User:Tajima Shinji

Tajima Shinji
Tajima Shinji was born in August 1947 in Hiroshima, Japan. In 1973 he has graduated from the Law degree of the Nihon University and his studies in Educational Philosophy at the Waseda University in Tokyo in 1973. From 1974 to 1976 he continued his research in education in Munich, Germany and at the Tagore International University in India. From 1977 to 1997 he worked at the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) on a number of literacy and book development programmes as Director in the Asian and Pacific region.Since 1997 to 2000 at the Prime Minister’s Literacy Comission in Islamabad as an advisor for establishing non-formal education in Pakistan. He is now a chairman of the International Center for Literacy and Culture(ICLC),Tokyo and working a creative writers.His books were translated and published in more than twenty countries.

Literacy works of International Center for Literacy and Culture ICLCTokyo
In 1997, he established in Tokyo the NGO International Center for Literacy and Culture ICLC for assisting disadvantaged children and adults in developing countries through literacy and culture. International Center for Literacy and Culture ICLC was established in Tokyo in 1997, for the promotion of literacy and culture in the world. ICLC is a multi-national non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) comprised mainly of volunteers. More specifically, it is a network of members of ICLC in the world.In the 21st century, one of the most important concerns will be to establish and foster deep communication among cultures, and develop values to promote more humanistic and tolerant societies. Beyond reading, writing and arithmetic skills, a variety of ways for communication such as oral traditions, artistic skills, computer skills are required. The focus of ICLC is the promotion of "human literacy" and peace.The objectives of ICLC are to (1) promote harmony and solidarity among people in the world through joint works on literacy and culture; (2) encourage marginalized/disadvantaged people, especially children and women through transferring information and innovative skills; and (3) share and exchange views and techniques with various organizations within countries and all over the world for the joint works.

Literary works of Tajima Shinji
Tajima has also attracted international attention as an author. His books have been translated into 28 languages and published in 18 countries in Asia. Tajima’s works combine educational value with reading pleasure. "Learning should be fun, reading should be entertaining. This stimulates the imagination and a good education is a function of a well-developed imagination."One of the main themes in his stories is the careless way we treat our planet.

Human characteristics such as greed for power and environmental irresponsibility are exposed by the animal protagonists. For example, the giant sea turtle in 'Gaudi’s Ocean' (1993), who manages to escape back to the ocean after spending 40 years imprisoned in an aquarium and realizes with horror that its habitat, once so beautiful, is now severely polluted and that its inhabitants have contracted diseases following an underwater nuclear experiment. The turtle and other animals work together to try to save the ocean.

Although Tajima’s books are mainly intended for young people, they remind readers of all ages that creative implementation of nature conservation and social responsibility with imagination are essential for the survival of humankind. The twelve stories in 'Cloud Tales' (1999) take readers on a journey through several centuries and countries including India, Pakistan, Mongolia, Germany, Japan and Papua New Guinea. His short story 'The Lonely Fox' (1988) has been adapted for the stage. Tajima received the 20th Kodansha Prize for Publishing Culture for 'The Dinosaur of the Desert' (1989). The artist Kazuko Tajima, his wife, has illustrated many of his stories. Tajima now lives in Tokyo. mail address: iclc@iclc2001.org