Cultural relations between Europe and Japan
Recommendation 954
(1982)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 4 October 1982 (16th Sitting) (seeDoc. 4943, report of the Committee on Culture and Education). Text adopted by the Assembly on 4 October 1982 (16th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
The Assembly,
1. Having noted the report of its Committee on Culture and Education on cultural relations between Europe and Japan (
Doc. 4943) ;
2. Considering also the panel discussion on relations between Western Europe and Japan organised by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 24 and 25 June 1982 ;
3. Aware of the considerable lack of mutual understanding that exists between Europe and Japan, and believing that the lack of effective cultural relations is an important reason for the economic and political difficulties ;
4. Noting that Japan shares with Western Europe much modern history and certain basic values, in particular the principle of pluralistic democracy, and believing that this provides a basis for co-operation in the discussion of many common cultural problems ;
5. Convinced also that cultural co-operation between Europe and Japan can make a positive and useful contribution to intercultural understanding, and stressing the importance of such intercultural contacts to deepen appreciation of European culture ;
6. Believing that it is for Japan, just as much as Europe, to co-operate and encourage co-operation in this field ;
7. Stressing the fact that there exists in reality a common ground for direct communication in non-linguistic fields, such as the plastic arts, photography, or music, and believing that greater attention should be paid to the roles of the school, of museums and of the media in encouraging international understanding on the basis of early intercultural experiences ;
8. Suggesting that European Music Year 1985 might provide an interesting context for appreciation of the interaction of eastern and western music ;
9. Welcoming the fact that Japan is already being involved in certain meetings of the Council for Cultural Co-operation and also in meetings of European Ministers for Education, and wishing to encourage, and where possible increase, such participation ;
10. Regretting the relatively restricted level on which cultural co-operation at present takes place, and wishing to give wider recognition and encouragement to the work of such Japanese institutions as the Japan Foundation or the Japanese Society for Educational Information,
11. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers consider :
11.1 asking member states and Japan to give greater support to cultural and educational exchanges between Europe and Japan, and to the appreciation in Europe of Japanese culture, both ancient and modern, in intercultural work at school level ;
11.2 extending the practice of inviting Japanese representatives to participate in Council of Europe meetings concerned with cultural co-operation ;
11.3 encouraging the European Youth Centre and the European Youth Foundation to establish relations with Japanese youth organisations ;
11.4 arranging for further discussion on the cultural relations between Western Europe and Japan, and the possible contribution to be made by member governments, by the Council of Europe, and by Japan, in this field.
