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This session will be an interactive and experiential workshop in which participants will think, feel, and embody Peaceful Leadership together with visitors.
No matter what country or background the visitors come from, creating a peaceful society and taking actions that each individual can take in his or her own place for that purpose, in other words, demonstrating Peaceful Leadership, are essential for realizing peace in the future, and are the common goal of all of us living in today's society. It is the common goal of all of us in today's society. This is because, unfortunately, a perfectly peaceful society does not exist today, and even if there is no visible violence or conflict, there is structural violence that is a result of the current structure and way of life in society.
The day will begin with the realization of this fact, followed by the sharing of the voices of peaceful leadership from around the world prepared in advance by the organizers, and then the structure of the event will be implemented through dialogue and workshops to enable visitors to create their own peaceful leadership. This session aims to help participants recognize that they are the main actors in bringing peace to the future in 2050, and to discover from world leaders the leadership styles that will enable them to fulfill their own roles toward the realization of peace, and to continue to explore them.

【Reflection】
On August 9, 2025, as part of the “Peace, Human Security and Dignity Week,” this program was organized and hosted by the Shape New World Initiative, bringing together diverse participants from Japan and around the world. Participants reflected on the question, “What is peace?” and explored how leadership grounded in empathy and inner calm can contribute to a more just and harmonious future.
The session was moderated by Ms. Yuka Fujii from the Global Shapers Yokohama Hub, who works to create employment opportunities for refugees, and Mr. João Pedro Grilo from the Osaka Hub. The content of the session was visually documented through graphic recording by Ms. Hisae Kojima, also from the Yokohama Hub.

The first half of the program featured a panel discussion based on the concept of “Peaceful Leadership” proposed by the volunteer group PEACE ENJIN. Ms. Saumya Aggarwal from the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) shared her experiences supporting young people who had fled conflict zones, emphasizing that “meeting, understanding, and engaging with people from different backgrounds as fellow human beings is the key to transforming negative emotions into a force for peace.” Mr. Deng Dak Malual, the Global Shapers Kakuma Hub who grew up in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, added, “Support from Japan—such as sending unused computers and providing mentors who can accompany and guide young people—can make a significant impact.”

The second half featured a participatory workshop built around the question, “What kind of peaceful leadership do you want to declare and embody?” Participants reflected on their own understanding of peace and shared moments when they felt most aligned with it. From these discussions, various action pledges emerged, such as “using technology to eliminate division,” “choosing to trust others first,” and “creating more spaces for dialogue.”

A particularly moving moment came when a Japanese participant who had lived through wartime Osaka shared their personal story. Their testimony connected the discussion to lived history and deepened participants’ understanding of peace. At 11:02 a.m.—the exact time when the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki—the entire room observed a moment of silence, collectively honoring the victims of war and reaffirming a shared wish for peace.

Through this session, participants came to a shared realization that peaceful leadership is not exclusive to those in positions of authority, but rather an attitude and practice that anyone can embody in everyday life. The discussion reaffirmed the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, and soft power over military deterrence, and underscored the message that peace is not something to wait for—it is something to be actively created through one’s own actions. The program concluded with the hope that this circle of dialogue and practice will continue to expand, inspiring new forms of peaceful leadership around the world.


【Post EXPO Initiatives】
Through this program, we reaffirmed that Peaceful Leadership is not something reserved only for those in positions of authority, but rather a bottom-up approach that begins with the everyday choices and actions of individuals. Within the definition of Peaceful Leadership, the elements of “Peaceful Mind,” “Peaceful Communication,” and “Peaceful Action” were highlighted as essential. Participants shared the understanding that peace is built through the accumulation of small practices rooted in dialogue, empathy, and trust in others.
We are committed to ensuring that this learning does not end as a one-time event, and we will continue to develop the following initiatives.
First, we will continue to cultivate networks with young people and experts from Japan and abroad, and regularly create spaces for dialogue and learning. In fact, following this program, and recognizing that 2025 marks 80 years since the end of World War II for Japan, we organized a workshop for high school students in Hiroshima to explore actions for peace.
Furthermore, we will strengthen collaboration with international peace organizations such as UNOY, expand opportunities for youth participation in Japan, and promote peace education and dialogue-based programs. In particular, we will work together with schools, local governments, and civil society organizations to create environments in which young people can think about peace for themselves and take action.
We view peace not as a noun that we wait to be realized, but as a verb that we actively create. We hereby commit to expanding the circle of Peaceful Leadership—something that can be embodied in everyday life by anyone—in the years to come.