Library Fund from 'Eisaku Sato Memorial Foundation for Cooperation with the United Nations University'

Eisaku Sato (1901-75)

The former prime minister of Japan who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1974, was the first Asian to receive the Peace Prize. Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Aasa Lionaes, declared in her presentation that the committee wished "to emphasize the important role the Japanese people have played in promoting close and friendly cooperation with other nations." She went on to say that Sato had made a major contribution to peace "by countering the tendency towards a nationalistic policy in Japan after the war" and by conducting a peaceful foreign policy. The Committee attached considerable importance to Sato's opposition to nuclear arms for Japan and his bringing Japan into the pact on the nonproliferation of nuclear arms, signed in February 1970. (extracted from 'The Nobel Peace Prize and the Laureates : an illustrated biographical history, 1901-1987 by Irwin Abrams, published by C.K. Hall & Co. Boston in 1988)

Brief history of the Foundation

Based on the Nobel Peace Prize awarded in December 1974 to the late Eisaku Sato, a former Prime Minister, the Foundation was established on 11 November 1975, as a public corporation with the joint support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of education, Science and Culture, to fulfil the vision of the late Mr. Sato "to cooperate with the development of the United Nations University and to contribute to the improvement of world peace and welfare".

The late Prime Minister Eisaku Sato's ideal was the improvement of world peace and welfare and he believed that the United Nations had a major role in achieving it. For this reason, he went to extraordinary lengths to establish the United Nations University and attract it to Japan, and it was his fervent wish to strengthen the advancement of the University. Under the inspiration of the late former Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, the objectives of this Foundation are to contribute to the development of the United Nations University and to the attainment of world peace and welfare. (extracted from 'Profile: the Eisaku Sato Memorial Foundation for Cooperation with the United Nations University')

Donation to the UNU Library

The foundation officially announced in 1995 that an amount of 7,000,000 yen over a 6 year period will be donated to the UNU Library for library collection development in area which will promote achievement of UNU objectives. Initially for fiscal 1994, April 1994 to March 1995, 2,000,000 yen was donated. Thereafter 1,000,000 yen each year until fiscal 1999 will be donated.

The contribution from the foundation will facilitate development of library collection on "Multilateralism and UN," " International officials/employees," "League of Nations," "United Nations," "Other specific international organizations," "International Law," "International Security" and "International Relations" in honour of the late Eisaku Sato. Each book purchased from the fund is stamped with 'Donated to the UNU Library by the Eisaku Sato Memorial Foundation.'

UNU Library 1 August 1996

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