Ashinaga Kenjin-Tatsujin Advisory Board - 3rd General Meeting

The Third General Meeting of the Kenjin-Tatsujin International Advisory Council was held in Kyoto from 1st – 3rd March. The Kenjin-Tatsujin International Advisory Council functions as an intellectual resource and support mechanism for the Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) and council members are highly eminent and accomplished figures in their respective fields. The Third General Meeting saw 42 council members from 25 different countries attend, as well as ambassadors of African countries, and other special guests. This year there were 18 council members from African countries in attendance, more than any previous meeting.

The first day of the conference consisted of meetings with Ashinaga staff and private sessions with Ashinaga Africa Initiative Scholars. Each group consisted of about 10 students, where they had one hour to share their experiences and get advice from the Kenjin-Tatsujin members.

During the conference, Ashinaga announced its intention to build an educational facility for AAI students in Kyoto named Kokorozashi Juku. The Kenjin-Tatsujin Council discussed the plan during the conference and approved it with some amendments in the form of the Kyoto Declaration. The plan was officially announced at a press conference held on 2nd March with Louis Schweitzer, Chair of the Kenjin-Tatsujin International Advisory Council, Juichi Yamagiwa, President of Kyoto University, Daisaku Kadokawa, Mayor of Kyoto, and Yoshiomi Tamai, President of Ashinaga. President Yamagiwa and Mayor Kadokawa offered their full support for the Kokorozashi Juku project.