Greetings from President Atsushi Seike
Respecting the minds of our supporters
On behalf of the Japanese Red Cross Society, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your continued understanding and warm support to our activities.
The 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, which occurred on New Year's Day, caused extensive human and material damage. Immediately after the disaster, the Japanese Red Cross Society devoted itself to relief activities, dispatching relief teams, disaster medical coordination teams and mental health care teams from our institutions across Japan and distributing relief items. Many Red Cross volunteers and staff were also deployed. This is a typical case in which the "comprehensive strength" of the Japanese Red Cross Society is being demonstrated.
Globally, the armed conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict in Gaza show no signs of abating. The UN estimates that a quarter of the world's population now lives in conflict-affected areas. In response to these grave humanitarian crises, the Japanese Red Cross Society is working hand in hand with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world in relief and recovery efforts. In addition, I have also addressed the growing threat of nuclear weapons, by issuing a joint statement with the President of the ICRC, Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric, urging all states to take action to avoid the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons.
In recent years, humanitarian crises caused by natural disasters such as floods, heavy rainfall, droughts and wildfires have continued to occur at home and abroad. Such heavy rainfall, droughts and wildfires are believed to be becoming more severe and frequent due to global warming caused by increased CO2 emissions. In response, the IFRC has recognized the climate and environment crisis as one of the global key challenges in its Strategy 2030 and together with the ICRC, adopted the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations in 2021, which the Japanese Red Cross Society also signed in 2022.
In the context of major structural changes in the global environment, geopolitical situation and population structure, we must remain committed to the unchanging founding philosophy of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. A noble philosophy can only be realized if it adapts to changing circumstances.
The Japanese Red Cross Society was founded as the Philanthropic Society in 1877. From that time to the present, many volunteers and staff at all levels across the country have worked together under our mission of protecting people's lives, health and dignity. In order to continue to fulfill our mission, we have to look back on our history, review the status quo and make plausible predictions about the future.
The Japanese Red Cross Society will mark its 150th anniversary in 2027. I believe this is a good opportunity to recall the legacy and aspirations of our predecessors who laid the foundations of the Japanese Red Cross Society in the 150 years since Tsunetami Sano founded the Philanthropic Society, Hakuaisha in Japanese, in 1877, and to further promote reforms that align with our founding principles for the future.
A significant milestone on this journey is the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, which will be held from April 2025. The Japanese Red Cross Society will be representing the Movement in planning and managing the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Pavilion. By taking this opportunity, we would like to share the spirit of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement with as many people as possible, both at home and abroad.
Looking back on history, the 1867 World Expo in Paris, France, was the significant moment when Tsunetami Sano first encountered the Red Cross. More than 150 years later, the Japanese Red Cross Society is pleased to exhibit the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Pavilion at the World Expo in Japan. This is an important opportunity to reflect on our history since its foundation and to promote the philosophy of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. We look forward to welcoming many of you to the Pavilion.
The activities of the Red Cross are supported by membership fees and donations from many generous people. Your support is not just a "flow of money", but a "flow of warm and passionate hearts". We respect your spirit and will continue to promote the activities of the Red Cross and look forward to your continued strong support.
Prof. Dr. Atsushi Seike ◎ A Labour Economist by training, after serving as professor at the Faculty of Business and Commerce, Keio University, he was President of Keio University from 2009 to 2017. Currently, he also serves as Chairman of the Labour Policy Council and Chairman of the Council for the Construction of Social Security System for All Generations.