Kobayashi Tamae
THE SEIYU,LTD. Executive Officer, SVP

I really appreciate having such a wonderful opportunity again this year. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the entrants - especially those children in distant lands who we have never even met.

This year, I was especially impressed by how clearly the children conveyed their message about the global environment and nature through their artwork. I think they have clearly managed to express this year's theme - "Coexistence between Man and Nature". The unique characters of each country were also clearly evident. For example, Japanese children have been brought up in a mature and affluent society, so conversely they may better sense the crisis afflicting the global environment. I thought that they strive to highlight the “really important elements” that are easily lost in a contented society. I personally felt particularly drawn to and transfixed by the picture of a girl gently hugging a kid goat.

On the other hand, pictures drawn by children living in developing countries are wonderful, although they may never enjoy the benefits of great material wealth. They used their imagination to the full to draw beautiful skies, seas, mountains and forests, akin to a paradise for all living creatures to commune in harmony.

We must not allow our global environment to degrade further, as 100 years from now we are not living any more and the earth is for our new generations! I renewed my own determination to play my part again this year.