Events
Japan Prize 2022 Events and Awards Ceremony
10:30A.M. – 11:15A.M.
Special Message from NHK and UNICEF
In collaboration with UNICEF, NHK organized a special World Children’s Day project in November in the build-up for UNICEF World Children’s Day on November 20th and help nurture a better future for every child. During the Japan Prize Festival, the project members gathered for a talk session and a live performance.
Describing children as the world’s most irreplaceable asset, UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell spoke of the dangers confronting children today, from conflicts and climate change to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that never before in UNICEF’s history had so many children been at risk and in need of assistance.
The event also featured the world premiere of the full-length music video of The Swallow, the global version of NHK’s SDGs theme song. Pop duo YOASOBI who wrote the song, stage designer and choreographer MIKIKO, and the children’s performance group Midories gave their thoughts about “What is important now = For every child.”
- Moderator
Kawasaki Rika
NHK Announcer
Japan
Kawasaki Rika anchors the national news program “NHK News 7” on weekends and public holidays. Having spent her childhood in the United States, Rika also delivers news in English to global viewers on “NHK NEWSLINE" of NHK WORLD JAPAN. Utilizing her international perspective, she moderates “Chatroom Japan”, an exchange forum for international residents in Japan organized by the NHK WORLD Department.
- Speaker
Catherine Russell
Executive Director, UNICEF
- Speaker
MIKIKO
Stage designer/choreographer
Japan
Stage designer/choreographer MIKIKO heads the dance company ELEVENPLAY. In addition to choreographing and artistic directing live stage performances by musical groups Perfume and BABYMETAL, she has also choreographed a range of music videos, commercials, and stage performances. As a director with the skill to utilize new technologies to enhance entertainment, MIKIKO is undertaking collaborations with various creators transcending genres.
- Speaker
Midories
Mascot character for NHK’s SDGs program series Hirogare
Japan
Created as a mascot character for NHK’s SDGs program series “Hirogare! Irotoridori [Spread all the Different Colors!]”, Midories is a unit comprising five children who learn about SDGs together with audience members. The group comprises elementary school pupils Atsuki, Lexy, Ukyo, Ririna, and Yumeri, who range from grade 2 to grade 6. As “YOASOBI with Midories,” they perform the program series’ theme song “Tsubame”.
- Speaker
YOASOBI（Ayase & ikura）
Musical unit
Japan
YOASOBI is a musical duo comprising of composer Ayase and vocalist ikura. The unit’s style is to take novels submitted by the general public or newly written by various authors and put the story to music. Beginning with “Yoru ni Kakeru [Racing into the Night]”, YOASOBI has created numerous hit songs.