It seems that a growing number of reflective
people in the world consider that, up to this stage in human
history, the perceptions and feelings of women have largely
been suppressed or ignored as the gender counterpart, men,
have been dominant in social life. And a number of intellectuals,
including the current Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Mr. Kofi Annan, believe that the much enhanced presence
of women in public life would be essential for the well-being
of humanity in the 21st century.
On this regard, OISCA-International
may be unusual that it has been headed by Ms. Dr. Yoshiko
Y. Nakano for the past quarter century. And since 1999,
OISCA Japan has started to make conscious efforts to absorb
the views of its female members by orchestrating a Women's
Forum. Following its success in Okinawa, the southern most
prefecture in Japan, in November 2000, some 150 female representatives
from all over Japan gathered in Tokyo and enjoyed an educational
and social three days.
On the first day, President
Nakano spoke on the topic of "Mother and Child." She reminded
us that OISCA's "S" stands for "spirit," and she wishes
the establishment of 21st century which will be filled with
the people's "heart" or "spirit," enabled by affectionate
raising and proper education. On the second day, OISCA's
advisor, Prof. Tsuyoshi Nara, also delivered a speech that
made the audience feel spiritually refreshed and cleansed.
One of his topics was about the two-month-long peace march
from Tokyo to Hiroshima. Hiroshima is the place where the
first atomic bomb was dropped in history, and where he is
holding an international mass prayer for peace for the 21st
century.
