Mitsubishi Asian Children’s Enikki Festa
Enjoying drawing, and sharing the pleasure of drawing to the world Mitsubishi Asian Children’s Enikki Festa
What we can do now for the sake of a child’s smile. What must be done now.
Since 1990, the Mitsubishi Public Affairs Committee, the Asian Pacific Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations, and the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan have developed the Mitsubishi Asian Children’s Enikki Festa to support the aim of the UN-established International Year of Literacy to “Create a world in which all people can read and write.” The main project provides children with an exchange that goes beyond national boundaries, continuing to support literacy education in Asia through promoting enikki (illustrated diary) an effective literary tool and a unique aspect of Japanese culture.
The achievements of the project over an 18 year period is clear from the total number of works submitted, a staggering 422,173. We will continue to nurture the wonderful potential spread by the enikki project in the future.
Selection Committee Chair
Mitsubishi Asian
Children’s
Enikki Festa
Ikuo Hirayama
Nihongaka
(Japanese-style painter),
UNESCO Goodwill
Ambassador

Asian children’s enikki vividly illustrate and reflect their countries’ living conditions, economy and culture. For this reason, when a nation’s people are troubled with civil unrest, war or major disasters, these sentiments are expressed honestly in their children’s enikki. Children’s enikki also express the geographical and historical climate of their environment, and their ethnic character. Children of hot nations use vivid, primary colours, while northern children use neutral colours, and instead of individuality between children, there is an extremely interesting expression of each nation’s character. Through the enikki that the children draw, we can become aware of various aspects of Asia. Without peace it would be impossible to attempt such a feat as the enikki exhibition. I sincerely hope that through peace in Asia, and in turn the world, the enikki exhibition will become more and more a link to children’s happiness.

NEXT Change in Present Day Asia,
as seen through Enikki Illustrated Diaries