To mark 2026 as the 70th anniversary of Japan's UN membership, UNIC Tokyo is holding the photo exhibition "Shared Lives, Shared Future: The UN in Our Daily Lives." It opens in October 2026 at the United Nations University in Shibuya, Tokyo, and is scheduled to tour venues around Japan into 2027.
Smartphones, medicine, postal services and travel are among the everyday things the UN's work touches. From photographs submitted by 193 countries to UN Headquarters, 25 works, mainly with a connection to Japan, were selected and are presented with their stories. The exhibition is described as carrying on the approach of the display at the UN Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo.
Tour venues include UNU, Ibaraki and Tsurumi Ryokuchi in Osaka, Kyoto, Nishinomiya in Hyogo, Okinawa, Kanazawa, Kanagawa, Toyota in Aichi, Sendai in Miyagi and Akita. Venues are university libraries and public facilities, and related events are planned at some of them. More venues are expected to be added.
Key points
- Photographs reveal how the UN's work connects with familiar moments in daily life
- The tour travels to universities and public facilities across Japan, from Tokyo to Okinawa and Tohoku
- Related events are planned at some venues
Why we recommend this event
The UN can feel distant, but this exhibition starts from where it meets everyday life. Browsing the photographs is a gentle way to think about how global issues connect with our own lives.
If the tour comes near you, it is an easy place to drop in.
Editor's comment
As Japan marks 70 years as a UN member, this looks like a lovely way to feel the UN a little closer. Whether you are just becoming interested in international cooperation or have been involved for years, there may be something new to discover.
Dates and venues may change, so please check the UNIC Tokyo website for the latest information before you go. We hope you will visit!