Ambassador MIKANAGI Welcomes Students from the Oku-Inoue Commemorative Youth UN Visit Program
2026/3/24
On March 24th, eight top prize winners of the 2025 National Essay Contest for Junior High School Students and the Oratorical Contest for High School Students on International Understanding and Cooperation visited the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations as members of the " Oku-Inoue Commemorative Youth UN Visit Program," where they paid a courtesy call with Ambassador MIKANAGI.
This delegation was originally established in 2001 based on an initiative by the late Ambassador Katsuhiko OKU, who was then serving as the Director of the United Nations Policy Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following the tragic passing of Ambassador OKU and Secretary INOUE in Iraq in 2003, while they were dedicated to the country's peace and reconstruction, the program was renamed in their honor in 2005. This was done to commemorate their distinguished service and to instill in the next generation of Japanese youth the vital importance of contributing to global peace and prosperity.
During the visit, Ambassador MIKANAGI provided an overview of the activities and responsibilities of the Permanent Mission of Japan. This was followed by an enthusiastic exchange, during which the students asked insightful questions regarding the role of the United Nations and Japan’s position within the organization.
In addition to their visit to the Permanent Mission of Japan, the delegation also visited the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations, as well as the organizations of UNICEF and UNDP. At each engagement, the students received briefings on the respective organizations’ missions and specific operations. Furthermore, they attended a luncheon meeting with Japanese staff members employed at the UN, where they gained a deeper understanding of the realities and rewards of pursuing a career in an international organization.
This delegation was originally established in 2001 based on an initiative by the late Ambassador Katsuhiko OKU, who was then serving as the Director of the United Nations Policy Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following the tragic passing of Ambassador OKU and Secretary INOUE in Iraq in 2003, while they were dedicated to the country's peace and reconstruction, the program was renamed in their honor in 2005. This was done to commemorate their distinguished service and to instill in the next generation of Japanese youth the vital importance of contributing to global peace and prosperity.
During the visit, Ambassador MIKANAGI provided an overview of the activities and responsibilities of the Permanent Mission of Japan. This was followed by an enthusiastic exchange, during which the students asked insightful questions regarding the role of the United Nations and Japan’s position within the organization.
In addition to their visit to the Permanent Mission of Japan, the delegation also visited the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations, as well as the organizations of UNICEF and UNDP. At each engagement, the students received briefings on the respective organizations’ missions and specific operations. Furthermore, they attended a luncheon meeting with Japanese staff members employed at the UN, where they gained a deeper understanding of the realities and rewards of pursuing a career in an international organization.