Co-creating Cultures for the Future Week
Manga Voices for Human Rights: 10 stories told by manga artists
United Nations
Step into a world where manga meets human rights, highlighting everyday heroes who combat injustice.
Recorded video available
Exhibition
- human rights
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Not provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
-
Track Programme
-
Time and
Date of
the event -
-
2025.05.01[Thu]
2025.05.12[Mon]
09:30 ～ 21:00
(Venue Open 09:30)
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- Venue
- Pavilion
- UN Pavilion
Programme details
UN Human Rights and the Kyoto International Manga Museum
present this unique exhibition featuring the work of ten manga
artists, each using visual storytelling to explore different
facets of human rights and the universal values that unite
us.
Each piece highlights some of the many human rights themes —
from fighting racial discrimination and stereotypes to gender
equality — while celebrating the strength and dignity of
everyday heroes.
Visitors to the exhibit will encounter striking stories that
challenge stereotypes, confront injustice and elevate voices
often left unheard. The exhibit’s themes and artists
include:
1. Non-Discrimination Stereotypes – Artist: Fumiyo Kouno
2. Non-Discrimination Color or Race – Artist: Rene Hoshino
3. Minority Group Status – Artist: Daisaku Tsuru
4. Gender Equality – Artist: Akane Torikai
5. Rights of Persons with Disabilities – Artist: Yuka
Nishioka
6. Human Rights in the Digital Sphere – Artist: Youngchan
7. Freedom of Thought and Expression – Artist: Kotobuki
Shiriagari
8. Right to Life – Artist: Keiko Takemiya
9. Right to a Healthy Environment – Artist: Machiko Kyo
10. Right to a Free and Fair World – Artist: Akira Saso
Reports
【Reflection】
UN Human Rights and the Kyoto International Manga Museum
introduced Manga Voices for Human Rights: 10 Human Rights
Stories Told by Manga Artists, an exhibition at the UN
Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, that blended the
universal language of manga with the global mission of human
rights. Through the work of ten acclaimed manga artists, the
exhibition invited visitors to step into a world where human
rights come to life through visual storytelling. Each piece
highlighted key human rights themes — from combating racial
discrimination and stereotypes to promoting gender equality —
while celebrating the strength and dignity of everyday
heroes.
The initiative underscored the effective fusion of art and
human rights advocacy, with the manga exhibition and
accompanying panel discussion serving as powerful tools for
public engagement, particularly among youth. Manga emerged as
a compelling medium for human rights education, resonating
emotionally with diverse audiences and drawing strong media
attention from leading newspapers and digital media outlets in
Japan.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
To enable more people to view the exhibition, it travelled to
the Kyoto International Manga Museum and the Kyoto Human
Rights Research Institute after the Expo. At each venue, many
visitors were able to experience the importance of human
rights through the works, providing an opportunity to share
common values across generations and backgrounds.
We hope the exhibition will continue to travel throughout
Japan and eventually worldwide, sharing these important
stories more broadly. Through this initiative, we aim to
expand the circle of people reflecting on human rights and to
encourage international dialogue that fosters respect for
diversity.
Co-organiser
UN Human Rights
Kyoto International Manga Museum
Co-creating Cultures for the Future Week
Manga Voices for Human Rights: 10 stories told by manga artists
Step into a world where manga meets human rights, highlighting everyday heroes who combat injustice.
-
2025.05.01[Thu]
09:30～21:00
(Venue Open 09:30)
- Pavilion
OTHER PROGRAM
Co-creating Cultures for the Future Week
