The inaugural KUFS Model United Nations, organized by the KUFS Student MUN group, took place on October 14th and 15th on campus, attracting 34 students from 8 universities. The conference, conducted entirely in English, revolved around the theme of Human Rights with student delegates divided into two committees: Human Rights in the Middle East and Human Rights in the Western Sahara.

From KUFS, Ken Torito assumed the role of Secretary-General, while Ayane Maekawa served as Assistant Secretary-General. Ryo Nakatsuji functioned as Head Designer and Photographer, with Ena Kambashi and Boonyakida Chanikarn contributing as Committee Chairs. All KUFS student leaders are from the Department of Global Studies (DGS).

The Model United Nations is a role-playing simulation where students portray delegates from assigned countries and deliberate on the given agenda. They prepare speeches, engage in both moderated and unmoderated caucuses, and collaborate in committees to draft resolutions related to the agenda. Delegates subsequently present these drafts for debate, participate in the amendment process, and cast their votes on the finalized drafts.

Throughout the academic year, KUFS students actively participate in numerous Model United Nations events, both on and off-campus. In the first term, DGS first-year students must enroll in a Model United Nations class which includes a one-day MUN event. Moreover, KUFS students have the option to join the annual Japan University English Model United Nations (JUEMUN), held during the first term. This event sees participation from almost 200 students across Japan, with KUFS serving as one of the organizing universities. In 2022, Torito, Maekawa, Nakatsuji, and Eita Shimakura took part in the National Model United Nations (NMUN), a globally recognized event hosting over 350 students from around the world. NMUN events occur in locations such as New York City, Washington, D.C., and various international destinations.

The KUFS MUN was primarily orchestrated by DGS students, aiming to offer peers an additional avenue to familiarize themselves with MUN and hone their diplomacy skills. Event founder Ken Torito remarked, "I've been involved with Model United Nations since high school, having participated in approximately 9 events. My goal was to introduce students, especially newcomers, to MUN, equipping them to delve deeper into subsequent events."

The entire event was coordinated by KUFS students who aspire to gain official recognition as a KUFS student circle/club in 2024. For the upcoming academic year, Boonyakida Chanikarn (DGS) is set to become Secretary-General, with Yukie Endo (DGS) as Assistant Secretary-General. Reflecting on the success of the inaugural event, Chanikarn said, "I feel honored to have been selected as the Secretary General for next year. By working together as a team, I think we can cooperate with other MUN communities around Japan to develop the KUFS MUN even more. We will use the KUFS MUN Instagram account to share more details, so please follow us.”



The KUFS Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWsfzcWzHw0



On Instagram at: instagram.com/mun_kufs

he first-year Global Studies students enrolled in the Model United Nations class taught by Associate Professor Angus McGregor participated in a one-day Model United Nations conference on July 15th from 9:30-5:30 at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. All first-year GS students are enrolled in the class and the final MUN event is a required activity for the course.

This year’s GS MUN simulated a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) meeting with the agenda: The invasion of Ukraine and providing assistance for those refugees fleeing the crisis situation. Students were organized into teams of three delegates, and each delegate was assigned a special UNHCR committee which focused on the immediate-term needs, short-term needs, and long-term needs of refugees.

Since the Spring term began in April, students have been researching topics related to their assigned MUN countries, the UNHCR, and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. They also prepared speeches, action plans, and operative clauses to present during the MUN conference.

During the GS MUN conference, student delegates joined committee meetings to give speeches and listen to the opinions of other delegates regarding the topic. They also joined smaller sub-topic working groups to work on specific operative clauses related to assisting refugees regarding topics such as temporary housing, border documents, safety and security, family reunification, and assistance for hosting countries. At the end of the one-day conference, working groups presented to their assigned committees about their proposals for specific operative clauses to be included in a committee draft resolution.

Sixteen GS senior students assisted the GS MUN by organizing workshops during the Spring term to help first-year students prepare, and during the conference they served as Secretary General, Committee Chairs, and event photographer. Ken Torito, 4th year GS student, served as the main coordinator for the senior students and coordinated the workshops and training.

MGM Resorts International recently welcomed our globally-engaged DGS students to their 2023
learning program in Japan
--
In the late 2020s, MGM Resorts will bring a world-class integrated resort to Osaka. The resort will help
generate tourism throughout the Kansai region and will also create about 15,000 jobs for well-prepared
hospitality professionals.

To help develop the next generation of leaders, MGM hosted a tourism and hospitality industry learning
program for university students to learn more about how the integrated resort business works, Japan's
tourism potential, and global trends in the hospitality industry.

Students actively engaged in conversations with senior international and Japanese executives
throughout while also working collaboratively to research, design and deliver presentations on
restaurant concepts for the proposed integrated resort in Osaka.

Senior executives evaluated the team presentations and praised our students for their effective
communication as well as critical and creative thinking skills. All students received a digital certificate upon completion and enjoyed delicious snacks along the way.

Many thanks to the generosity of MGM Resorts International and the Intercontinental Hotel Osaka
executive teams for hosting this informative and fun introduction to the global hospitality industry.

Ayane Maekawa (GS 3rd year)



I’ve participated in three MUN conferences, the first being the Kansai High School Model United Nations (KHSMUN) when I attended Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School, and the other two being the Japan University English Model United Nations (JUEMUN) in 2021 and 2022. However, I participated in JUEMUN both times as an organizer and student leader, so this National Model United Nations conference (NMUN) was my first time participating as a delegate after becoming a university student.

The team from KUFS was assigned Iceland and my partner, Ryo Nakatsuji, and I joined the General Assembly meetings. Our committee focused mainly on "energy systems" and this was a good topic for us because Iceland uses 100% renewable energy. We presented our idea to bring the technology for renewable energy to developing countries and increase the world's use of renewable energy.

When the actual event began, it was completely different from the MUNs I had participated in before. I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the participants who came to Japan from overseas. However, I was pulled along by their zeal, and we gradually became able to participate in the discussions. As a result, the committee could complete the resolution, and I was glad to hear the director of the GA say that it was one of the best resolutions he had ever seen.

This NMUN was a great experience for me, but there are many things I wish I had done better, so I would like to try again next year at the NMUN in Erfurt, Germany. I am happy to have had such a valuable experience.



Ryo Nakatsuji (GS 3rd year)

My first MUN experience was a GS MUN that I took in class as a freshman. It was held online due to the pandemic. I also joined JUEMUN and it was also held held online due to the pandemic. The first time I was able to participate in a traditional face-to-face MUN was at this year's JUEMUN, and I was an organizer and student leader.

During this NMUN held in Kobe with students from around the world, I attended in person as a delegate representing Iceland in the General Assembly. The two topics for consideration by the General Assembly were climate change and mental health care. My partner, Ayane Maekawa, and I participated in the discussions and debates related to climate change. Iceland generates 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources, and this policy was of great value as we negotiated and created solutions with other countries. As representatives of Iceland, we decided to support the spread of renewable energy technology to both developed and developing countries, and to work for increasing the use of renewable energy around the world.

Participating in the NMUN was very different from the other MUNs I had experienced. It was exciting for the ambassadors to create everything from scratch by themselves and make discoveries for policy during the discussions. In the process, we acutely realized our own lack of knowledge and discovered in our own ways what we could do to develop it as we discussed the issues with other delegates from around the world. It is our hope to again join NMUN in 2023 in Erfurt, Germany and will prepare and do our best to make the experience even better than before.

The National Model United Nations (NMUN) was held from November 23rd-26th in the Portopia Hotel, Kobe. NMUN is one of the oldest and most prestigious intercollegiate MUN conferences and is held annually in New York City, Washington, D.C., and an international location. This year NMUN was hosted by Kobe City University of Foreign Studies and 

over 320 student delegates from 44 universities and 12 countries attended the conference. Four students and two faculty from Kyoto University of Foreign Studies participated, representing the country of Iceland in the General Assembly (GA) and Non-Nuclear Proliferation Committee (NPT). 

The Opening Ceremony included a video message from the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and a letter of greeting from Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Following the ceremony students participated in a Peace Forum moderated by Tetsuo Kondo, United Nations Development Program, with presentations by Yumiko Horie, Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns for Save the Children Japan; Hiroe Ono, Senior Deputy Director for Middle East and Europe, JICA; and Koji Yanai, Group Senior Executive Officer and Director of the Board, Fast Retailing Co., LTD.  

A special greeting was given by Professor Halyna Protsyk, Ukrainian Catholic University, who spoke about the ongoing situation in Ukraine, the displacement of people, and the constant threat of missiles and bombs. Setsuko Thurlow, a Hiroshima Atomic Bomb survivor and a representative of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons also sent a presentation entitled: Nuclear War or Non-Nuclear Peace? The need to make an educated choice.  

The four participating KUFS students divided into two committees and proceeded to represent Iceland during the speeches, discussions, negotiations, resolution drafting, and debates.  Ayane Maekawa (Global Studies) and Ryo Nakatsuji (Global Studies) joined the discussions in the General Assembly, while Eita Shimakura (British and American Studies) and Ken Torito (Global Studies) joined the Non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty committee.  Professor Ian Gibson (British and American Studies) and Adjunct-professor Angus McGregor (Global Studies) served as faculty advisers.   
 
Following are the impressions of Ken Torito, Ayane Maekawa, and Ryo Nakatsuji from the Department of Global Studies:



Ken Torito (GS 3rd year)

I began participating in Model United Nations events in high school and continued in university. I have participated 6 times as a delegate and 2 times as a student leader, responsible for leading committee meetings. My impressions from this National Model United Nations were quite different from the previous MUNs. The level of the participants were outstanding and my own level of knowledge on the topic compared to them was quite different. I wasn’t able to surpass them, but knowing there was someone with greater knowledge gave me the courage to work harder to be able to participate at the same level.

I represented Iceland and together with my partner, Eita Shimakura, we joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation committee. I chose this committee because I am from Hiroshima and I had learned about the bombing of Hiroshima and the shocking results. Actually, the fact that many countries continue to have nuclear weapons is also shocking.

I wanted to make sure that as Iceland we could contribute our ideas to make great policy and to be able to either reduce the number of nuclear weapons, or eliminate all of them. My main goal for this was to educate the next generation on how to reduce casualties in case of nuclear disaster and I’m glad that I was able to write a policy statement that accepted by the other delegates.

I am glad that I was able to participate in this NMUN and because of it I was able to have fun and move closer towards my future goals. I will still continue participating in MUN activities for the rest of my student life, and I would be more than happy to participate in the next NMUN, which will be held in Erfurt, Germany in November, 2023.