NEWS

From August 5 to August 9, 2026, the student organization Create a World Without the Need for the Word ‘Refugee’ held a Photo Exhibition at the Beppu Museum of Art. The organization was founded by students from Professor Yuko Uehara’s seminar in the College of Sustainability and Tourism and is now in its ninth year of activities. Since its establishment, the group has continued to organize annual refugee photo exhibitions both on and off the APU campus, providing opportunities for people to reflect on the complex issues surrounding refugees.

This year’s exhibition was held under the theme “Rebuilding for the Future”. Focusing on Myanmar, Ukraine, Syria, and Venezuela, the exhibition featured 40 photographs depicting the lives and experiences of people who have become refugees, along with posters explaining the situation in each country. The exhibition was designed not only to highlight the harsh realities refugees face, but also to draw attention to their resilience, hope, and determination to move forward despite challenging circumstances.

Held during the period between the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the end of World War II, the exhibition also encouraged visitors to reflect on the connection between memories of past wars and the reality that people around the world continue to be displaced by conflict and violence. In addition to videos related to refugee issues, footage about the atomic bombings in Japan was screened to deepen visitors’ understanding of these themes.

Visitors shared a variety of impressions following the exhibition. Comments included, “It was heartbreaking to see children smiling despite such difficult circumstances,” and “The exhibition made me strongly reconsider what it means to build a society where refugees and local communities can live together.” These responses reflected the exhibition’s impact in encouraging visitors to engage more deeply with refugee issues.

Comment from Create a World Without the Need for the Word ‘Refugee’

When people hear the word “refugee”, they often think of war, persecution, and other difficult circumstances. At the same time, refugee issues can sometimes feel like something that happens in a distant world, disconnected from our own lives. We have always believed that refugee issues are not simply someone else’s problem, but an issue that is connected to all of us and one that we should face together.

Even today, people around the world are forced to leave their homes because of war, conflict, and persecution. That is why we believe it is not enough to simply learn about refugee issues. We must also acknowledge these realities, consider what we can do, and translate that awareness into action.

The theme of this year’s exhibition, “Rebuilding for the Future”, reflects our hope that, rather than stopping at the recognition of difficult realities, we can think about the kind of future we want to create after learning about them. Learning, reflecting, sharing what we have learned with others, and taking action, no matter how small, can all contribute to rebuilding a better future. We hope this exhibition will help visitors recognize the connections between themselves and the wider world, and inspire them to take a step forward with the belief that they too can make a difference.