To promote and diffuse the ideals of UNESCO, NFUAJ organizes and conducts:

1. Annual National Convention of the UNESCO Movement in Japan with the cooperation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and local authorities.
2. Bimonthly organ “UNESCO” published for more than 20,000 subscribers.
3. Exhibitions on World Heritage, World Terakoya Movement, and children's drawings
4. Press release activities to promote UNESCO's ideals
5. Introduction of UNESCO activities on the NFUAJ web-site

Based on the standpoint stated in the UNESCO Constitution, “that the peace must be founded, if it is not to fail, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind”, and as described in the Basic Policy for UNESCO Activities in Japan adopted at the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO in 1953 (“the general public's daily life itself is the place where UNESCO activities bear fruit”), NFUAJ puts its prime importance on supporting regional UNESCO activities. Efforts have been made to give advice to those eager to create new UNESCO associations.

In 2007 NFUAJ adopted a “Non-Governmental UNESCO Movement Policy” commemorating the 60th anniversary of non-governmental UNESCO Movement. NFUAJ is currently concentrating its efforts on programmes based on Culture of Peace, UNESCO World Terakoya Movement and World Heritage activities.

Priority activities

1. To implement and cultivate Culture of Peace activities
2. To further expand the World Terakoya Movement network
3. To foster a sense of history and promote environment protection activities through the World Heritage activities

In 1989, one year before the World Conference on Education for All (EFA) in Jomtien, Thailand, NFUAJ launched “World Terakoya Movement (WTM)”, an international cooperation programme. The core objective of WTM is to provide adult illiterates and out-of-school children with learning opportunities, in cooperation with non-governmental, governmental, local and international organisations in partner states.

The name “World Terakoya Movement” derives from terakoya, a civilian-run elementary school for children of common classes that expanded throughout Japan between the 14th and 19th centuries. The nationwide expansion of terakoya contributed to a high literacy rate in Japan even before the introduction of the modern educational system, and consequently to Japan's rapid socio-economic development in the subsequent century.

The aim of the Movement is to promote mutual understanding and to foster mutual respect among peoples. Supporters of the movement, who are ordinary citizens living in Japan and donating money or misaddressed prepaid postcards (@\45 cash value), visit project sites abroad in order to understand the socio-cultural background and achievements of the projects. These visits also provide a great opportunity for the people in the project areas to learn about Japan from the visitors. Project implementing partners come to Japan to report on the progress of the projects and to learn about the Japanese educational system. WTM provides opportunities of exchanging ideas among project implementers. Those face-to-face relationships further the bonds of friendship among all the participants in this movement.
Contents of WTM supporting programmes include construction of learning centres, training of teachers, development of educational material and holding classes to improve literacy and the quality of life.

The NFUAJ's World Heritage activities aim at increasing awareness of the need to protect the Earth's irreplaceable cultural and natural heritage as well as encouraging people to care for the community in which they live. Through activities not only to pass on world heritage to the future generations but also to preserve local environment and cultural assets, both tangible and intangible, NFUAJ promotes a spirit of respect towards different cultures and towards nature. At the same time, the global environment problems are closely related to the World Heritage activities.

World Heritage Preservation Support programmes has been implemented overseas in Bamiyan/Afghanistan, Lumbini/Nepal, Hoi Yan and Phong Nha-Ke Bang/Viet Nam, Ifugao/ the Philippines and in Japan at Shirakami Sanchi.

The “Yearbook of World Heritage” has been published yearly since 1995 with support from the Japan Lottery Association. The book contains an abundance of the latest information concerning World Heritage and a World Heritage Map indicating all sites inscribed on the World Heritage List as well as beautiful photographs. Approximately 12,000 copies are donated to public libraries, universities, museums, and education councils all over Japan.

“Let's Draw ∼ Treasures of My Town ∼ ”
A drawing exhibition called “Let's Draw ∼ Treasures of My Town ∼ ” has been implemented by local UNESCO Associations in Japan since 1998, and Aioi Insurance Co.Ltd contributed the project since 2004. This program encourages children to look at concrete and abstract natural and cultural sites around them and think about their importance. Both tangible and intangible assets around us should be preserved for all humanity with the spirit of the World Heritage Convention. Drawings on the topic of “Treasures of My Town” are collected from students of elementary and junior high schools in Japan and exhibited at the regional city halls.

“Mitsubishi Asian Children's Enikki Festa”
The “Mitsubishi Asian Children's Enikki Festa” has been implemented jointly by the Mitsubishi Public Affairs Committee, Asian Pacific Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations (AFUCA) and NFUAJ since 1990 commemorating the International Literacy Year. Over the last 17 years, xxxx children aged 6 to 12 of 24 countries/region in Asia made entries to this programme. The Grand Prix winners from each participating country and region are invited for the award ceremony with the goal of promoting mutual understanding and international exchange.

“One Spoonful” (of help) has began in 1974, with author Michiko Inukai at the helm. Since then, the project has been devoted to providing help for those suffering from hunger or disease. Currently, we supply medical supplies and food for those providing free medical care to the poor in Afghanistan and Nepal. With the warm continued support of many people, we have been able to save many lives for over 30 years.

Emergency Supports have been extended to the countries stricken by natural disasters such as earthquake, tsunami, flood, etc.

NFUAJ has been making efforts, from its inception, to promote UNESCO children's school, and UNESCO clubs in the secondary schools. Those graduates formed youth UNESCO clubs and they organize annually “UNESCO Children's Summer Camp” and UNESCO Youth Seminars. Other youth promotion activities include High School UNESCO Club activities, International Youth Exchange Programmes.

Bringing ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) into the classroom
NFUAJ and the Yomiuri Shinbun(one of the Japanese Major Newspaper Co.) have jointly launched “Living in Harmony with the Earth School Project” in 2005. Project provides special classes for primary schools let by instructors from private companies and NFUAJ with an aim to (1)Study the problems occurring on a global scale today, (2)Plan on forms of development that benefit both humanity and the Earth.(3)Elaborate on how they can be achieved and take practical action. Every time, details are reported through the Yomiuri Newspaper nationwide.