Blue Lighting Campaign for 'World Refugee Day' on June 20 at Approximately 70 Locations Nationwide

The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) Representation in Japan is calling for blue lighting at landmarks and public facilities to mark 'World Refugee Day' on June 20, as an awareness activity showing solidarity with those displaced from their homes.

In 2026, thanks to the cooperation of local governments, companies, and facilities nationwide, blue lighting will be implemented at 66 locations throughout Japan.

The blue color, which symbolizes UNHCR, carries a wish for peace and thoughts of closeness to those forced to flee their homes due to conflict and persecution. The 'blue' light shining across Japan aims to expand the circle of interest and empathy toward refugees.

[List of Blue Lighting Cooperating Partners (in no particular order)] Hokkaido: Sapporo TV Tower, Sapporo Clock Tower, Sapporo City Archives, Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway Iwate: Miracle Pine Tree Miyagi: Sendai Sky Candle Fukushima: Tsuruga Castle Keep Ibaraki: Tsukuba City Hall Tochigi: Nasu Highland Park Official Hotel TOWA Pure Cottages BBQ Village Tokyo: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1, Sumida River Bridges, Tokyo Skytree®, NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building, Tokyo Dome (Gate 22 Square), Bunkyo Civic Center, Old Kunitachi Station Building, Tower Hall Funabori, BINGO Co., Ltd. Showroom, Nakano City Office, JELA, Soka Gakkai Headquarters, Japan Buddhist Federation Kanagawa: Yokohama City Hall, Kanagawa Prefectural Government Main Building, Yokohama Marine Tower, Ofuna Kannon Temple Kannon Statue Yamanashi: Fuji Radar Dome Museum, Kuonji Temple Sanmon Gate Toyama: Intec Building (Tower 111) Fukui: Port of Humanity Tsuruga Museum Gifu: Chiune Sugihara Memorial Hall 'Visa for Life' Monument Shizuoka: Shizuoka City Hall Main Building 'Aoi Tower' Aichi: Toyota Stadium, Twin Arch 138, Kyosei Koryu Plaza / Blue light PET bottles by citizens Kyoto: To-ji Temple (Headquarters of Shingon Buddhism) Osaka: Kantele Ogimachi Square, Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel Hyogo: Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Kobe Harborland umie Mosaic Ferris Wheel, Ashiya City Hall North Building Entrance and City Emblem Wakayama: Wakayama Castle Hall, Wakayama City Hori River area (Naka Bridge, Kyo Bridge, Yoriai Bridge) Okayama: Okayama Castle, Murata Manufacturing Okayama, Kamiderasan Yokeiji Temple, Japan’s Largest Dagashi Shop, Bitchu Kokubunji Five-Storied Pagoda Shimane: Matsue Castle Keep, San-in Godo Bank Head Office, San-in Chuo Television, NHK Matsue Station, Karakoro Art Studio Yamaguchi: O-Vision Kaikyo Yume Tower Kochi: Kochi Castle Nagasaki: Inasayama Summit Radio Tower, Megane Bridge and Fukuro Bridge, Megami Bridge, JR Shin-Omura Station Front Park Monument, Omura Park (Sakurada Bridge), Kushima Castle (Itajiki Yagura) Kumamoto: Kumamoto Castle Keep Saga: Saga Prefectural Government Old Building

Share on Social Media! Post your photos of 'blue' with the hashtags '#WorldRefugeeDay' and '#WithRefugees' to show your solidarity.

About World Refugee Day Designated annually on June 20 by the UN General Assembly in 2000 to raise international awareness for the protection and support of refugees.

About UNHCR Established in 1950. Active in over 130 countries to protect and support refugees, etc. Two-time Nobel Peace Prize winner. Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.