Recent years have seen a sudden increase in the number of scholars engaged in research on Miyazawa Kenji, thanks to the universal appeal of his works which knows no geographical boundary. His works are being given new dimensions by the contemporary researchers within and without Japan by reinterpreting them on the basis of universal values and concepts, like prosperity and peaceful co-existence of all living beings on the earth, well being of mankind, love, equality, non-violence, self sacrifice, vegetarianism etc., which are manifested in most of his literary works.

Kenji always considered himself to be an inseparable part of the cosmos. An individual cannot attain happiness unless he loses his identity and amalgamates with the supreme soul, the everlasting universe. “A real poet is a person who is able to convert his sufferings into happiness. If I could forget myself in the midst of the wind and the light, turning the whole world into my own garden, or if I could feel that the whole galaxy is myself, how happy shall I feel!”, he wrote to his younger brother once.

Kenji did not differentiate living beings and inanimate things. For him, everything in the universe is in one way or the other the manifestation of the cosmic mind, the supreme reality of the cosmos.

From these, men and the galaxy and asura and sea urchins As they eat cosmic dust or breathe air or seawater May each think up a fresh cosmology, But ultimately all is a mental landscape. (prefatory to haru to shura)

In other words, Kenji visualized a harmonious co-existence of the cosmos and the human mind. Even the human thought should harmonize with the changing moods of the nature. As the objects in the cosmos are sources for new strength and ideas, human thoughts should also get amalgamated in to the cosmic objects. Only this unison with the nature and cosmos would bring everlasting happiness to all.

Kenji’s ideals of self sacrifice, non-violence and vegetarianism have been derived from the teachings of great religions like Buddhism and Christianity with which he had been in close contact right from his childhood. Dedicating oneself for the happiness of others is a virtue which very few people posses. Such virtuous people could turn the pains and worries of others into happiness through mercy, compassion and love as taught by these religions.

A close look at his writings will make the fact clear that his literary works, be it the poetry or the children’s stories, undoubtedly, are manifestations of this unique world view and humanitarian outlook based on kindness and mercy towards fellow beings as taught by great religions like Buddhism. Hence, his literary works are, no doubt, derived through the fusion of philosophical teaching of religions, especially Buddhism, the traditional folk religion and folkloric believes of Japanese people and Christianity to a certain extent. In short, his literary works are a manifestation of a blend of universal values such as non-violence, self-sacrifice, vegetarianism, compassion, love and fellow feeling and Japaneseness (Japanese nature) and Japanese sentiments which all together will open the way for a peaceful co-existence of all living beings in this universe. This uniqueness of Kenji’s world view and philosophy has long been overlooked by the scholars.

The International Seminar on “Miyazawa Kenji's Notion of Co-existence and Co-prosperity: A Re-interpretation of his Literary Works was organized with the following objectives. This seminar also had the distinction that it was the first international seminar/conference on Miyazawa Kenji to be held in a foreign country ever. 

1. To provide a forum for eminent scholars and academicians from Japan and India, who are specializing on Kenji and his works, to discuss and exchange their views and interpretation of Kenji's world view and philosophical thought manifested in his literary works. 
2. To assert the need for rediscovering Kenji's notion of universe, his quest for peaceful co-existence of mankind through mutual love and concern. Giving space to others to survive and prosper is an essential requirement for achieving the ultimate goal of “happiness for everybody”.
3. To introduce Miyazawa Kenji and his works to the Indian society. Some of the works of Kenji have been translated into Malayalam, Bengali and Hindi already. This conference would give a firsthand opportunity to young Indian researchers of Japanese literature to know more about the wonderful world view and philosophical thought of a great Japanese visionary.

This seminar was held over two days with twenty five papers in six academic sessions. The Keynote Address was delivered by Professor Amazawa Taijiro, renowned poet and pioneer scholar of Miyazawa Kenji from Japan. Professor Sudhir Kumar Sopory, Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, delivered a highly scholarly and scintillating inaugural lecture, connecting Miyazawa Kenji's world view and philosophy to the present world scenario. Besides that, Mr. Yasuhisa Kawamura, Minister, Embassy of  Japan in India, and Mr. Katsuma Doi, Director General, Japan Foundation, New Delhi Office, also delivered encouraging lectures in the inaugural session.