binti Abdul

Aziz

Director

Literature Department

Dewan Bahasa dan

Pustaka

25

*

Maldives Mr. Ahmed Zahir Director, Education

Development Officer,

Literacy and Community

Education

Centre for Continuing

Education

26 Mongolia Ms. Batchuluun Yembuu Director National Centre for Non

Formal and Distance

Education

27 Myanmar Mr. Ohn Myint Director General Ministry of Education

28

*

Myanmar Mr. Aung Kyaw Oo Deputy Director

Press Scrutiny and

Registration Division

Printing and Publishing

Enterprise, Ministry of

Information

29

*

Nepal Mr. Nayan Raj Pandey Board Member

Book Development and

Reading Promotion

Sajha Publication

Co‐operative Ltd

30 Nepal Mr. Mishra Jibachh Director Non‐Formal Education

Center

31 Nepal Ms. Kalyan Baba (Joshi)

Shrestha

Deputy Director National Resource Center

For Non Formal

Education (NRC‐NFE)

32 New

Zealand

Mr. Timote Vaioleti Council member/Senior

lecturer

Asia South Pacific

Association for Basic and

Adult Education/Waikato

University

33 Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Dawood

Khan

Deputy Secretary General Pakistan National


34 Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Saleem Deputy Educational Adviser Projects Wing of the


35

*

Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Aslam

Rao

Secretary National Book Foundation




46

36

*

Papua New

Guinea

Mr. Eliakim Tokacap

Apelis

Assistant Secretary,

Curriculum Development

and Assessment Division

Enhancing Excellence in

Education through the

Provision of Relevant

Curriculum & Quality

Resources, Teaching &

Learning

37 Papua New

Guinea

Mr. Nembo Nicholas

Kogop

Project Manager, National

Literacy Awareness

Secretariat Department of

Education

Department of Education

38 Philippines Ms. Carolina S. Guerrero Director IV Department of Education

39 Philippines Ms. Myrna Barracoso Lim Executive Director Notre Dame Foundation

for Charitable Activities,

Inc., Women in Education

and Development

(NDFCAI‐WED)

40 Sri Lanka Mr. Hangamuwa

Widanage Ekanayaka

Nirmala Kumar

Director Ministry of Education

41 Sri Lanka Mr. Weerakoon

Mudiyanselage Yudara

Bernard Weerakoon

Coordinator Sarvodaya Shramadana

Movement

42

*

Sri Lanka Ms. Nirmala Kumari

Ekanayaka Hangamuwa

Widanage

Director, National Book

Development Council of Sri

Lanka


43 Thailand Mr. Chaiyosh Imsuwan Dr./Specialist in Curriculum

Development

Office of the Non‐formal

and Informal Education

44

*

Thailand Ms. Usanee Watanapan Head, Institute of

Translation and Second

Foreign Languages

Promotion, Bureau of

Academic and Educational

Standards

The Office of the Basic

Education Commission,


45 Vietnam Mr. Dao Quyen Truong Policy Planning Officer Vietnam National


46 Vietnam Mr. Ngo Xuan Tien Expert Ministry of Education and

Training of Vietnam

47

*

Viet Nam Mr. Nguyen Thang Vu Chairman

Publication Council

Kim Dong Publishing

House

*These participants attended “ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading Promotion in

Asia and the Pacific”, 8‐10 December 2009.




47

4. Keynote Speech by Mr. SATO Teiichi, Former Ambassador, Permanent

Delegation of Japan to the UNESCO

“Cultural Diversity – UNESCO and the Question of Cultural Diversity 1946‐2007

Review and strategies, a study based on a selection of official documents”

Introduction

UNESCOʹs work in fostering cultural diversity has evolved alongside changes in the

meaning of ʺcultureʺ and in the functions ascribed to it. One can distinguish a

chronological succession of five main undertakings, each with its emblematic start date.

Since the founding of the Organisation, the dominant ideas characterizing this evolution

have been contained in its official texts, chiefly the Reports of successive Directors General

and, from the mid‐1970s, the Medium‐Term Plans. These undertakings have not, of course,

been conducted in utter isolation from each other; and actions taken at one stage have

continued in the following ones, developing ever more fruitfully at each stage as further

links have been forged between culture and the international issues and concerns of the

day. This makes it harder to assign any specific duration to them, since each has tended to

persist even as other priorities emerge and take centre stage.

Culture and knowledge

The first undertaking began in 1945 immediately following the Second World War, in the

period of reconstruction which saw the initial building of the United Nations and its

associated institutions. UNESCO recognized the close relationship that unites culture and

knowledge; and that recognition assured it a central part in the pursuit of peace, the ideal

which was the raison dʹêtre of the entire United Nations system. Nation states were

perceived as monolithic entities; the concern was with differences among them rather than

within them. The terms ʺstateʺ and ʺnationʺ were indeed used almost interchangeably: both

denoted units that were political and at the same time cultural, though in fact the

boundaries of the latter might be less precise or even mutually inconsistent. UNESCOʹs

original undertaking saw culture in terms of works of art rather than those ways of

thinking, feeling, perceiving or being whose entirety lies deep within the individual human

mind and creates the individual human identity.

Culture and politics

The second undertaking began with the proliferation of newly independent states, largely

as a result of the process of decolonization in the 1950s and 1960s. The main effect was to

throw a new and different light on the notion of ʺcultureʺ, which began to be regarded as a

marker of identity: culture was a crucial element in very many countriesʹ search for

independence, even as it assured them an undeniable existence on the international

political map. Here two phenomena should be pointed out: firstly, resistance to the

standardizing effects of a uniform technology, and secondly the ideological struggle among

States ranged on the two sides of the Cold War.

Culture and development

The third undertaking, located in time between the Declaration of the Principles of

International Cultural Cooperation (1966) and the Stockholm Intergovernmental




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Conference on Cultural Policies for Development (1998) was a continuation of the previous

one but with a re‐balancing of emphasis. The notion of ʺcultureʺ took on new importance as

it was linked with that of ʺendogenous developmentʺ. Acknowledgement of this vital

connection then provided the basis for international solidarity and cooperation, including

solidarity and cooperation with the developing countries (1970s and 1980s).

This awareness furnished arguments in favour of financial, logistic and institutional

support for the developing countries, which claimed the right to define their o w n

development paths and take part in international affairs on an equal footing. Though it

never renounced its earlier undertakings, UNESCO began during this period to place more

emphasis on mutual borrowings between societies that could open the way to a new form

of partnership capable of ensuring real international cooperation. The linkage of culture

and development has lost none of its immediacy since that time: it pervades the

Organisationʹs latest medium‐term strategy (2008‐2013). Nevertheless, in the course of its

long growth since the 1970s it has seen other priorities grafted onto its main stem.

Culture and democracy

A fourth undertaking began in the 1980s and emphasizes the link between culture and

democracy, insisting on the need for tolerance not only among societies but also within

them. It drew attention to cultural relations within states as well as between states, and

encouraged countries to take account of cultural aspirations and cultural foundations in the

building of democratic societies. During this phase the Organisation made an issue of the

discrimination and exclusion suffered by people from Immigrant communities particularly

in urban centres, and of the theoretical and practical questions concerning the rights of

indigenous peoples and the coexistence of individuals and groups from differing cultural

backgrounds.

Culture and globalization

The fifth and latest undertaking, at the start of the third millennium, has been marked by

the accelerating process of globalization which is upsetting not only the economic and

technological orders, but patterns of thought and ways of viewing the world. This new

circumstance requires a redefinition of what must be done, what strategies adopted, in

order to preserve and promote cultural diversity and its corollary, intercultural dialogue,

which together maintain a prospect of peace and social cohesion within individual

countries and throughout the world. The spotlight now plays on the contribution which

culture, in its rich diversity, can make to sustainable development, security, peace and

social cohesion. In this period UNESCO has been seeking to respond to the needs of

societies that are becoming less homogeneous as globalization gathers pace. Culture, whose

wealth is in its diversity, is gradually coming to be seen as belonging on the political

agenda, national and international; and dialogue among cultures and civilizations is

increasingly appreciated as a means of tackling the twofold challenge of cultural diversity:

how, on the one hand, to ensure that people and groups with a varied and dynamic

plurality of cultural identities interact harmoniously and with a readiness to live together;

and on the other, how to defend creative diversity, the multiplicity of forms through which

cultures manifest themselves in different places and at different times.




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5. Opening Speech by Mr. SHIRAISHI Masaru, President, ACCU

Welcome to you all, and hello, the delegates from the Asia and Pacific region who attended

the ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading Promotion in the Asia and

Pacific region, and the Experts Meeting on Non‐formal Education Policy Programme for

Promoting Education for All. Former ambassador, permanent delegation Japan to

UNESCO, Mr. Teiichi Sato, and to all of you who are present today. As president of

ACCU, I extend my warmest welcome to you all. My name is Shiraishi Masaru. I express

my deepest appreciation to all of you who are attending this symposium, and particularly,

to the experts who are involved in the education and publishing in the Asia and Pacific

region and who have travelled so far to attend the two international conferences organised

by ACCU.

ACCU, in line with the basic policy of UNESCO, was established in 1971 with the support

of government and private sectors, and entrusted with the mandate to promote Asian and

Pacific cultures and mutual understanding among the peoples of the region. Since its

establishment, for the past 40 years, ACCU with the support of UNESCO and member

states has implemented various cultural cooperation programmes and education

cooperation programmes as well as exchange of programme personnel.

Since the time of its predecessor “UNESCO Tokyo Book Development Centre (TBDC)”,

ACCU has been involved in book development programmes with your support and

cooperation. The book development programme has grown to become the major cultural

programme and has instilled a sense of ownership among all the members of Asian and

Pacific countries among the many initiatives taken so far. The human resources

development programmes, and publishing skill training courses enjoy a long history. I am

sure the many experts present today have participated in those training courses. Among

these participants, many now lead the publishing industry in their respective countries

such as Mr. Almario, Dean of Arts and Letters at Philippine University, which is truly

gratifying for us.

With the aim of providing many quality children books to children in Asia, an extensive

children’s books publishing programme has been implemented, resulting in publication of

29 titles including “Folktales in the Asia”. We have published 4.4 million books in more

than 40 different languages. New and up‐coming artists and illustrators have been given

opportunities to present their work and achieve recognition through the Noma Concours

for Picture Book Illustrations which is held every 2 years. So far the concours has been held

16 times.

In the Asia and Pacific region, the number of publishers has increased in recent years and

the quality of the books has improved. The book distribution system has been improved as

well. In appreciation of our rich and diverse networks that span different sectors, ACCU

has been assigned by UNESCO the task of serving as secretariat for its book development

and reading promotion programme.

In 1992, APPREB in that capacity, hosted training courses and provided information

relevant to book development to the countries in the Asia and Pacific region. ACCU’s




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education programmes began with book development initiatives. In appreciation of

ACCU’s rich experience in promoting book development, UNESCO eventually requested

ACCU’s cooperation in developing literacy teaching materials. Among the experts, it was

pointed out unless literacy was improved in Asia, the high quality books developed

through UNESCO’s programmes would be inaccessible to ordinary people and thus

would not benefit them. So, in response to the situation, in 1981 we started developing

books with a view to improving the literacy rate through the publishing skills training

course and the Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations. The professionals who were

involved in book development also participated in the development of the newly launched

literacy materials development project as a part of our international cooperation

programme. Today, 59 titles have been published in 34 languages, based on 350 original

copies. They have been translated into many different languages, totalling millions of

books.

For nearly 30 years, the education cooperation programme has been expanded to include

not only the development of literacy teaching materials but human resource development

and the establishment of programmes to support Education for All, EFA. The animated

literacy teaching material “Mina Smiles” has been used as the basis for a series about

environmental issues and has been distributed in VCD and DVD formats. The teaching

material format has surely changed over time.

Non‐formal education in Asia, including literacy education, has grown substantially over

these years. Already, based on the ideal of promoting reading and life‐long education, we

are seeing conversions of the book development initiative. Of course, there are many

challenges that we face in promoting Education for All. We hope for your further

cooperation as we implement our programmes. As for the new challenge which lies ahead,

Education and Sustainable Development or ESD, the programmes will be implemented

with full consideration being given to protecting cultural diversity.

Apart from the programmes that I have mentioned so far, there is one other major pillar,

which is the cultural cooperation programme. We have been actively undertaking

programmes for protecting the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Asia and the

Pacific region. We have also recently promoted exchanges of teachers between Japan,

China and Korea and strongly emphasised such exchange programmes.

In 2006, when I assumed the presidency of ACCU, I was also working concurrently for a

Japanese publishing firm named ‘Bungeishunju’. In fact, I worked more than 40 years for

this publishing. During this time, for many years, I was a magazine editor and also worked

as a journalist, and in that capacity had opportunities to interview people and write about

them. Therefore, as a person who worked for many years in the publishing industry, the 3

years that I have worked as president of ACCU have been fruitful, fulfilling and

meaningful for me.

I hope that the symposium will review the past achievements of ACCU and open a bright

future for education and publishing activities in the Asia and Pacific region. Thank you so

much for your kind attention.




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6. Photographs of the Symposium

Participants, listening to the keynote speech

Panellists’ presentations and discussions

Keynote Speech by Mr. SATO Teiichi,

Former Ambassador, Permanent

Delegation of Japan to the UNESCO

Opening Speech by Mr. SHIRAISHI

Masaru, President, ACCU




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Panellists

Exhibition of ACCU publications

Ms. MATSUOKA Kyoko Ms. Usanee Watanapan Ms. Batchuluun Yembuu

Mr. Timote Vaioleti Mr. H. Arief Rachman

Documents

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