Harmony by Design: Asia Dialogue and the Next Generation Asia Peacebuilding Forum

On March 24, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation convened the Harmony by Design: Asia Dialogue, inviting distinguished leaders from across Asia to discuss the evolving global landscape and the roles of Asia, Japan, and the foundation within it. Participants included former Prime Minister of Thailand Mr. Chuan Leekpai, former Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Professor Muhammad Yunus, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Dr. Hassan Wirajuda, Mr. Harsha Kumara Navaratnasabaran, Chairperson of the Sevalanka Foundation (Sri Lanka), and Professor Takashi Shiraishi, Professor Emeritus of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, among other senior leaders representing Asia.

Against a backdrop of rising tensions and fragmentation, participants agreed that trust building dialogue is essential for regional stability. They highlighted shared challenges across Asia, noting that the rapid spread of information and communication technologies—particularly social media—has changed the way people consume information and use it to take concrete actions. For example, such information technologies made it possible for frustrated youth to take concrete action to challenge existing political and social systems. At the same time, participants underscored that the speed and scale of information dissemination, including the spread of disinformation and false narratives, have made societies more vulnerable and prone to instability. The discussion then turned to how Japan and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation can help revitalize cross Asian dialogue and foster regional harmony amid these complex dynamics.

Taking advantage of the visiting "Sages," the foundation also co‑hosted, on March 25, the Next Generation Asia Peacebuilding Forum in Tokyo, Japan in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Katawara. Approximately 60 young people from Japan, including high school and university students engaged in peace activities, participated in candid and energetic discussions on peace with Professor Muhammad Yunus and Dr. Hassan Wirajuda.

The sages also participated in roundtable discussions and multi-speaker conversations on various themes. Selected highlights will be featured on the Sasakawa Peace Foundation's website at a later date as part of the foundation's 40th anniversary.

The overarching theme of the events, Harmony by Design, conveys a strong message: harmony in the world does not emerge by chance, but must be intentionally and consciously co-created by humanity. Guided by this belief, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation will continue to promote initiatives that bring together Asian leaders to jointly design pathways toward harmony and peace in the region.