The annual spring Earth Festival, "Earth Day Tokyo 2025," will be held for two days on Saturday, April 19th and Sunday, April 20th, 2025, at Yoyogi Park Event Square and Zelkova Avenue. With a diverse range of programs, the event is expected to attract many visitors this year as well, as a place to raise awareness of environmental and social issues.

"Earth Day" is a global environmental event that began in the United States in 1970. In Japan, it has been held in Yoyogi Park and other locations since 1990, and was established as "Earth Day Tokyo" in 2001. It has developed into an opportunity to think about various issues facing modern society, including not only environmental issues, but also "eco," "sustainability," "ethical," and "diversity." It is one of Japan's leading citizen-participation events, attracting over 100,000 people every year.

This year's theme is "Peaceful Change."

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In light of this history, this year's theme includes "Action for the Global Environment" as well as "Aspirations for Peace."

This year's main visual drawn by artist Aya

The main visual was created in collaboration with Aya, a disabled painter who paints by holding a brush in her mouth, and depicts the Earth with its various pieces connected together on a white puzzle.

Below, we will introduce some of the main programs.

1. Peace Action - Returning to the origins of peace -

In keeping with the milestone of 80 years since the end of the war, a talk event called "PEACE DAY TALK" will be held in collaboration with peace activists, as well as an opening ceremony. Programs are planned to foster dialogue and empathy across generations and borders.

2. Earth Day Inclusive Project: A comfortable space for everyone

This year, the "Inclusive Play Park" (commonly known as "Prep") will be established as a place where everyone can enjoy themselves without discrimination. It will create a space where everyone can play and connect, regardless of whether they have a disability, age, nationality, or gender.

The on-site care booth allows for breastfeeding and diaper changing, making it a parent-child friendly space. The following types of hands-on content are available:

・Woodworking experience (Setagaya Play Park)
・Blue tarp space where people can gather freely (Inclusive Forest)
・Mogmog Stand (food for people with swallowing disabilities) (General Incorporated Association Mogmog Engine)
・Ukulele and poi spinning experience (Nanairo no Wa)
・Zazen time (Soto Zen Zendo)

There will also be free art workshops held over the two days.

Saturday, April 19
・Make your own original handkerchiefs and hand towels (SACHI)
・Finger stamp experience (POMPOM STAMP)

Sunday, April 20
・Tie and make your own original scrunchie (Shikakefuku)
・"Mr. Pochibukuro" decorated with spray bottles (Atelier Mitsume)

3. Let's all dance! Inclusive Ya★Earth "Wa" Dance

The "Wa Dance", which started in 2023, will evolve even further this year. It will be held on Saturday, April 19th from 6:20pm at the Yoyogi Park Outdoor Stage as "Inclusive Ya★Earth Wa Dance", where everyone can dance together, regardless of whether they have a disability or not.

A look at the "Wa" Dance from a previous event

The performance will be by the Bon Odori group "Imagine Bon Odori Club," which was formed in response to the nuclear accident. Their unique performance of live singing and music is highly regarded for its power to connect people across generational and cultural differences.

4. "Climate Change and Energy Action" - Thinking about the future of energy

In response to the global Earth Day theme "OUR POWER, OUR PLANET," we will introduce a number of hints for a sustainable energy society.

・Introduction to the "Youth Climate Lawsuit" in which young people sued fossil fuel power companies
・Examples of use of "biodiesel fuel (BDF)" made from tempura oil
・A stage powered by solar trees

5. Youth Action -Young people creating the "present and future"-

There will be a wide variety of exhibits and live performances by young people from schools such as Jiyu no Mori Gakuen and Nitobe Bunka Gakuen. As a place for co-creation that transcends generations, live performances by young people and artists will also be one of the highlights.

6. Earth Day Concert & Earth B Poetry Session

The main stage at Yoyogi Park will feature the "Earth Day Concert" with performances by Tokiko Kato, Akira Sakata SOS, Leola, Taiji Sato & Omar Gendefar, and others. In addition, a poetry reading "Earth B" by Seiko Ito and Setsuko Miyao will be held, and the fusion of music and poetry is expected to captivate the audience.

Spring is a time when thoughts turn to the earth and peace. The two days at Yoyogi Park will surely be a precious time for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn, have fun, and talk about the future together.

Venue