Patricia Giannotto
Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW

In mid-December last year, the Japan Foundation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Waseda University Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, hosted an International Forum in Tokyo.  The project was organised as part of the JENESYS (Japan–East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) Programme, and was the first in a series of five forums.

Entitled “Towards an East Asia Community:  Beyond Cross-Cultural Diversity” Inter-cultural, Inter-societal, Inter-faith Dialogue, the forum was convened to discuss common issues and concerns in East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.  Through cross-cultural dialogue among the participants, the forum aimed to promote mutual understanding in the region and contribute to the creation of an East Asia community in the future.

I was honoured to be selected by the Japan Foundation, Sydney to attend the forum as the Australian representative.

The forum participants were selected from a range of disciplines and included journalists, community workers, filmmakers, musicians, business people and government administrators such as myself.  The countries represented were the ASEAN members, Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Prior to discussions taking place, participants were provided with a valuable insight into Japanese culture through a series of lectures on Japanese society, and Japan’s regional diplomatic and economic relationships.  Our hosts from the Japan Foundation Headquarters also organised a number of field trips that provided a direct experience of Japanese culture.  My personal highlights were the (five hour) performance at the Kabuki–za Theatre, and a day-trip exploring the temples and shrines of the ancient capital Kamakura.

Armed with my new knowledge of Japan and the East Asia region, it was time to get down to business.  Five university professors from across the region acted as co-coordinators, leading two days of intensive discussion amongst the participants.  We were divided up into three groups, with the themes of inter-cultural, inter-societal and inter-faith dialogue.  Our task was to explore areas of commonality on which people in the East Asia region could build a shared sense of identity.

I found the results of the group discussion very interesting.  For example, the intercultural dialogue group pointed out that some of the commonalities across the region were the presence of a Chinatown in just about every major city, and a shared passion amongst young people for manga.

The inter-religious dialogue group identified a number of the challenges faced in this area, including the politicisation of religion, resistance from some groups to engaging in dialogue on religious issues, the marginalization of minority religious groups, and the role of the media in inflaming religious issues.

I joined the inter-societal dialogue group.  My experiences in multicultural New South Wales have led me to understand that there is great strength in unity.  I therefore arrived at the forum with a firm belief that the creation of an East Asia community has the potential to bring long lasting benefits to our region.  However, some participants in the group were initially skeptical about the possibility of forming such a community, given the cultural and political diversity across the region.

Despite the many differences between the countries of East Asia, it was clear from listening to other participants in the inter-societal group that there are problems we share – and that there is an opportunity to work together towards solutions.

For example, several participants expressed concern that traditional practices were disappearing in their countries, along with the traditional values that had been the very essence of their society.  Another area of common concern was the issues faced by young people, such as cultural and inter-generational alienation.  Many countries in East Asia have indigenous and non-indigenous peoples, and this is another area where knowledge and experience could be shared.

The forum culminated in a one-day public symposium, held on 17 December at Waseda University, in Tokyo.  This provided an occasion for the forum participants to share their findings, followed by some robust question and answer sessions with the audience.

In order to make an East Asia community a reality, there is much work to be done by a variety of players.  A research institute, as proposed at the public symposium by Professor Yasushi Kikuchi from Waseda University, will help us to develop theoretical tools to better understand our task.  Trans-national community networks and organisations will play an essential role in building understanding and trust across the region.  The support of governments will also greatly facilitate this process.

I believe the first JENESYS forum has provided a valuable start to building a greater sense of an East Asia community.  Personally, the experience of participating in this event was very rewarding.  It has provided me with a greater understanding of our region and a valuable network of contacts across East Asia.  I very much look forward to learning of the outcomes of future forums.

Patricia Giannotto is an Executive Officer at the Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW.