News
Press Conference: Return of Hibakusha and Ukraine Youth Ambassadors to Yokohama
On July 26 (Friday), 2024, Peace Boat's 117th Global Voyage will return to the port of Yokohama. A press conference will be held to report back on significant projects held onboard this voyage, namely, the "Global Voyage for a Nuclear-Free World: Peace Boat Hibakusha Project" (taking place for the first time in four years) and the "Ukraine Youth Ambassadors" (inaugural project held in cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan).
After departing from Japan on April 13, the ship spent 105 days travelling around Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin and North America, where representatives of both projects gave testimony and joined exchanges at many ports of call, including meeting with the President of the Republic of Seychelles and the Ukrainian Ambassadors in various countries. In Iceland, both project members also visited the site of the Reykjavik Summit, which marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War and brought leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union one step closer to the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Global Voyage for a Nuclear-Free World: Peace Boat Hibakusha Project
To date, more than 170 Hibakusha have joined Peace Boat's voyages to deliver their message of nuclear abolition to the world. At 12 ports of call during this voyage events were held to share first-hand testimonies and meet with government officials and policy makers to convey the long-term effects of radiation and the meaning of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Ukraine Youth Ambassadors
Seven young people from Ukraine living in Japan travelled onboard the ship to tell the world about the current situation in Ukraine, and to appeal for support for Ukraine's future peace and reconstruction. At ports of call around the world, they met with think tanks and non-government organisations, researchers and policy makers, as well as youth and members of the public to share the current situation in Ukraine and their concerns and visions as displaced persons. In each country and onboard the ship, the Youth Ambassadors discussed with local people and fellow Peace Boat participants the need for international cooperation to put an end to the Russian military aggression, and to reach a just and sustained peace.
Press conference
A press conference will be held upon the voyage's return to the port of Yokohama as follows.
Date: 10:00am - 11:00am, July 26 (Fri)
Location: Daikoku Pier Passenger Terminal (13 Daikoku Pier, Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture)
* Public transportation to the Daikoku Pier is very limited; please use a taxi from Motomachi Chukagai, Tsurumi or Yokohama stations (or private car)
Registration: Register here by 10:00am on July 25, 2024
Speakers:
Mr YOSHIOKA Tatsuya (Peace Boat Founder and Director)
Dr HATAKEYAMA Sumiko (Peace Boat Executive Committee Member and 117th Voyage International Director)
Mr Victor ALYMOV (Captain of the MV Pacific World, from Ukraine) - TBC
H.E. Sergei KORSUNSKY (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Japan)
Ms Mariia BORZYKH (Ukraine Youth Ambassador)
Ms Natalia MAKOHON (Ukraine Youth Ambassador)
Ms NAGAYO Kaya (Ukraine Youth Ambassadors Coordinator)
Ms TANAKA Toshiko (Hiroshima Hibakusha)
Mr OGAWA Tadayoshi (Nagasaki Hibakusha)
Ms HUANG Rongyuan (Peace Boat Hibakusha Project Youth Communicator)
Ms HASHIMOTO Mai (Peace Boat Hibakusha Project Coordinator)
Contact: KONABE Takumi, t-konabe@peaceboat.gr.jp / 03-3363-7561