Tokyo International University

A gateway to the world 

While founded back in 1965, TIU only launched their English-track program in 2014. After six years, it has already established a diverse student community. With students from over 60 different countries, it was only natural for TIU to become a place for international spirits to flourish - there is no shortage of culture on campus. From Halloween and Tanabata to game nights and calligraphy seminars, there is never a dull moment on and around our classrooms. One of our most famous events is the yearly International Fair, where students set up food and culture booths and all proceeds are donated to charity. With a sprawling presence of multinational culture, Campus 1 of TIU will make for an outstanding MUN conference this year. 

Kasumigaseki-eki, kawagoe

Our second home

The TIU campus is situated near Kasumigaseki station, two stops away from Kawagoe station. Many TIU students begin their lives in Japan residing in its local dorms, turning it into a melting pot of different cultures coinciding along with the locals. Rest assured, it is a very safe and comfortable environment and fellow students would be delighted to show newcomers in and around town. 

Unlike many Model United Nations circles in Japan and around the world, Tokyo International University Model United Nations Club is an official representative of TIU and the English Track Program as a varsity club.

The club first started as a circle for students majoring in International Relations and Business Economics to come together after school and learn more about the operations of the United Nations. After members of the club began participating in national conferences, the leaders saw this as an opportunity to advance towards the club's true potential. Being an official and the Chancellor’s award-winning varsity club, TIUMUN members became extremely ambitious to showcase their diverse set of strengths to the world. In the past year, we have participated in numerous conferences in and outside of Japan, gaining various awards and recognition. Toward our conference, TIUMUN members are looking forward to transforming these achievements into an exceptional event that would make Tokyo and TIU the next destination in Asia for MUN enthusiasts.

Messages from the people

A change to adapt

Last year, MUN@TIU 2020 was successfully held with two committees: United Nations High Commissioner of Refugee on the topic of child refugees on July 4th and 5th, and our first-ever SPECPOL Crisis Committee on July 11th and 12th. MUN@TIU 2020 was supposed to be an in-person conference. But due to an unprecedented pandemic, we had to change our plan and convert it into an online event. While this is unfortunate, a silver lining was that delegates from various countries could join our conference without travelling all the way to Japan, making the group of participants more diverse compared to previous years.

Planning Stage

Despite the hardship, we had a memorable experience not only with nearly 30 outstanding delegates who came from different countries but also together with our TIUMUN team who had dedicated almost 7 months and overcome the trying time to organize the conference. Since the conference became online, we had tried our best to adapt ourselves to a new platform – Zoom and developed a helpful IT guidebook for every delegate. We also had a memorable journey in the preparation for our first online conference. Our team tirelessly worked and discussed with each other to provide the best online MUN experience for the delegates. TIUMUN has been honoured to have talented individuals attending our committees as delegates, who have contributed exciting ideas and brought critical aspects of the issues to the discussion.

UNHCR COMMITTEE

In the UNHCR committee, the delegates discussed how to safeguard the future of child refugees around the globe. Child refugees are vulnerable to all sorts of perils and dangers while being forced to stay at refugee camps with often inadequate facilities to ensure their growth and development. Seeing the importance of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in helping child refugees, the conference also had delegates become representatives of private and NGO actors. 

On the second day, it was our honor to welcome Mr. Toshitsuki Kawauchi for joining MUN@TIU 2020 as a keynote speaker to share his expertise on the matter of child refugees. After Mr. Kawauchi’s speech, delegates came in order to start the session. The discussion had a wide range of perspectives from member states and non-state participants. From the delegate of New Zealand to the delegate of Mexico, to even the representative of Microsoft pitched in on how to safeguard the future of child refugees all over the world. The conference was held for two days, neatly divided into sections discussing particular topics of interest. These topics of interest include simple, yet crucial topics such as the protection of child refugees from various threats and education to ensure that they will not become the 'lost generation'. Ultimately, the solutions were divided into global and regional actions and pledges from member states and non-state actors. The solutions were very innovative, as it was done through the PPP framework. One resolution was drafted and passed. Congratulations to all delegates of MUN@TIU 2020 UNHCR committee for passing the Draft Resolution by unanimity, and to award delegates whose merit has impressed the Dais throughout the conference!

SPECPOL COMMITTEE

The conference officially started with the opening remark from our Secretariat. After hearing the general rules, the first session of the conference began with eloquent opening speeches from all delegates touching on several critical aspects, such as coordination on humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, building resilient infrastructure, preservation of identity and culture, and increasing funding for small islands and developing states.

The second day of MUN@TIU 2020 started with a speech from our keynote speaker – Professor Christopher Edmonds. After the speech, the first session started. The debate became intense on this second day. Delegates discussed and negotiated about several issues such as cyclone, refugee law as well as the legal framework such as UNCLOS. Some states also offered different methods to build artificial islands. As a result, one draft resolution was successfully passed. The two-day conference ended with the Awards and Closing Ceremony, the Dais honorably announced the Best Delegate, the Best Position Paper, and the Outstanding Delegate Award.

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THE GREATER STEP

From May 24th to May 26th, at Tokyo International University, MUN@TIU 2019 was successfully held with two committees: World Trade Organization (WTO) on the topic of Addressing the US-China Trade War, and General Assembly (GA) on the issue of Reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). 

It was a memorable journey not only with nearly 40 outstanding delegates who came from different countries, but also with our team who had dedicated almost 7 months to organize the event.

Planning Stage

As the weather grew warmer from spring to summer, the same went for the preparation for MUN@TIU 2019 - everything was up and running. The team was more than welcoming to outstanding delegates from not only Japan but also other countries to come and participate. We received numerous applications from delegates from different nationalities. To ensure that international participants are well catered to their needs in Japan, the organizers were always ready to answer any inquiries whether it be access, fee, and application procedures. There were also efforts to provide pick up services from various locations near the venue and the airport for delegates who were unsure of how to commute in Japan.

DAY 1

Day 2

On the second day of the conference, we had the honor to welcome Mr. Leon Malazogu, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Japan, to our conference as the Keynote Speaker. In the speech, he enthusiastically talked about Kosovo war, discussing the US - China Trade War and explained how it impacted the foreign policies of each country.

After his inspiring speech, delegates in both committees moved to the second session with intense debates on various sub-topics. In WTO Chamber, delegates had made fruitful discussions about China's disputable economic status; the US's policies of blacklisting Chinese telecommunications firms; and imposing tariffs on Chinese goods. Meanwhile, in the General Assembly, all delegates extensively debated three specific topics, which were increasing the UNSC's permanent and non-permanent membership of the UNSC; promoting regional representation; and improving the effectiveness of the veto power. As a result of the third session, two committees produced insightful working papers. However, there were still disagreements among blocs based on each country's national interest.

After the hard work, all the delegates finally had time to relax with a lavish buffet dinner and enhance the relationship with each other. Furthermore, in this social event night, our staff specially prepared a mini live show with wonderful performances from TIU students. What an amazing night!

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Our Inaugural Conference

On July 6, 2018, MUN@TIU 2018 officially kicked off. Hosted by a team of experienced MUN enthusiasts, the conference was the first MUN event to be hosted by Tokyo International University Model United Nations club. Over the course of the three-day conference, participants representing 35 countries discussed what role outer space plays in global peace and security, which actions can be implemented to ensure outer space are not used for military purposes, and how member states can cooperate to promote peaceful development of outer space technology.

Below is the report of MUN@TIU 2018, which aims to capture the main activities, achievements, and outputs of our inaugural conference. If you find what we do interesting, considered MUN@TIU 2019 your next destination this May!

Planning Stage

As the weather grew warmer from spring to summer, the same went for the preparation for MUN@TIU 2018 - everything was up and running. The team was more than welcoming to outstanding delegates from not only Japan but also other countries to come and participate. We received numerous applications from delegates from different nationalities. To ensure that international participants are well catered to their needs in Japan, the organizers were always ready to answer any inquiries whether it be access, fee, and application procedures. There were also efforts to provide pick up services from various locations near the venue and the airport for delegates who were unsure of how to commute in Japan.

Day 1

After the last steps of preparations, the Opening Ceremony officially started at 3 P.M with the presentation on the conference’s objectives and the opening remarks from our club president. After that, all delegates received a briefing of rules of procedure and code of conduct by the Dais, followed by the opening speeches in which they present their country’s stances, situations and potential solutions. At exactly 6.30 P.M, after all the hard work and passionate speeches, the first day of the conference came to an end, and delegates moved to our lovely dining hall in Building 1 to enjoy the Reception Dinner. Delegates and organisers alike were enjoying the performance by TIU’s Jazz Band Mellow Dolphin. Their sweet music brought ease to everyone and marked the end of Day 1.

Day 2

On the second day, we started the day with the keynote speech by Mr. Tsuneo Nishida - former Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations. In his 45-minute speech, he discussed whether the United Nations is still relevant in this modern world. Mr. Nishida inspired the audience with an emotional yet informative speech about the dilemma of how to protect human rights while facing security issues. He concluded by posing a question for the delegates to ponder on: whether or not the United Nations can still give meaning to future international relations.

Following the address, all delegates moved to fruitful discussions and lively debates on the topic of Weaponization of Space. The Dais of the conference were glad to see that the delegates showed a high-level of understanding of their countries’ stances and their capability of sharing their ideas, even though Weaponization of Space was considered as a new yet quite challenging topic. Before the end of the third session, all delegates succeeded to submit the three draft resolutions. After that, all delegates and organizers moved to the dining hall to attend the Activity Night. The MUN@TIU 2018 team once again astonished the delegates with their preparation and decoration of the dining hall. The foods were delicious, the music was beautiful, and the games were fun. They even surprised the delegates with the mini live show performed by talented TIU students. We could not ask for a better night.

Day 3

Despite the exhausting second day, there were no signs of slowing down on the discussions regarding amendments on the third day. After receiving feedback from the Dais and further discussion, delegates were able to identify the flaws and polish the quality of the draft resolutions even further. Two draft resolutions were introduced in the afternoon and one draft resolution was passed at the end of the session. For many delegates, they were proud of the achievements in three days and looked forward to attending the 2019 conference. In the Awards and Closing Ceremony, the Dais honorably presented the Delegate of Israel with the “Best Delegate” Award, the Delegate of China with the “Best Position Paper” Award, and the Delegate of Germany with the “Outstanding Delegate” Award. We believed that all delegates had had precious memories together and hoped that we could all see each other in the near future.

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