Season’s Greetings from Tokyo!
As we approach the end of 2025, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your continued support. This season offers a special opportunity to reflect on the past year’s milestones and to share our hopes for the year ahead.
One of the most meaningful developments of 2025 has been the partnership between Peace Boat and the Nobel Peace Center. Together, we created a permanent space for an outreach edition of the Nobel Peace Prize Exhibition “A Message to Humanity” which shares the work of Nihon Hidankyo, 2024 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. This onboard exhibition is being carried to global audiences through Peace Boat’s voyages, reaching communities that might not otherwise have access to such initiatives and amplifying the voices of the Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors). Thousands of people have since visited the exhibition.
The space was inaugurated ahead of our Global Voyage 120 which commemorated 80 years since the end of World War II, allowing us to reflect on past conflicts and think about what a peaceful future for the next 80 years might look like. The recap video of that voyage is here.
This year also brought new opportunities for engagement at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. We were honored to co-host the “Time for Peace” reception with the UN Pavilion onboard the Pacific World. Click here for a full report of the event. Peace Boat participated in two Peace Day events, including presentations inside the United Nations Pavilion.
Our commitment to peace is also one of peace with the ocean. Officially endorsed as a contribution to the UN Ocean Decade by IOC UNESCO, the Youth for SDGs programme, taking place twice a year onboard, brings together motivated young leaders from diverse regions to collaborate, learn, and develop their capacity to contribute to sustainable development. If you or someone you know might be interested in the upcoming seventh edition of the programme (June 15 – July 1, 2026) or be a remote supporter, visit the dedicated page here.
Our engagement toward the UN Ocean Conference and COP 30 reflects our commitment to elevating ocean literacy, climate action, and youth engagement. During the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, Peace Boat was proud to co-organize and moderate the official side event titled “Mobilizing Youth and ECOPs [Early Career Ocean Professionals]: Showcasing Initiatives for Ocean Action”. The session was co-hosted by the Government of Kiribati, with support from the Governments of Palau, Chile, Greece, and the Dominican Republic. At COP 30 in Belem, Brazil, our session on innovation for climate and ocean action introduced the work of youth leadership from climate frontline regions and presented Ecoship as a floating laboratory for innovation, citizen science, and sustainable maritime solutions.
As we close this year, we are grateful for all who have joined us in building bridges across borders. Your support continues to make our shared work possible.
On behalf of the entire Peace Boat community, we send you our warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season and a peaceful, hopeful, and prosperous New Year.