The Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) was jointly established in 1971 by the Japanese government and the private sector (specifically the publishing industry) in response to UNESCO’s calls for a core centre to facilitate cultural exchange in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since its establishment, ACCU, based in Japan, has adhered to UNESCO’s stance that “peace must be established on the basis of humanity’s moral and intellectual solidarity”. To this end, the ACCU has collaborated with international organisations such as UNESCO, UNESCO member states in the Asia Pacific region, public educational institutions, various industries, and local communities to foster international cooperation in education, the development of human capital, and cultural exchange. These concerted efforts, catered to local needs, have been made in the hope of contributing to, and building, a sustainable society.

In line with the above, the ACCU’s projects and programs focus on its three core values of “appreciating and cherishing local culture”, “cooperative action”, and “mutual understanding and respect for all cultures”.

Commissioned by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), ACCU has undertaken the role of secretariat for the UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPNet) in Japan since 2008. This role entails active engagement in projects concerning the institution of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in schools. Harnessing its wide range of resources and networks in Japan and abroad, ACCU supports a wide range of UNESCO ASPnet activities spanning the fields of both formal and non-formal education.