Miss International about ICA

International Cultural Association

Objectives

International Cultural Association (ICA) was established as a non profit organization of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan in April, 1969 for the purpose of expanding international cultural and people exchange activities.
Since ICA was formed, we have had concepts of “mutual understanding between nations” and “deepening people’s understanding of Japan as a part of the world” to increase network of people in the world and promote the country of Japan.

Past And Current Projects

◆ Cultural Exchange Activities
●Miss International Beauty Pageant
●Miss International and World Japan
●Cultural Exchange Event
●Miss International Forum
●Cultural Exchange Parties with Embassies
●Manner Seminar

◆ Goodwill Activities
●Charity Work and Fundraising, “One Love Fund”
●Clean-Up Activities
●Cherry Blossom Planting Ceremony in Boston

◆ Other Projects
●Publications
●Sport Activities
●Other Necessary Activities to Achieve Our Goals

Chronologic Table of International Cultural Association Activitie

Year	Month	Activity
1960		Miss International was born in Long Beach, California.
1963	January	International Beauty Congress was established and started to send a Japanese delegate to Miss International Beauty Pageant.
1964		IBC started to send a Japanese delegate to Miss International Beauty Pageant.
1965		IBC also started to send a Japanese delegate to Miss World　in London.
1968	October	First time in Japan, Miss International Beauty Pageant was held in Nippon Budokan.
1969	April	Ministry of Foreign Affairs accepted an incorporated association, “Japan Beauty Congress” to establish.
1970	May	The 10th Miss International Beauty Pageant was held in Osaka Expo.
1970		JBC co-organized “Freeval” in Zingu Gaien, event for young people. Providing a place where young people from different countries to exchange their cultures. It was a new style to expand international exchange between people. The event was held until 1987.
1974		First time in the world to gather French fashion designers and hold a brand new fashion show ”Haute couture, Paris Collection” in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka and held for 4 years.
1975	May	Ｔhe name was changed to International Cultural Association to engage in wide-rang of international cultural and people-exchange activities.
1976		ICA supported Aiko Yamano’s Kimono Cultural Delegation to hold the Japanese kimono show in Europe.
1977		”South East Asia Young People’s Cultural Festival” Invited young people from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand to play their own cultural musics in Tokyo and Okinawa.
1978		“Hawaiian Young People’s Cultural Festival” Invited 35 young people from Hawaii to play their own cultural music in Tokyo, Shizuoka, Osaka and Fukuoka.
1979		“University of Veracruz, Mexico, Cultural Dance ” Invited 35 students of University of Veracruz and held the dance stage event in 7 different cities in Japan. It was also held in 1981 and 1989.
1980		“Brigham Young University International Cultural Dance” Invited 36 students of Brigham Young University and held the dance stage in 6 different cities in Japan. It was also held in 1981, 1983 and 1989.
1980		“US Miss Marching Drill Team” Young girls’ marching band from the US was invited to Japan and played in Tokyo and Shizuoka.
1984		“One Love Fund“ Establishment The fund was donated to aid African countries facing food shortage problems.
1985		“World Cultural Festival in Science Expo in Tsukuba” Invited people from the Fiji Islands, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Poland, Spain, USA and Soviet Union and held the world cultural event in Science Expo in Tsukuba, Japan.
		ICA presented and planted cherry blossoms at Charles River,? Massachusetts, USA. For more than ten years, ICA presented cherry blossoms, the symbol of Friendship to the state.
1988		“Tokyo Dome Opening Event” Invited about 1,000 people from 10 different countries and held the world marching band festival in Tokyo Dome (Baseball Stadium) when it was open.
1990		“Japanese Culture Week in Soviet Union” To exchange each other’s culture and deepen relationship between Soviet Union and Japan, ICA sent singers, fashion designers, artists, total 300 people and held cultural events in Soviet Union.
1991		ICA started to invited 160 young people from Australia Green Leaves. They visited the sister city and experienced a homestay program in Japan for cultural exchange.?
1993		“Japanese Traditional Handicraft Exhibition in the US” 30 ceramic arts made by the Japanese famous artists were presented to Sackler Gallery in Washington DC. Japanese Traditional Handicraft Exhibition was held in 6 different cities in the US.
1995		“World Student Forum” 26 students from various countries who learned Japanese gathered in Japan and discussed different topics about Japan.
		“Japan Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition” Japanese Intangible Cultural Heritage ceramic artists, Mr. Imaemon Imaizumi, Mr. Kakiemon Sakai and Mr. Yasokichi Tokuda had the Japan Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition in Chicago and Detroit, the US.
1997		Pioneers of Japanese modern glass art, Mr. Toushichi and Hisatoshi Iwata, had the modern glass art exhibition in Kansas City and New York and Washington DC.
1999		ICA organized the 1st Miss International Forum during Miss International Beauty Pageant. The delegates from different nations and regions participated and discussed about “role model for women in the 21st century”.
2004		Miss International Beauty Pageant was held in Beijing, China. It was the second time to hold the Pageant oversea after ICA became the organizer. It was held in Beijing, China.
2005	September	Miss International Beauty Pageant delegation participated in a world cultural event of Aichi Expo 2005. 1
2006	November	To celebrate Japan-China Tourism Year of 2006 which was a project of Ministry of land, Infrastructure and Transport, Miss International Beauty Pageant was held in Beijing, China.

ICA SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION PROJECTS

◆ Cherry blossom planting ceremony in Boston from 1985 to 2003

ICA presented and planted cherry blossoms at Charles River, Massachusetts, USA. For more than ten years, 1,428 cherry blossoms were planted at the river, as the symbol of friendship to the state.

◆ One Love Fund from 1984

The International Cultural Association proposed the "Let's Foster One Love Movement" in 1984, with the aim of cultivating a love beyond language and nationality, and nurturing minds to love nature and peace through women's tenderness and affection. Up to the present day, this movement has been promoted widely throughout society via the Beauty Pageant and other activities.
This collected goodwill, the "One Love Fund", has been used to promote the goodwill activities of Miss International, and donated to public collections for people who suffer from disasters, etc, as well as volunteer charitable foundations that contribute to international society. The first "One Love Fund" was used to provide aid in the African food crisis via Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

◆ Green Campaign since 1976
Toyota Motor Cooperation and Toyopet Motor Sales Co., LTD collaborate to hold “Green Campaign” for more than 30 years. Green Campaign is one of their social contribution projects that they have visited and donated trees all over the country.
Each year, the winner and runner-ups of Miss International participate in the campaign and travel around more than 40 different places in Japan as “Green Ambassadors” to contribute local societies.

◆ Miss International Forum since 1999
To increase women’s contributions to the international society, Miss International
Forum is held during Miss International tour. All the delegates of Miss International
Beauty Pageant participate in the forum and have an opportunity to share their thoughts and cultures, and to speak out social issues in the world.