The Yokohama Children’s Peace Messengers are students who received the Mayor’s Award at the Yokohama Children’s International Peace Speech Contest, organized by the Yokohama City Board of Education. This year, two elementary school students and two junior high school students were selected through the contest, which involved approximately 50,000 students across Yokohama. The four students visited United Nations Headquarters and other institutions in New York during their stay from October 11 to 17.

This year’s Peace Messengers were Meiko Murano, a sixth-grade student at Wakabadai Elementary School; Hana Yashiro, a sixth-grade student at Yokohama Overseas Chinese School; Ran Nagasawa, a third-year student at Iwasaki Junior High School; and Koto Yamaguchi, a third-year student at Kanazawa Junior High School.

At the speech contest, Murano delivered a speech titled “True Peace Begins in Our Community,” highlighting the importance of mutual support and human connections within local communities. Yashiro spoke on “Accurate Information Eliminates Discrimination,” emphasizing the importance of questioning biased information and understanding diverse perspectives.

Nagasawa presented “Throwing Away Paper, Throwing Away Water,” discussing resource conservation and environmental protection based on her experiences in her school’s calligraphy club. Yamaguchi delivered a speech titled “Making Five Seconds a Moment Filled with Hope,” focusing on children’s health and access to vaccines worldwide, and expressing her commitment to contributing to international efforts through everyday actions.

During their stay in New York, the four students visited United Nations Headquarters, UN-related organizations, and the United Nations International School (UNIS). They learned about international peace and sustainable development while participating in discussions and exchanges with local representatives and students.

On October 16, the students also paid a courtesy visit to the Consulate-General of Japan in New York, where they met with Ambassador Satoshi Katahira, Consul-General of Japan in New York. The students shared their experiences in New York and had the opportunity to hear from Ambassador Katahira.

The Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the Americas arranged opportunities for the four students to be interviewed by two local Japanese-language media outlets, DAILYSUN NEW YORK and Shukan NY Seikatsu, during their visit to New York. Both publications subsequently featured the students’ activities.

The Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the Americas will continue to support international learning and exchange opportunities for the next generation and share Yokohama’s initiatives with the world.

Related Media Coverage

DAILYSUN NEW YORK (Published October 19, 2026)

「何を学んだ？ 横浜の小中学生4人がNYの国連を訪問『心を動かされた誰かが、また広げてくれる』」

English translation: “What Did They Learn? Four Yokohama Students Visit the UN in New York.”

Shukan NY Seikatsu (Published October 21, 2026)

「横浜から平和の使者　小中学生４人が来米」

English translation: “Peace Messengers from Yokohama: Four Elementary and Junior High School Students Visit the United States.”