June 20th is the United Nations World Refugee Day. AAR Japan [Association for Aid and Relieving Refugees] will hold the "World Refugee Day Photo Exhibition 'Now, Somewhere on Earth'" at the Montbell Okachimachi store from Friday, June 16th to Tuesday, June 20th (admission free). It will be held.
The photo exhibition was sponsored by Montbell Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Nishi-ku, Osaka), and exhibited photographs taken in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, etc. by photojournalist Yoshifumi Kawabata, photographers Katsuya Niibata, and Kosuke Ryujin. and convey the current situation of refugees.
On the 18th (Sunday) from 2:00 pm, a talk session "Talking with Photojournalist Yoshifumi Kawabata / Now, Somewhere on the Earth" will be held at the same venue. We will listen to the stories of Ukrainian and Syrian refugees whom Mr. Kawabata visited and think about what we can do in Japan. Pre-registration is not required.
Due to Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, the number of refugees worldwide will exceed 100 million in 2022. About 1 in 78 people in the world population is a crisis situation. In the photo exhibition, we will convey the hard lives and expressions of these people, and will call for donations by selling charity products.
World Refugee Day Photo Exhibition “Now, Somewhere on Earth”
[Date] June 16 (Fri) – 20 (Tue), 2023 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
*Only on the first day, 16th (Friday), 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Last day 20th (Tue) only, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
“Talking with Photojournalist Yoshifumi Kawabata / Now, Somewhere on Earth”
18th (Sun) 2:00pm – 3:00pm
[Venue] 3-22-6 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo Montbell Okachimachi store (4th floor salon)
[Admission fee] Free
*Please donate to refugee support activities.
"World Refugee Day" : Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 with the aim of raising global awareness of the protection and assistance of refugees. Various events are held around the world as an international day to honor refugees who face difficulties.
Yoshifumi Kawabata: Photojournalist. Born in 1976. Graduated from Pennsylvania State University. Moved to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2002 and has been working as a freelancer since 2005. Covering refugee camps, impoverished areas, and areas affected by natural disasters around the world. Also produced documentary videos. IFJ (International Federation of Journalists) Japan Prize 2018 Encouragement Award (2019), etc.
Katsuya Shimbata: Photographer. Born in 1979. Since 2010, he has visited Myanmar frequently. Has been photographing Rohingya people since 2015. Received the Excellence Award at the Japan-Myanmar Exchange Photo Exhibition (2018, 2019), and the 130th Anniversary of Japan-Thailand Diplomatic Relations Photo Exhibition Excellence Award (2017).
Kosuke Ryujin: Photographer. Born in 1981. Graduated from California State University. Since 2011, he has focused on reporting on people living at the bottom of society, mainly in Asia. Taken in a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh from 2014. 8th Nikkei National Geographic Photo Award Grand Prix (2020), 15th Ueno Hikoma Award Mainichi Shimbun Award (2014), etc.
