Background
In November 1996, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution proclaiming 2001 the International Year of Volunteers (A/RES/52/17). In Japan, the Non-Profit Organization (NPO) bill, which advocates favourable treatment for such organizations, had been debated in the Diet for three years, and was formally adopted in March 1998.

Seizing this momentum, which had been gained by consultations among concerned parties including the UNV, the first preparatory meeting on IYV in Japan was convened in May 1999. It brought together 18 representatives of Japanese national and international NGOs from various fields, as well as Japanese government and the UNV. The government was represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in charge of international affairs of IYV, and the Economic Planning Agency for IYV domestic affairs such as the NPO law. In the meantime, the Inter-agency Association for IYV was established with 19 ministries and agencies.

The first preparatory meeting discussed a fundamental question of whether a national committee for promoting IYV activities in Japan would be necessary. Participants reviewed the four objectives of IYV set out in the resolution, government policy to IYV, and other countries' cases for IYV such as that of Canada. After deliberations, the participants eventually reached the conclusion that they should establish a national committee. The discussed setting up a secretariat, an executive board and a long-term schedule for IYV-related events until 2001.

In the first meeting, it was agreed that the preparatory meeting should invite representatives of NGOs from as diverse backgrounds as possible, while maintaining a small number of decision makers. In this connection, the meeting decided to create a task force team composed of its several core members including UNV to facilitate the process of launching an IYV national committee.

The first task force meeting was held to determine which additional members of the preparatory meeting should be invited for subsequent meetings. Participants also disussed a candidate for an Honorary UNV to promote IYV. The meeting confirmed the status of the Government and the UNV as supporting organizations of the future national committee. UNV then suggested that the national committee be launched in October 1999 when UNV Executive Coordinator, Ms. Sharon Capeling-Alakija, would visit Japan. The idea was unanimously approved by the task force members.

In the second preparatory meeting in July, the task force team reported their discussion at the last meeting as to potential additional members of the preparatory meeting. The Economic Planning Agency (EPA) informed that as the Inter-agency Association for IYV was chaired by the EPA, it could assist the preparatory meeting when it needed governmental support. The meeting discussed some administrative matters such as government authorization of the national committee, license of IYV logo use and financial resources.

The second task force meeting was called a month later to discuss the kick-off ceremony of the national committee in October. Participants recommended nominating three co-representatives for the committee: Mr. Jitsujo Arima, President of Japanese NGO Center for International Cooperation, a leading figure of Japanese NGOs for international cooperation; Mr. Tsutomu Hotta, President of the Sawayaka Welfare Foundation, a formerly distinguished chief public prosecutor; and Ms. Mikiko Yamazaki, President of Tokyo Voluntary Action Center, a prominent scholar in social welfare.

Two weeks later, the third preparatory meeting discussed the composition and duration of the national committee, and formally authorized the above three co-representatives to be appointed at the October ceremony. The members also agreed to invite ministerial-level guests as representatives of the government to the ceremony. In mid-September 1999, the fourth preparatory meeting agreed upon the formal name of national committee in English as the IYV Consortium Japan (IYVJ). The meeting also discussed the draft code of the IYVJ in detail, which included articles on membership and financial affairs.
The final preparatory meeting was called to finalize the detailed plan of the ceremony and the draft code. The meeting also confirmed proceedings of the IYVJ general assembly, which would formally authorize the composition, formation, duration and finance of the IYVJ.

Launching the IYVJ
On 12 October 1999, the first general assembly was convened with 36 participants from 20 organizations including 15 executive board members. The assembly endorsed the code of the IYVJ, and declared the establishment of the IYVJ and its steering committee, which thereafter replaced the preparatory meeting for promoting IYV activities in Japan. The executive board members of the IYVJ were eventually set to be composed of 10 national NGOs in social welfare, local volunteer services, child care, old persons care, and youth activities; three international NGOs; one business confederation; and one national centre of labour unions.

In the same day afternoon, the ceremony for the IYVJ was held with over 250 participants at the UNU main hall. The ceremony was opened by opening remarks of Mr. Tsutomu Hotta, one of the three co-representatives of the IYVJ. Mr. Hotta stated that 20th century had been the age to seek material wealth, but the forthcoming 21st century would be the age to seek spiritual wealth, in which volunteerism could be most effectively practiced. Mr. Yohei Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, then told the audience that although the Japanese people have a vigorous volunteer spirit, they have few means to organize these efforts. He went on to say that it would be significant if the IYVJ could play a central role in networking Japanese volunteers.

Noting the four objectives of IYV in the General Assembly resolution, another IYVJ co-representative, Ms. Mikiko Yamazaki, remarked in her keynote speech that the IYVJ should promptly formulate an action plan with as many organizations as possible. She also emphasized that the IYVJ would welcome voluntary participation and inputs from various organizations and people. UNV Executive Coordinator, Ms. Sharon Capeling-Alakija, said she was honoured to be present to help launch the citizen's consortium "that will make 2001 a landmark year for volunteerism in Japan". She concluded by saying that the year 2000 was called Y2K, and she would call the year of 2001 as Y2 Care -- the Year to Care.

After the ceremony, at the beginning of symposium, the IYVJ invited Mr. Taichi Sakaiya, State Minister for Economic Planning, as guest speaker. Mr. Sakaiya noted that volunteerism would become increasingly important in the emerging "knowledge society" fueled by globalization.

After Mr. Sakaiya's address, a panel discussion took place with the three IYVJ co-representatives. Ms. Yamazaki stated that she saw some development in a network among Japanese NGOs, and that she hoped that IYV 2001 could be catalyse a real "civil society" in Japan. Mr. Hotta said an era when everyone would engage in volunteer work was about to come to bring about change and a restructuring of society. Mr. Funato said volunteer work was not a hobby in leisure, but a necessary task to form real civil society. He also stressed the importance of education for children in order to get volunteerism to take root in society. The ceremonial forum was closed by remarks of the facilitator, Mr. Noboru Hayase, Executive-Secretary of the Osaka Voluntary Action Centre. He expressed the wish that this meeting would become a catalyst to promote IYV activities in Japan.

Prospects for IYV 2001
Three weeks after the IYVJ was formally launched, the first steering committee was held to discuss the organizational structure and financial resources of IYVJ. While the UNV had played a key role for the IYVJ at its preparatory stage, after the establishment of the IYVJ, the executive board members began to show full ownership. They started searching for their own financial resources and began to manage the secretariat and committees for planning, public relations, general affairs and finance.

On 10 December 1999, the second steering committee meeting was held to discuss substantial matters such as the code, use of the logo and the action plan. The members first discussed the status of supporting organizations of the IYVJ such as the UNV and governmental agencies under the IYVJ code. Noting the special position of the UNV that had initiated the launch of IYVJ, the members talked over how other governmental agencies other than the three organizations present in the meeting should be invited and placed in the code. With regard to the IYV logo use, the issue was how to disseminate the logo for promotion of the IYV while preventing its abuse and misuse. In connection with the project planning, the members concurred that they should finalize the action plan of the IYVJ as soon as possible, because the action plan officially articulates substantial activities of the IYVJ.

On 20 December 1999, the special session of the IYVJ general assembly was convened with all members, including the representative of the IYVJ, Ms. Mikiko Yamazaki. After the deliberations, the special session authorized the organizational structure, the code, the membership regulation, the logo use regulation and the FY1999 budget. As for the action plan for the year of 2001, the IYVJ decided to collect the best plans from the organizations concerned during the period from January to June 2000. At the end of the session, the members confirmed that it would conduct an IYVJ forum for gaining support from potential new corporate and individual members of the IYVJ on 9 February 2000, to which UNV Executive Coordinator would be also invited. The third steering committee meeting was to be held in March 2000 for further discussion on IYV activities for the remainder of 2000 leading and the year 2001.