国際交流の歴史と、
私たちの活動

Our foundation and purpose

Our parent organization is the US-based PanAmerican–PanAfrican Association, Inc., referred to here as “PaPa”, an abbreviation also used by the association itself.^[22] We are Pan Asian Association, a Japanese foundation established in July 2016 and operating as PaPa's Japan office. Throughout this document, “PaPa” refers to our US parent organization, while “Pan Asian Association” refers to our Japanese foundation.^[12][13]

Our parent association's relationship with the United Nations

PaPa was established in 1968 and has held ECOSOC special consultative status since 1995, as recorded by the United Nations. This status provides a framework for NGO participation in ECOSOC's work. The status holder is the US association, PaPa.^[01][02][03]

The UN database records seven quadrennial reporting periods, from 1995–1998 through 2019–2022, as “Taken Note”. PaPa's reports document its work in culture, human rights, humanitarian assistance and sustainable development.^{[01][04][05][06][07][08]}

A history rooted in culture and human rights

Our parent association's founder, Dr. Robert Starling Pritchard II, was an African American classical pianist. His 1962 recording was reissued by Smithsonian Folkways in 2009.^[15][31][32]

ASALH names PaPa among the groups that called for Negro History Week to become a month-long observance in the mid-1960s. This contribution belongs to the wider history beginning with Carter G. Woodson's observance in 1926 and including President Ford's recognition of Black History Month in 1976.^[16][17]

An SCLC archival guide also records a reference to a benefit concert by Pritchard in an October 1962 correspondence folder.^[18]

PaPa's UN submissions describe involvement in a commemorative concert at the UN in 1976, an anti-apartheid cultural-embargo proposal in 1978, assistance to Liberian expatriates in 1999, and later activities concerning women's rights, indigenous peoples and climate change. In 2003, PaPa representatives presented Japanese kimono and crafts at an exhibition in Caen, France.^{[05][06][07][08]}

Our support for education and children

We support doctoral research in Japanese Studies through the Kaho Cambridge Graduate Scholarship in Japanese Studies, in partnership with Cambridge Trust. The University of Cambridge's 2026/27 funding guide confirms the partnership and support for tuition fees and maintenance.^[33] A 2024 paper by Tian Gao acknowledges the Kaho scholarship among its research funding sources.^[34]

In October 2019, our chairperson, Seijyu Kahou, entered into an agreement to support young researchers in Japanese Studies. The receiving group published a postdoctoral support plan and advertised a three-year research post in 2020. This initiative complements the PhD scholarship.^[24][25][26]

Our activity report covering October 2016 to March 2017 records support for children in Myanmar and Cambodia, including photographs of our interaction with children in Myanmar.^[35] During our visit to Myanmar on 5–9 April 2019, we visited a temple and met local children. Photographs also show printed materials being handed to children.^[36]

Our 2018 activity report also describes a facility visit and interaction with children in Myanmar. In 2021, we organized our first charity golf competition and collected donations. At the time, we announced that the proceeds were intended for children's activities and a Myanmar children's facility.^[27][28]

Looking ahead through kimono culture

We are exploring a kimono cultural initiative as an opportunity for international dialogue and mutual understanding, drawing on our parent association's history and our own experience in education and cultural exchange.

About the records

This introduction draws on UN records, university and cultural-institution publications, and our associations' activity reports. The activities in PaPa's quadrennial reports are the NGO's own submissions; their inclusion does not constitute independent UN certification of each activity. Endorsement or participation in a specific proposed event requires separate confirmation. Sources reviewed as of 28 September 2026.