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Peace Boat receives “Award for Contribution to Global Peace” at Weibo's 2025 Weibo Cultural Exchange Night!
On April 15, 2025, at the “2025 Weibo Cultural Exchange Night” hosted by China’s largest social media platform Weibo in Yokohama, Peace Boat was honored with the Award for Contribution to Global Peace.
Weibo is one of the largest and most influential social media platforms in the Chinese-speaking world, boasting around 800 million users globally. Its reach extends far beyond China, with numerous celebrities and public figures from Japan and beyond actively engaging on the platform. The annual “Weibo Night” in mainland China draws massive attention; its live broadcast has racked up over 1.86 billion views, making it a true cultural phenomenon with global impact.
This award ceremony marked the exciting debut of the Japan edition of “Weibo Night” (originally launched in 2004) as a premier annual event to spotlight and celebrate the year’s most talked-about figures and cultural milestones. Aimed at boosting Weibo’s presence while championing the work of influential individuals, the event honored celebrities, influencers, writers, filmmakers and other headline-makers who captivated audiences in 2024 or are poised to make a splash in 2025.
Peace Boat was proudly awarded the Award for Contribution to Global Peace in recognition of its enduring commitment to promoting peace, deepening international understanding and making meaningful contributions to peacebuilding efforts across the globe. The award applauded Peace Boat’s powerful and ongoing dedication to “creating a more peaceful world”.
Peace Boat’s Founder and Director Yoshioka Tatsuya accepted the award on behalf of the organization and delivered a heartfelt speech: “We have spent years traveling around the world by ship, engaging in dialogue about peace and exploring how we can truly achieve it. I believe this award is a testament to the collective hopes and unwavering commitment to peace shared by everyone who has been part of Peace Boat’s journey.”
Reasons for the award
Peace initiatives:
- Passing on the memory of conflicts and wars and building peace around the world through dialogue and nonviolence
- Implementing the “Global Voyage for a Nuclear-Free World: Peace Boat Global Hibakusha Project, in which a-bomb survivors and others who have experienced war share their testionies onboard and in ports of call
International understanding and exchange:
- Contribution to deepening of mutual understanding through opportunities for intercultural exchange through global voyage cruises
- Implementing educational programmes and workshops in cooperation with local NGOs and communities
Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
- Providing volunteer support and coordination in disaster-stricken areas around the world, including the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
- Donation of emergency relief supplies and provision of psychological care through interaction with people affected by disasters
Initiatives for a sustainable society
- Contribution to the realization of a sustainable future through environmentally friendly practices onboard
- Conducting educational activities related to climate change measures and ocean protection