UNESCO and Japan
Timeline of Significant UNESCO-related Events Globally and in Japan
Global Events
Events in Japan
- The Conference of Allied Ministers of Education held
- Adoption of the Constitution of UNESCO
1945
- Enactment of the Constitution of UNESCO
- Establishment of UNESCO
1946
1947
- Birth of the Sendai UNESCO Association, the world’s first UNESCO association
- The first National Convention of the UNESCO Movement held in Tokyo
1948
- Foundation of the Federation of National Cooperative Associations, renamed as the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan in 1951
1951
- Japan admitted to UNESCO as a member state
1952
- Proclamation of the Japanese law concerning UNESCO activities
- Establishment of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO
1953
- Launch of the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet)
- Establishment of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO
1961
- Establishment of the Centre for East-Asian Cultural Studies for UNESCO
- Beginning of the International Hydrological Decade
1965
1967
- UNESCO Collaborates with the National Institute for Educational Research of Japan on the Project for Asia Educational Cooperation
- Launch of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB)
1971
- Establishment of the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)
1972
- The 3rd World Conference on Adult Education held in Tokyo
- Launch of the International Geological Correlation Programme
1973
- Launch of the Asia and the Pacific Programme of Educational Innovation for Development (APEID)
1974
- Launch of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP)
1975
- Beginning of the Southeast Asian Regional Cooperation Project for Fundamental Sciences (Funded by the UNESCO Japanese Funds-in-Trust)
- Launch of the IOC Sub-commission for the Western Pacific（IOC/WESTPAC）
1977
- Withdrawal of the USA from UNESCO
1984
- The World Convention of the Non-governmental UNESCO Movement held in Sendai
- Withdrawal of the UK and Singapore from UNESCO
1985
- Launch of the Asia-Pacific Programme of Education for All (APPEAL)
1987
1989
- Launch of the “World Terakoya Movement” by the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan
- The World Conference on Education for All held (Jomtien, Thailand)
1990
- International Literacy Year Establishment of the UNESCO Japanese Funds-in-Trust for Literacy Education
- Amendment of the UNESCO Constitution
1991
- The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
- Launch of the Memory of the World (MoW) Programme
1992
- Ratification of the Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage
1993
- Registration of Japan's first World Heritage Sites (Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area, Himeji-jo, Yakushima, Shirakami-Sanchi)
- Launch of the Management of Social Transformation (MOST) Programme
1994
- Launch of the Project of Literacy Resource Centres for Girls and Women by the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)
1995
- The Commemorative Ceremony for the 50th anniversary of UNESCO held in Tokyo
- Publication of the report by the International Commission on Education for the Twenty-first Century (by Jacques Delors)
1996
- The 3rd General Conference of IOC/WESTPAC held in Tokyo
- Return of the UK to UNESCO
1997
- The Regional Conference on Higher Education held in Tokyo
- The Asia Pacific International Conference for Information Infrastructure Improvement held in Tokyo
- The Commemorative Ceremony for the 50th Anniversary of the initiation of the non-governmental UNESCO Movement in Tokyo
- The World Conference on Higher Education held (Paris, France)
1998
- The Asia/Pacific Environmental Education Seminar held in Tokyo
- The 22nd Annual Convention of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) held in Kyoto
- The World Conference on Science held (Budapest, Hungary)
- Mr. Koichiro Matsuura inaugurated as the Director-General of UNESCO
1999
- The World Education Forum held (Dakar, Senegal)
- Adoption of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (2001-2015)
2000
2001
- The Commemorative Ceremony for the 50th anniversary of Japan joining UNESCO held in Tokyo
- The World Summit on Sustainable Development held (Johannesburg, South Africa)
2002
- Ratification of the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Cultural Property
- Launch of the United Nations Decade of Literacy
- Return of the USA to UNESCO
2003
- Closing of the East Asia Cultural Research Centre for UNESCO
- Establishment of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)
2004
- Ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
- Beginning of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD)
- Re-election of Mr. Koichiro Matsuura as the Director-General of UNESCO
2005
- The 12th International Bioethics Committee Meeting held in Tokyo
- The Asia-Pacific Regional Launch of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development held in Nagoya
2006
- Establishment of the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM)
- Ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
- Return of Singapore to UNESCO
2007
- Commemorative Ceremony of the 60th anniversary of the initiation of the non-governmental UNESCO Movement
- Ratification of the Hague Convention
2008
- The International Forum on ESD Dialogue 2008 held in Tokyo
- Completion of Mr. Koichiro Matsuura's term as the Director-General of UNESCO
- Ms. Irina Bokova inaugurated as the Director-General of UNESCO
- The UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) held (Bonn, Germany)
2009
- The National Conference for UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) in Japan to be held annually
2011
- The establishment of the International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (IRCI)
- The Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education held in Tokyo
2012
- World Heritage Convention 40th anniversary celebrations: Closing event held in Kyoto
- Ms. Irina Bokova reappointed as the Director-General of UNESCO
2013
- Formal announcement of the Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) (2015～2019)
- Establishment of the UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development
2014
- The UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) held in Aichi and Okayama
- The International Forum on UNESCO ASPnet held in Okayama
- The World Education Forum 2015 held (Incheon, Republic of Korea)
- Adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UN Summit) and establishment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations
- Adoption of the Education 2030 Framework for Action (2015～2030) at the UNESCO General Conference
- Adoption of the new label ""UNESCO Global Geoparks"" by Member States of UNESCO
2015
2016
- The number of UNESCO Associated Schools Network member schools in Japan exceeds 1,000
- The establishment of the Centres for supporting ESD activities (National Centre: Tokyo; Local Centres: 8)
- Completion of Ms. Irina Bokova's term as the Director-General of UNESCO
- Ms. Audrey Azoulay inaugurated as the Director-General of UNESCO
2017
- The USA and Israel withdraw from UNESCO
2018
- The International Hydrological Programme (IHP) renamed as the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP)
2019
- The Regional Planning Workshop for the North Pacific and Western Pacific Marginal Seas towards the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development held in Tokyo
- Launch of the Education for Sustainable Development: Towards achieving the SDGs (ESD for 2030) Programme
2020
- Beginning of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021～2030)
2021
- The 70th anniversary of Japan's accession to UNESCO
- Launch of the Tsunami Ready Programme by 2030
2022
- Mr. Yutaka Michida elected as the Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO) for the 2023-2025 biennium
- Return of the USA to UNESCO
2023
- The ESD-NET Global Meeting in Tokyo