On March 25, IPS Japan was invited to give a formal presentation on IPS at the general assembly meeting of the Japanese Parliamentary Group on Global Poverty Eradication and Development Awareness at Lower House Diet member Building, Tokyo, Japan.

The parliamentary group was founded in 2007 by Mr. Toshiki Kaifu, former Prime Minister of Japan and the Honorary Chairman of the group, currently presided over by Mr. Kunio Hatoyama, Minister of Justice, as chairman. Prior to this occasion, MEP. Pasqualina Napoletano representing Friends of IPS at EU parliament sent a letter to Mr. Kaifu and Mr. Hatoyama recommending IPS and expressing hope to open a new channel of dialogue between EU parliamentarians and likeminded Japanese counterparts through this global news agency with its mission on shedding light on “Voice to the voiceless”.

Mr. Katsuhiro Asagiri, President of IPS Japan presented the IPS mission, history and overall activities including its unique characteristics of being supported by different stake holders in the development world (UN institutes, governments, development agencies, CSOs, and foundations). Mr. Asagiri also announced that the IPS European Regional Director has been invited to participate in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) under the sponsorship of MOFA in late May and later in the year the IPS Director General will visit Japan to pursue the very first media collaboration with the Japanese government through TICAD and Tokyo G8 summit.

Mr. Shinichi Takehara, Executive Director of IPS Japan, announced a new service to be initiated on July 1 modeled after the one available for members of EU parliament. Ms. Fujiko Hara, member of board of Trustees of IPS Japan, and Managing Director of Ozaki Yukio Memorial Foundation talked about the foundation’s decision to bestow prestigious “Gakudo Award” to IPS Japan and recommended IPS as a medium to effectively link Japanese people with the majority of human society who are living in developing countries.

Ms. Wakako Hironaka, former Director General of Environmental Agency, and the Chief Secretary of the parliamentary group expressed her keen interest in the potential of IPS to take up various activities for under-privileged and marginalized people, including the initiatives by Japanese parliamentarians and CSOs. Ms. Hironaka pointed out that there is high-level talk at the parliament about the problems created by language barriers and the need to convey information to the international community about various initiatives and activities conducted by dedicated individuals and groups at various level of society here in Japan.

Having said that she expressed a hope that IPS Japan will become a bridge between those dedicated people rarely covered by media in Japan and likeminded people already associated with IPS international movement. Mr. Isamu Ueda, Secretary General of the parliamentary group suggested that the group would welcome IPS European Regional Director in May and IPS Director General late in the year for the parliamentary group meetings to further exchange dialogues between the group and IPS for future collaboration and received approval.

On April 3, Mr. Takehara and Mr. Asagiri were invited to observe the parliamentary group meeting for April where ambassadors from 7 African countries were invited to exchange opinions towards TICAD. (See the 2nd and 3rd picture)