The IPCR International Seminar 2026 was held in Beijing, China, from July 29 to 30.

Organized annually since 2009 by the South Korea-based IPCR (International Peace Corps of Religions), this seminar brings together religious leaders from Japan, China, and South Korea to build peace in Northeast Asia. While previous seminars were hosted in South Korea and Japan, this marked the first time the event took place in Beijing, China. Under the theme “Challenges for Building Peace Community in Northeast Asia,”  25 participants from China, South Korea, and Japan joined the seminar.

The Religions for Peace Japan delegation included Rev. Yoshiharu Tomatsu (Board Chair; Deputy Director, Jodo Shu Research Institute; Chief Priest, Jodo Shu Shinkoin Temple), Rev. Toshimasa Yamamoto (Board Member; Former Professor, Kwansei Gakuin University), Prof. Dr. Kathy R. Matsui (Board Member; Professor Emeritus, Seisen University), Rev. Shinichi Yahagi (Special Member; General Secretary, Provincial Office of Nippon Sei Ko Kai), Rev. Dr. Yoshinori Shinohara (Secretary-General), and Rev. Dr. Yasuko Miyoshi (Director, General Coordination Department). Additionally, Prof. Yoshinori Hiroi (Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University) delivered the keynote address for Session 3.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Hong Liang, Executive Vice President of China Committee on Religion and Peace (CCRP) and Deputy Secretary-General of National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), delivered welcoming remarks emphasizing the importance of building inclusive and sustainable relationships among China, South Korea, and Japan. Opening remarks were then given by Dr. Park In-jun, Executive President of the Korean Conference of Religions for Peace (KCRP), and Rev. Yoshiharu Tomatsu, Board Chair of RfP Japan.

Session 1: “Advocating Peaceful Development and Promoting win-win Cooperation”

Ven. Meng Zhiling, Vice President of CCRP and Vice President of the Chinese Taoist Association, delivered the keynote address.

He advocated “honoring the Way (Dao) and respecting virtue (De), using Eastern wisdom to promote peace concepts,” highlighting the need for the three nations to cultivate cooperation and lay a grassroots foundation for peace and development. In response, Board Chair Rev. Tomatsu emphasized the importance of face-to-face dialogue with an open heart among all individuals living in Northeast Asia. He also raised concerns about the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential military applications, calling for adherence to AI ethics and urging religious leaders to revisit ethics of peace that do not rely on armed force.

Session 2: “Prospects and Vision for Building a Northeast Asian Community”

Moderated by Board Member Rev. Toshimasa Yamamoto, the session featured a keynote address by Dr. Kim Sung Gon, Honorary President of the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP).

Dr. Kim provided a comprehensive overview of historical and current geopolitical conflicts in Northeast Asia, outlining the roles political and religious leaders must play to overcome these challenges. He stressed that religious leaders must cherish life, use words that foster peace, remember the pain of all victims, and move beyond dialogue to action. He also highlighted the importance of offering moral and ethical recommendations to political leaders and sharing a new worldview with youth. Panelist Rev. Shinichi Yahagi introduced the Declaration on the War Responsibility of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (adopted in 1995) and ongoing exchange initiatives between the Anglican Churches of Japan and South Korea.

Session 3: “Population Decline and Challenges for Religious Communities”

Prof. Yoshinori Hiroi, Professor Emeritus at Kyoto University, delivered the keynote address.

He outlined the current trends and background of population decline in Japan, noting that throughout human history, demographic shifts and settlement patterns have always been linked to the creation of new philosophies, values, and ethics. Proposing that the current era could be viewed as the “third period of human settlement,” he suggested humanity is on the threshold of a new era of foundational values, emphasizing the need for a global ethic. As a panelist, Board Member Prof. Dr. Kathy Matsui introduced the example of Kyoto’s Ittoen community and offered practical proposals for religious communities facing demographic challenges.

Conclusion 

Throughout the sessions, participants engaged in candid and vibrant exchanges on historical, political, and contemporary conflict issues across Northeast Asia. Beyond theoretical or conceptual debates, the discussions delved into sensitive, highly challenging real-world issues—including the historical and political conflicts confronting Northeast Asia—exploring in depth how to face and overcome them. Despite differences in perspectives, the participants’ commitment to overcoming obstacles through honest, sustained dialogue toward a peaceful Northeast Asian community left a profound impression.

Reported by Rev. Dr. Yasuko Miyoshi