Esteemed world leaders, distinguished representatives from various nations, and fellow global citizens, we find ourselves at a critical juncture, confronting unprecedented challenges that threaten global stability — among them, an energy crisis, climate change, population growth, and cultural tension. These pressing issues call for the creation of a new societal framework, one that equips us more effectively to navigate and address these complexities. In moments like these, it is vital to recognize the transformative power of culture. Culture not only connects people but also fosters mutual understanding, bridging divides. However, truly integrating culture into our lives requires deliberate reflection and thoughtful engagement.
Densho culture and Dento culture
I have been deeply engaged with traditional Japanese culture for many years. In particular, my experiences as the head of the Senchado Obaku Baisa school of tea ceremony have profoundly shaped my understanding of culture and tradition. Culture, as I see it, comprises two distinct concepts: Densho culture and Dento culture.
Densho culture focuses on faithfully preserving and passing down practices from the past, maintaining them without deviation. In contrast, Dento culture involves a process wherein each generation refines and polishes inherited practices while discarding elements that have become outdated. It is about weaving together enduring values with those of the present era to create a new synthesis. This continuous evolution of connectedness is the essence of traditional culture.
For this reason, I place great value on Dento culture but have little interest in Densho culture. However, in the world of tea ceremony, there are many who prioritize preservation above all else. My approach, instead, is to refine and evolve tradition. When I assumed the role of head of the school, the first significant change I implemented was the abolition of seiza — the traditional Japanese formal sitting posture. I believed this step was necessary not only to preserve the essence of tradition, but also to adapt cultural practices to align with contemporary times.
In this way, I hold that Dento culture should not merely be preserved but must evolve to stay relevant. True tradition lies in retaining what is authentic and enduring while allowing culture to adapt and progress alongside the times.
Given this background, as chairperson of ingo PEACE., I view my role not as that of a traditional leader in the conservative sense, but as a facilitator of wa (harmony) — a coordinator who integrates diverse cultures and values. This is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to creating a new era by harmonizing regional cultures while respecting foundational frameworks such as national borders, ethnicity, and religion. The principle of preserving tradition while reinterpreting it to align with the times and evolving collectively toward the future has been a guiding theme throughout my life.
It all comes down to energy
As chairperson, this is the perspective I wish to convey: While the challenges facing our planet may seem diverse, they fundamentally stem from a single issue: energy. Ultimately, all problems on Earth converge into this issue. I believe it is no exaggeration to say that there is no challenge on this planet that does not, in some way, relate to energy.
Climate change is an issue of energy use. Nuclear accidents are energy-related disasters. Food shortages are, at their core, another form of energy problem. Even the most pressing issue — our rapidly growing population — can be understood through the lens of energy. The real question is this: how can we effectively and equitably distribute various forms of energy to people across the globe?
This, I believe, is the true energy problem that humanity must solve as we move forward. My message is not simply about stopping wars. Rather, I contend that if we could achieve a cooperative, equitable system of energy distribution and secure its broad acceptance, many of the world’s challenges would naturally move toward resolution.
The world currently operates under the entrenched notion that energy is limited, fostering a lack of international cooperation and leading nations to resort to war as a means of competing for energy resources. At its core, war is a colossal clash of energy, with both sides exhausting their resources and the victor seizing the energy of the defeated. For generations, energy has been regarded as exceedingly difficult to equalize and distribute fairly, leading many to conclude that equitable distribution is nearly impossible without resorting to conflict.
While it’s true that the challenge lies in the difficulty of equalizing and distributing energy, I believe there is a key insight that could point us toward a solution. That insight is this: Among all forms of energy, the only one that harms no one is the energy generated by culture and the arts. This unique form of energy has the potential to unite rather than divide. The world must begin to pay more serious attention to this overlooked and transformative source of energy.
Defining peace
The key lies in finding an effective way to harmonize and balance energy that does not harm people with energy that is highly fragile, ensuring its equitable circulation across the Earth and among humanity. I believe this approach to energy holds the potential to pave the way toward lasting peace.
As the chairperson, I define “peace” as “a state where all forms of energy reach every living person, ensuring that no place on Earth is left with zero energy”. I aim to propose this definition to the world and seek global agreement. Under this vision, those who possess various forms of energy would collaborate to eliminate energy deserts. This effort would involve discussing and prioritizing challenges as they arise, developing phased and cooperative strategies, and starting with concrete, actionable steps.
That said, I acknowledge that achieving an energy distribution that satisfies everyone is an ideal that may be difficult to realize due to the simple reality of human greed. As humans, not gods, it is perhaps inevitable that some individuals will be unwilling to relinquish their vested interests. However, I would urge such individuals to, at the very least, take responsibility for ensuring that no energy deserts exist on Earth. By achieving this, I believe it will become possible for all 8 billion people on our planet to live with dignity and move forward together into a sustainable future.
To be honest, I have rarely used the Japanese word for peace, heiwa, in the sense of the “absence of external conflict.” Instead, I have preferred the word heian, which has a similar meaning but places greater emphasis on inner serenity. Emperor Hirohito once said, “I pray for heian in people’s hearts.” While I can only speculate, I suspect there has been no emperor who sought peace as earnestly as he did. Few have sought it as deeply, having endured hardships beyond what words can describe. Yet, notably, he steadfastly refrained from using the word heiwa. Instead, when he prayed for peace in people’s hearts, he chose the word heian.
This deliberate choice of words likely stemmed from the perspective of his time. He did not seem to regard peace merely as the opposite of war or as a temporary lull between conflicts, as many then might have thought. Rather, he seemed to envision peace as the permanent absence of conflict, a state far deeper and more enduring. For this reason, I believe the emperor did not use the word heiwa lightly.
As a Japanese person, I have embraced that sentiment and reflected on the true meaning of peace in the sense of heiwa. Through this reflection, I came to a striking realization: peace has never truly been defined.
This realization led me, through ingo PEACE., to propose the definition of peace — heiwa — as described above. However, I do not claim that this is the sole or absolute definition; rather, I present it as one possible perspective on understanding peace. I invite you to use this opportunity to engage in discussion about how best to define the word. If you discover another definition that feels more appropriate, we would genuinely welcome your thoughts and insights.
If this process does not result in a concrete definition, then let us come together to collectively define what peace truly means. Once we reach an agreement on that definition, we should unite in our efforts to make it a reality. This, in essence, is my proposal.
Energy as a circulating force
Let us reflect on the fundamental nature of energy, which lies at the core of peace. Energy is not something that is merely consumed; it is something that changes form and continuously circulates through the universe. In other words, energy flows through people and objects, transforming its state while perpetually moving through the cosmos. This perspective calls for a renewed understanding of energy and its role in our world.
For instance, addressing the global issue of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions may require us to rethink CO2 not as waste but as a form of energy that can be harnessed and circulated. The real challenge, I believe, lies in the retention of energy in the atmosphere in the form of CO2.
Consider this: Soil has the natural capacity to bind and store CO2 at more than six times the absorption capacity of the atmosphere and over four times that of plants. It inherently possesses the ability to embrace and utilize CO2 . However, global reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides over the past 80 years has decimated the microorganisms responsible for carbon sequestration in soil. As a result, soil, once a sink for CO2 , has become a source of emissions.
Even as we work to plant forests, the very soil with a CO2 absorption capacity far surpassing that of plants is being degraded by excessive chemical use, turning it into a dependent system incapable of producing crops without chemical input, accelerating desertification, and exacerbating climate change. This paradox is a striking example of how human ego disrupts the natural flow of energy and destroys the Earth’s ecosystem.
Humans have both destroyed the planet’s greenery and become the primary emitters of CO₂. From the Earth’s perspective, it is clear that humans are the main disruptors of energy flow. The realization that energy circulates rather than being consumed lies at the very foundation of the philosophy of harmony — one that we must adopt to ensure the Earth’s survival.
The withering of culture in the absence of interaction
In 2024, the organization successfully coordinated the first delivery of medical aid supplies from the United States to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, in collaboration with the Myanmar Red Cross Society. While providing such supplies is crucial for addressing immediate shortages, I believe that in the near future, it will be equally vital to accompany these efforts with the delivery of culture and the arts.
I hypothesize that fostering the maturation of social culture can help address one of the most pressing energy challenges: the population explosion. Population explosions predominantly occur in developing regions, whereas G20 countries are not experiencing such growth. In fact, Japan is facing an unstoppable population decline. While factors such as economic development and social systems play a role, I believe cultural maturity is also a key determinant.
As economies develop, social cultures mature, and a greater proportion of energy is directed toward culture and education. By providing international support that includes cultural development in regions where social maturity is needed, we can redirect energy away from activities that lead to explosive population growth and toward those that align with cultural enrichment. This shift has the potential to foster the creation of new social cultures, which in turn can naturally guide the global population toward an appropriate balance.
Of course, such a transformation will take time. Considering the average life expectancy in developing nations and the world’s poorest countries, I estimate that the process could take 35 to 40 years. During this time, if population growth halts and begins to decline, continued energy support for cultural development could ensure this transition happens peacefully, without the need for conflict.
As the energy devoted to culture increases, unique cultures will emerge, fostering interactions that evolve into mutual respect and unity, transcending discrimination. From another perspective, it is also true that cultures inevitably wither in the absence of interaction. Thus, I believe that engaging in creative cultural exchanges can enable culture to play a harmonious and transformative role for humanity.
This vision represents one of the core approaches that ingo PEACE. advocates.
Historically, this reality — that cultures wither in the absence of meaningful interaction — becomes clear when we consider that the Inca and Aztec civilizations have had little to no influence on our way of life, which is rooted instead in the four great ancient civilizations. The lack of interaction between the Inca and Aztec civilizations and these ancient civilizations can be attributed to various factors, such as the absence of paper for recording information and an inability to establish contact.
Had such exchanges taken place, I believe the trajectory of our science and culture would have been profoundly different. For example, skulls uncovered at Inca sites clearly show evidence of brain surgery, which was being performed as far back as 600 years ago. In contrast, brain surgery only began in relatively modern times within our own civilization, which is based on the four great ancient civilizations. This stark difference suggests that the world of medicine could have evolved along entirely different lines.
Furthermore, despite the absence of iron, the Inca civilization produced textiles as wide as 4 meters. Remarkably, the techniques used to create these textiles remain a mystery.
I believe that interactions between diverse cultures possess tremendous potential to influence one another positively and contribute to the collective happiness of humanity. The goal is to provide thoughtful, nuanced support while promoting cultural and artistic exchanges. By harnessing the unique energy of culture, a form of energy that harms no one, we can create a framework to envelop and equitably distribute more material and fragile forms of energy.
The energy of interaction
What kind of world could we create if cultural and artistic exchanges were to expand across the globe? When it comes to culture, the goal is not merely to eliminate opportunity deserts but to foster meaningful interaction. It is about encouraging exchange and striving for harmony — a philosophy of coexistence rooted in the understanding that no culture can thrive without interaction.
International cooperation and similar efforts can sometimes feel awkward because they often focus on replenishing energy lost through competition over limited resources. For instance, food energy provided through international aid, under such conditions, can inadvertently trigger a vicious cycle, leading to explosive population growth.
To break this cycle, I believe we need a new approach, one that integrates support for cultural exchange into a broader international cooperation strategy. Through our work, I hope to help build such a framework.
From vertical to horizontal
Conventional international cooperation has traditionally been based on vertical intervention, where nations or organizations in leadership positions take the initiative and guide others. However, this model is no longer effective in addressing today’s complex global challenges. We aim to implement horizontal intervention, where decisions are not imposed by leaders, but rather made through equal collaboration among nations and regions as they work together to solve problems. This approach defines the international cooperation strategy that we are working to achieve.
Our mission at ingo PEACE.
Our mission is to eliminate energy deserts and create a world where everyone has access to the energy needed to live. We strive to build a society where energy — whether in the form of food, healthcare, information, or culture — is distributed equitably. To achieve this goal, we are committed to fostering international cooperation and working together with people from all walks of life.
Our principal activities are built on four pillars:
- International food assistance: Ensuring a stable food supply by securing agricultural land through international cooperation, supporting safe food production, and advancing production technologies
- International medical assistance: Contributing to the establishment of stable healthcare systems across all countries and regions by collaborating with experienced organizations
- International information assistance: Supporting the collection and discussion of critical information needed to address global challenges while amplifying voices from around the world through media operations
- Support for community service programs: Providing opportunities for more people to engage in the organization’s activities and fostering closer connections to community service and social good
These four initiatives are all rooted in the principle of empowering all with the strength to live. By bringing these efforts to the global stage, we act on our commitment to protect the lives of the vulnerable. This is the mission of ingo PEACE. as it aspires to define peace as a world where energy deserts have been entirely eliminated.
Conclusion
Throughout history, the world has witnessed times when monetary value nearly vanished, vast lands were reduced to wastelands, and social systems were repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. Our current social system was established in the aftermath of World War II. In 1945, it was likely a reasonable system, and indeed it has fostered significant global progress.
However, after nearly 80 years, this system is showing signs of institutional fatigue, and solutions can no longer be found within its framework. To address today’s challenges, the global community must come together to rebuild the system itself.
As with Dento culture, as mentioned earlier, the next generation must refine and polish the systems developed in past eras. This process requires us to dismantle what is broken and, armed with the courage to trust in humanity, boldly transform it.
The foundation for systemic change lies in the definition of peace proposed by ingo PEACE., an organization that exists to amplify this message and share it with the world. Together, let us work to create a new strategy for international cooperation.
