ICCLA

What is ICCLA?

This is the abbreviation of “Inter-Cultural Community Life Association.” This was named by Dr. Kimitada Miwa, who is Professor Emeritus of Sophia University, President of Minato UNESCO Association, and also Special Advisor of ICCLA. In this name, he wished that the local grass-root activity for the international communication will lead to the sharing of the way of thinking globally. The pronunciation of ICCLA (ick-la) also means “study” and “examine” in Arabic.

History and Feature of ICCLA

Ms. Nagato, founder and president of ICCLA, who had worked for UNESCO in Tokyo, came back to Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture in 1982. There, she decided to establish a new organization for international community and understandings, applying the know-how which she had acquired in her UNESCO activity. She explained her idea to the public through the local radio and newspapers and people gathered around her.

Our goal is to contribute to the building of a cooperative world. Our activity aims to influence the global movements for international understandings. ICCLA makes it a great point to realize the idea of “ Global Thinking, Local Action:Let’s begin from what we can do!” Our standpoints are lives, perspirations, tears, and excitements as ordinary citizens. We will continue to do the volunteer “grass roots activities for stronger bonding of global families.”

 

ICCLA has practiced the followings (as of March, 2006):

 

1.    Requested by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have accepted the youths from Asian countries for the study and training of Japanese language, Japanese culture, and current topics of Japan. It has taken place every year for 2 months since 1992. We have accepted 180 youths from 13 countries in 14 years. These countries are China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kirghizia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.

2.    We have promoted “Japanese Language Speech Contest by non-Japanese Residents.” It has been performed once every year amounting to 18 occasions to date.

3.    We have taught Japanese to non-Japanese residents. We have supported child care and self care of non-Japanese residents. We have also financially supported international students studying at their own expenses

4.    We have taught Japanese to foreign students (AFS, YFU, Rotary Club, AYUSA, Honda America) enrolled in this city’s high schools since 2000.

5.    We have trained the volunteers to become Japanese instructors, host families for home stay, and others for the international activities since 1986.

6.    Based on the Japan Foundation’s program, we have invited the students who have studied Japanese as their National University of Human Sciences in Mongolia. Altogether 20 students we have taken care of over three times.

7.    We have acted as host families for the home stay of Asian youths by item 1. & item 6, US students & International Education Administrators as requested by the Tokyo Fulbright Association, the diplomats’ families of foreign embassies, fellowship members of Syria and Jordan by the Japan Foundations, students of Atheneo de Manila University, members of Warata Girl Choir, and other foreign students altogether from 98 countries.

8.    We have sent lecturers to elementary, junior high, and high schools for their classes of “international understanding.”

9.    We have accepted aspirants for volunteer activities from junior high schools, high schools, and universities.

10.  We have promoted “international understanding” to our region of Japan in the following ways: Lectures, introduction of cultures from foreign countries such as foods, and questionnaires, findings and proposals about the lives of non-Japanese residents.

11.  We have published:

     A) Bulletin “ICCLA”: four times a year, Vol. 1 to Vol.98, in eight to twelve pages of the formal letter-paper size.

     B) “Legends of Japan and Mongolia” Vol. 1 to Vol. 4: They have translations of Japanese and Mongolian on the opposite page. They were donated to Mongols who were studying Japanese. Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 are also published as Japanese and English point systems.

     C) “Culture and Things of Japan in non-Japanese Perspectives” edited in 2004: It was donated to Mongolian students and teachers of the Japanese language.

     D) “Culture and Things of Japan in non-Japanese Perspectives” edited in 2005: It was donated to all junior high and high schools in Tochigi Prefecture.

12. We have visited three times to the US, twice to China, and once to Mongolia for the cultural exchange.

13. We have sent high school students twice to Australia, twice to Indonesia, and once to France.

ICCLA has received following recognitions and testimonials

 

June, 2003:          Testimonial from President Hiroto Tabara, Exchange Promotion Conference of International Students in Tochigi area.

March, 2002:       Testimonial from President B. Chuluundori, Mongolia National University of the Humanities.

July, 2001:           Testimonial to Group ICCLA from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Feb. 2000:           Testimonial from Mr. Zenji Kaminaga, Ambassador to Oman.

Dec. 1997:           The Best Award of “Home Creation” to Group ICCLA from Tochigi  Prefecture.

April, 1997:         Fulbright Award to President Y. Nagato.

Nov. 1992:         Subsidy Volunteer Award with additional prize of \30,000 from Japan Eastern Region of Soroptimist International of the Americas

June, 1992:         Area Cultural Award to Group ICCLA with additional prize of \1000,000  from Suntory Cultural Foundation

March, 1992:      The Area Community Award to Group ICCLA with additional prize of  \1500,000 from the Japan Foundation

July, 1991:          Recognition to President Y. Nagato from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

June, 1987:         1987 Supporting Subsidy to Group ICCLA from AVON Group.