Under the project "Civilizational Dialogue: Promotion of Intellectual Exchange and Mutual Understanding in Asia" (fiscal 2002-04), the SPAF organized seminars and international conferences to deepen understanding of the religious views and perspectives on civilization of the Islamic and Hindu worlds. In fiscal 2005, the focus was on India and Iran, a state run by the Islamic minority Shia faction, and the "Civilizational Dialogues among India, Iran, and Japan" project was launched.
In fiscal 2005, the first year of the project, the "Civilizational Dialogue: Japan and Iran" conference was held February 15-16, 2006 in Kyoto, focusing on diversity and pluralistic values in the two countries. It was attended by nine people from Japan, including Professor Kenichi Matsumoto of Reitaku University, and four people from Iran, including Abdolrahim Gavahi, former Iranian Ambassador to Japan. The conference participants engaged in a lively exchange of views on the influence of Persian culture on modern Iran, and the diversity of Japanese culture. The "Civilizational Dialogue: Japan and India" conference was held March 28-29, 2006 at Reitaku University. Ten people participated from Japan, including Professor Shuntaro Ito of Reitaku University, with seven from India, including Professor Bhagwan Singh Josh of Jawaharlal Nehru University. They discussed modernization in Japan and India, the acceptance of Buddhism in Japan, and India's modernization and language.
This fiscal year, an event entitled "The Civilizational Dialogue between India and Japan" was held February 22-23, 2007 at India International Culture Centre in Delhi. The conference participants discussed a booklet published by SPF entitled Linkages of Life--To Live by Being Kept Alive. The participants consisted of three people from Japan, including Professor Takafumi Matsui of the University of Tokyo Graduate School, and nine Indian experts in a wide range of fields, including a politician, university professor, psychological counselor, and journalist. After deepening their basic understanding of the religions, ethnic groups, and cultures of both Japan and India, participants engaged in a vigorous exchange of opinions on such topics as the relationship between politics and religion, the connection between terrorism and education, the importance of education for national development, the course of civilization, the characteristics of civilizations deeply rooted in economic activity, the future relationship between India and Japan, and the ideal civilization for a "human zone" that includes the entire planet and supersedes individual civilizations. This conference contributed to mutual exchange and network building among intellectuals in both countries.
This project ended this year, but dialogue between civilizations continues to be both important and necessary in today's international community. SPF hopes that the personal relationships that evolved out of this project will be used in the future to promote intellectual exchange between Japan and other countries and to enhance the understanding of other cultures and civilizations.