Sho Sakurai appointed UN Refugee Reporting Director

Japanese entertainer Sho Sakurai has been appointed as the UN Refugee Reporting Director for the UNHCR Association in Japan. He will lead a three-year initiative titled ‘Ray of Hope’ to raise awareness about the global refugee crisis through direct field reporting.

As part of his initial activities, Sakurai visited Jordan in August to observe the situation of Syrian refugees. He visited refugee registration centers in Amman and the Zaatari refugee camp to interview displaced individuals and document their living conditions. The project aims to bridge the gap between the public and the realities of displacement by sharing footage and stories via social media and official channels.

Tomoko Nagano, the inaugural director who transitioned to a board member role at the association, commented on the appointment, noting that Sakurai is a high-profile successor dedicated to continuing the mission of bringing the voices of refugees to the Japanese public.