International Day of Peace Celebrated by UNITAR, JICA and Hiroshima Toyo Carp Collaboration

21 September 2016, Hiroshima, Japan - The UNITAR Hiroshima Office successfully collaborated with Japanese professional baseball team, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chugoku Center and the Hiroshima Scouts Association to observe the International Day of Peace (21 September) on 17 September at the Hiroshima Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium.

Two special displays in the stadium introduced the activities of the Office, UNITAR Goodwill Ambassador Hiroki Kuroda and a selection of images from the Afghanistan Photo Exhibition. In addition to face-painting, an ethnic clothing fitting area allowed supporters to try on and experience clothes from a range of different cultures from around the world. A stamp rally was held, with a special collaboration badge given to everyone who collected stamps from each of the displays in the stadium. Over 4000 badges were distributed. Flyers and fans, incorporating the Carp figure and the UNITAR logo, as well as information about the office, were distributed to over 10,000 people over the day. A large message board was setup and filled with peace messages from the hearts of the children and people of Hiroshima. In addition to UNITAR Hiroshima Staff and volunteers, more than 20 scouts engaged with attendees over the day.

On the field, the normally white bases were changed to a UN blue and the players wore patches with the UNITAR and JICA logo. Several UNITAR-related videos were broadcast on the stadium screen, including a video showing Hiroshima and UNITAR’s important role in promoting peace. The 2016 UNITAR Youth Ambassadors presented a bouquet to the team on the field prior to the start of the game. During an innings-break, UNITAR and JICA staff and volunteers, including Hiroshima Scouts, were invited onto the field and introduced to a crowd of 32,000 people.

This special collaboration event increased the local awareness of the activities of the UNITAR Hiroshima Office, and how we are taking Hiroshima’s message of hope, resilience, and post-conflict reconstruction to the world.

We thank everyone who visited us, and especially thank Hiroshima Toyo Carp for their collaboration and support of this event.