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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”
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)
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
AACCCCUU EExxppeerrttss MMeeeettiinngg oonn BBooookk
DDeevveellooppmmeenntt aanndd RReeaaddiinngg PPrroommoottiioonn
iinn AAssiiaa aanndd tthhee PPaacciiffiicc
–– AACCCCUU’’ss aacchhiieevveemmeenntt iinnhheerriitteedd bbyy
AAssiiaa aanndd tthhee PPaacciiffiicc ttoowwaarrddss tthhee ffuuttuurree
ooff bbooookkss aanndd rreeaaddiinngg ––
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 culture@accu.or.jp 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
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)
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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.
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)
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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
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)
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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
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)
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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.
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)
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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.
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)
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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.
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)
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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.
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)
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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.
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)
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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
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)
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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(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: culture@accu.or.jp, Fax: +81‐3‐3269‐4510) by Monday, 30
November 2009.
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(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: culture@accu.or.jp
URL: http://www.accu.or.jp/en, http://www.accu.or.jp/appreb
ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading promotion in Asia and the Pacific
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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
ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading promotion in Asia and the Pacific
Tokyo, Japan, 8-10 December 2009
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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)
ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading promotion in Asia and the Pacific
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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
ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading promotion in Asia and the Pacific
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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
Ministry of Education
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
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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.
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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.
ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading promotion in Asia and the Pacific
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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.
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Tokyo, Japan, 8-10 December 2009
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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!!
ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading promotion in Asia and the Pacific
Tokyo, Japan, 8-10 December 2009
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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
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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.
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Tokyo, Japan, 8-10 December 2009
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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
ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading promotion in Asia and the Pacific
Tokyo, Japan, 8-10 December 2009
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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
ACCU Experts Meeting on Book Development and Reading promotion in Asia and the Pacific
Tokyo, Japan, 8-10 December 2009
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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
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Tokyo, Japan, 8-10 December 2009
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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.
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Tokyo, Japan, 8-10 December 2009
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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
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3. Participants List of the Symposium
Country Name Title Organisation
1 Afghanistan Mr. Shafiq Ahmad
Qarizada
Senior program adviser and
EQUIP coordinator
Ministry of Education
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
Ministry of 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)
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)
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
Ministry of 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
Commission for UNESCO
34 Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Saleem Deputy Educational Adviser Projects Wing of the
Ministry of Education
35
*
Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Aslam
Rao
Secretary National Book Foundation
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)
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
Ministry of Education
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,
Ministry of Education
45 Vietnam Mr. Dao Quyen Truong Policy Planning Officer Vietnam National
Commission for UNESCO
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.
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)
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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
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)
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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.
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)
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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
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)
50
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.
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)
51
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
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)
52
Panellists
Exhibition of ACCU publications
Ms. MATSUOKA Kyoko Ms. Usanee Watanapan Ms. Batchuluun Yembuu
Mr. Timote Vaioleti Mr. H. Arief Rachman
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