Nippon Christian Academy
Kansai Seminar House
 〜An Environment for Dialogue〜
　

　

　　The ongoing theme of the work at Nippon Christian Academy Kansai Seminar House is "dialogue." Our primary mission is to provide both the facilities and the proper environment in which people from widely different social cultural and religious background can engage in meaningful dialogue to understand each other for working together to foster peace and more humane environment for all
　Our work originally derived from a movement initiated in Germany by the Christian Churches soon after World War II. The influence reached Japan in the 1960's and the Kansai Seminar House was founded in Shugakuin, Kyoto in 1967. Contributions came from the Christian Academy Movement of Germany, churches affiliated with NCC-USA, and Japan.
　Within the context of the unique problems that people of the late 20th century confront, our programs have expanded in many directions. Kansai Seminar House hosts seminars on a wide range of topics including on ecumenical dialogue among religious leaders and groups from different inter-faith dialogue, labor-management relations, the elderly and post-retirement lifestyle, minorities in Japan, biomedical ethics, Japan's role as a member of the Asian community, Christian art in Asia ect. .

　

The year of 2000, Kansai Seminar House did 23 programs.
Here are just some of them;
"Development Education Seminar"*1 "IMF-JC Japan Labor Leadership Course".*2, "Fantasy Group Seminar"*3 "Elderhostel Japan Program"*4 Other programs include study group among university professors on the role of Christians in the academic field and education, exchanging program for kindergarten teachers and nursery school teachers and so on...
　

"Development Education Seminar" for more infomation→
*1: Main theme of this seminar is to research and create techniques and methods of how to teach children the issues on development education such as human rights, poverty, refugee, child labor, economical exploitation, environment concern etc... We have published books on the subjects. Started in 1989. Meet 6 times a year.

　 "IMF-JC Japan Labor Leadership Course"
*2: Three week session of college level lectures, and other programs for holistic education for young union leaders of IMF-JC (Japanese Council of Metal Workers' Union; current members count over 2,500,000, including companies such as Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Toshiba, Sharp Panasonic etc). more than 1000 leaders have graduated in its 32 year history.
　 "Fantasy Group Seminar"
*3: This psychotherapy group session using finger-painting and other artistic methods has been developed at Kansai Seminar House by Dr. Kazuhiko Higuchi, current president of Japan Jung Society.
　

"Elderhotel Japan Program"
*4 Kansai Seminar House is one of host organizations for Elderhostel Japan Program. In this elder education program, which members are 55 years old & onder, about 35 people from The United States visit 3-4 cities in Japan for 3weeks. In their stay in each cities, they would attend lectures on Japanese history and culture, go to feild trips and sight seeings based on the lectures, and attend cutural events.


　 　 　

　　All through the years Kansai Seminar House has hosted verity of international programs with World Council of Churches, (WCC) , Council of Churches in Asia,(CCA), and Association of Christian Instirtutes for Social Concerns in Asia (ACISCA) and other international associations.

　　Recent important international conferences which were held at Kansai Seminar House are;
　　 "Joint Inter-Religious Consultation on Climate Change: A Challenge to Sustainable Development in Asia" in 1997*5; ecumenical conference with 67 participants from 33 countries. "Peace & Culture" in 1999*6; Symposium with Mr.Richard von Weizsacker, former president of the Federal Republic of Germany . "The 2nd Northeast Asia Christian Youth Exchange Program"for more infomation→in 2000&2005　*7 Exchange program by Christian youth from Korea, Myammer, Taiwan and Japan. And "study tours" to Asian and European countries become really important programs that have planted great seeds of international unity and understanding to many participants, young and old.

*5 *6 　
*7 　 　 　

　　　Recently, we are creating more Christian programs with corporation with NCC-Japan and Kyoto Council of Churches such as "Retreat & Study Program for Christian Pastors", "Christian Family Camp Program", "Exchange Program for Christian Social Welfare Organizations","Exchange Program for Young Leaders in Christian NGOs in Japan" etc...

　　All of these programs are held in ecumenical basis. Yet Christian Academy is not primarily an evangelistic body, nor does it restrict the use of its facilities to Christians. Quite the contrary, we encourage participation and dialogue from members of all faiths and religious outlooks, as we believe that such participation will be a step toward a fuller, more meaningful society.

More information on our programs

　　At the foot of the Mt.Hiei, once you get here, you are in a different world surrounded by natural environment with beautiful trees and bamboo woods with birds humming the songs of the season. We have beautiful scenery and wonderful quietness for us to forget busyness of our daily lives and to be one with nature and think about our lives with peaceful state of mind, that's traditional Japanese state of mind. And Ichijo-ji & shugakuin area where Kansai Seminar House is located still can give you atmosphere of good Japanese community feeling. We believe that is a treasure which is really difficult to get in these days.
　 　 　 　
　　Kansai Seminar House has an authentic Noh stage, a tea house and Japanese style house surrounded by Japanese Garden. We believe in people's need for cultural stimulations as well as intellectual ones, so we put great deal of emphasis on cultural programs using noh stage and tea house. Many of our activities take place in this atmosphere of the traditional Japanese style surrounding with beautiful environment and peaceful tranquility in order for participants to feel their harmonious selves in/with nature. Noh Stage (built in 1898), are still used for Noh performances and other cultural events or programs and at tea house (built in 1920's) , tea ceremony is held frequently.


We believe that our commitment and responsibility to the society are done by offering good programs at quiet nature-filled environment. We want to create an environment in which our guests take an opportunity to understand each other better through dialogue and deep realization on the importance of respecting people with difference idea and belief.

The year of 1997 marked the 30th anniversary of the founding of this facility. Entering into the 21st century、we sincerely hope and pray that our work will continue to be blessed and make some contributions to our society and to the world.

　 　

Facilities' Information
Birds'Eye View Map

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