Japanese Porcelain Artwork “Blue Planet of Human Life” Donated to CPAFFC

On March 22， a donation ceremony of the Japanese porcelain artwork the “Blue Planet of Human Life”was held in the Peace Palace of the CPAFFC.

This huge spherical porcelain artwork， with a diameter of 1.05 meters， a total height of 2.1 meters and a weight of 300 kilograms， was designed and made by Japanese porcelain artist Yasuhiko Shirakata. His hometown of Tobe-cho in Ehime Prefecture is the place of origin of Japanese traditional Tobeyaki porcelain adopting China’s blue and white porcelain techniques. There are only three such pieces in the world. One is placed in Shirakata’s hometown and the other at the U.N. headquarters in Geneva.

Mr. Shirakata donated the third one， on which he had spent several months to make at the venerable age of 73 and which he said would be his last piece of artwork， to the CPAFFC embodying his hope for peace in the world and protection of the Earth as well as the aspiration of Japanese people of various circles for everlasting friendship between Japan and China.

Tobe-yaki porcelain artworks are commonly used for display and furnishings in Japan. So， why do they appear in the form of a globe with blue oceans and white continents at the UN headquarters in Geneva and in the CPAFFC？ In his youth， Mr. Shirakata as a member of the first batch of Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers travelled to carry out volunteer work. While actively involved in and supporting construction in developing countries， he forged profound friendship with the people of different races and cultures and felt deeply that the Planet Earth is the common homeland of humankind in which to share peace， prosperity and development.

By combining traditional porcelain techniques with the image of blue earth， he created a “terrestrial globe”without national boundaries， implying that the Earth is a destiny community in which humankind depends on each other.

The Blue Planet of Human Life displayed at the UN headquarters in Geneva has been an attraction for many years， particularly for young people from around the world to gather together to hold commemorative activities， expressing their aspiration for world peace and environmental protection.

The Japanese side donated the artwork to the CPAFFC for the purpose of commemorating the 40th anniversary of the normalization of ChinaJapan diplomatic relations and wishing for world peace and China-Japan friendship. Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and former Vice President of the Japanese House of Councilors Giichu Tsunoda acted respectively as chairman and advisor to the Donation Committee.

At the donation ceremony， CPAFFC Vice President Jing Dunquan said， China and Japan were close neighbors and countries with important influence in Asia and the world. Longterm healthy and steady development of their relationship was in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and conducive to peace and stability of Asia and the world.

The Chinese side was willing to make concerted efforts with far-sighted personages of various circles of Japan to persistently boost exchanges and cooperation in all fields between the two countries， continuously enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and promote further development of the bilateral relationship.

Youth were the future and hope of the world. China-Japan friendship needed the efforts made by the two peoples from generation to generation. He hoped that the youth of the two countries would promote further exchanges， enhance friendship， and become a bridge between the two countries and successors to the cause of China-Japan friendship.

Mr. Giichi Tsunoda， on behalf of the Donation Committee， also addressed the ceremony. He hoped that the Blue Planet of Human Life would be liked by the Chinese people and become a new symbol of Japan-China friendship. He also hoped that this donation would play a positive role in continuously enhancing friendship between the two peoples.

The huge and elegant Blue Planet of Human Life in blue and white porcelain becomes another object in the CPAFFC， implying world peace and symbolizing China-Japan friendship. With the expectation of the people of the two countries for ever-lasting China-Japan friendship， it is waiting the arrival of a new Spring of China-Japan relationship.