At a glance: Japan

Jackie Chan helps UNICEF Japan celebrate 50 years

© UNICEF Japan/2005

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Jackie Chan and the Executive Director of Japan’s Committee for UNICEF, Yoshihisa Togo, hold up a flag with messages from Japanese schoolchildren to children in developing nations.

TOKYO, 15 March 2005 - UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and filmstar Jackie Chan along with Goodwill Ambassador Dr. Agnes Chan Miling recently made a special visit to Keiyou Primary School in Tokyo. The visit, which took place on 9 March, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Japan Committee for UNICEF and also provided a forum to thank the Japanese people for 50 years of support for children around the world.

Keiyou Primary School was the first primary school in Japan to start fundraising for UNICEF, in 1956. After the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami last December, the school raised $700 for the relief effort.

Mr. Chan and Dr. Miling were accompanied on their visit by the Executive Director of the Japan Committee, Yoshihisa Togo.

Keiyou Primary School’s 6th grade students formed the welcoming committee for Mr. Chan, Dr. Miling and Mr. Togo. Mr. Togo thanked the pupils for all the support the school has given UNICEF and talked about the activities of the Japan Committee.

© UNICEF Japan/2005

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Jackie Chan greets pupils at Keiyou Primary School in Tokyo.

With words of encouragement for the students who are preparing to graduate, Mr. Chan said, “When I was small, I always worried if I would get a meal, since my family was not well off. Nobody can take away our knowledge and experiences which we got through hard work. Remember your future success depends on your efforts today. I hope you keep trying to make your dreams come true.”

Dr. Miling said, “I have visited Cambodia, Philippines, East Timor, Iraq, Moldova, and other parts of the world. The children in those countries live in conditions difficult beyond our imagination, facing problems such as human trafficking, armed conflicts, disease and poverty. However, they try hard to live with your support. I hope all of you also do your best and continue to support the world’s children and UNICEF.”

Mr. Chan and Dr. Miling then leant their support to the students involved with the “Message Flag Project,”  part of the Japan Committee’s 50th anniversary events. Children in primary and middle schools throughout the country are writing messages on commemorative flags to children in developing countries. In turn, these children are writing messages addressed to Japanese children on their own flags. All of these banners will be displayed together at ‘Ryougoku Kokugikan’ (National Sumo Center) on 1 May, at a  ‘Children’s Festival’ . Through this event, the Japan Committee hopes to transmit the message ‘Children First!’ to the whole world.