On Being an Icon

How a young activist bridges generations in style

Feb 06, 2025

Each generation has its experiences, needs, hopes, fears, and methods of communicating. But whether the issue is peace and security, environmental degradation, taxation and social welfare, employment, or global health, intergenerational solidarity is critical. You could even say that we need Everyday Ambassadors across the generations. Today, as my travels in Japan come to a close, I bring you the story of one such intergenerational Everyday Ambassador from Tokyo.

Meet Yukino Yamaguchi

I first met Yukino in 2022 in Vienna at a United Nations meeting of the governments that had signed the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. A petite teenager, she stood out in the crowd of diplomats, dressed in a beautiful kimono with the word "Peace" surrounded by embroidered paper cranes on the back of her Obi, or kimono belt.

At the intergovernmental meeting, Yuki delivered an electrifying speech. In a quiet, calm, but steady voice, she told the story of her grandparents, who had survived the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki. She also shared the story of her kimono—how the obi (belt) she wore had been made for her by a survivor of the nuclear bombing, now too old to travel to Vienna. By repurposing her own kimono heirloom for Yuki, that survivor ensured that when Yuki spoke, she would be literally wrapped in her message and love.

Yuki’s speech was not about policy but about human connection. She urged us to truly listen to the voices of hibakusha, or nuclear bombing survivors, as she had learned to do with her grandparents. Their experiences, their wishes, should guide activists and governments in pulling the world back from the brink of nuclear war.

I was impressed. She was so young, speaking in a language that was not her own, yet she confidently commanded a room full of hardened diplomats. "I was really nervous about how to speak about those terrible experiences," she later told me. "But the audience reacted really kindly." As for the kimonos she and her friend chose to wear, it was a deliberate visual. "We were thinking that by wearing the kimono, we could be an icon for peacemakers from Japan."

A New Generation of Activists

Now a university student in Tokyo majoring in public policy, Yuki is a co-founder of Know Nukes Tokyo, an organization of students and young people advocating for an end to nuclear weapons. Growing up in Nagasaki, lessons about the impact of nuclear weapons were all around her.

"My grandfather and grandmother are hibakusha, atomic bombing survivors. So I am third-generation hibakusha. But they never told their stories to me. Maybe they still had complicated feelings about their experience. I first encountered peace-building projects when I was in high school. Seeing people involved in this work, I felt something powerful, like, 'Oh, cool.' And I decided to get involved."

Yuki was surprised when she arrived in Tokyo to find that most young people knew little about nuclear weapons and cared even less. She realized something had to be done as the generation that experienced Hiroshima and Nagasaki firsthand was passing away. That’s when she co-founded Know Nukes Tokyo.

Recently, Yuki traveled across the United States, speaking to high school students. Initially, she was apprehensive, worried that some might react negatively. But she made it a priority to truly listen.

"I believe that to create meaningful dialogue, it’s important to carefully listen and seek to understand on a personal level. I really wanted to establish a real connection with ordinary Americans."

To her surprise, the students were eager to hear her story and learn from hibakusha testimonies. "After my talk, students came up to us, and we really talked. That was so wonderful."

The Two C’s: Continue and Connect

Yuki worked hard to refine her message to young Americans, eventually distilling it into something simple and shareable: Continue and Connect.

"Unless we cooperate with each other, we cannot make a peaceful world. So just one thing to keep in mind is to cooperate, connect, and continue our activities. Some high school students found it really interesting. They said that hearing this simple message made it easier to understand and take action. That made me really happy."

As her generation takes on leadership roles, Yuki is thinking about the future of the movement.

"We aim to emphasize the inhumanity of nuclear weapons—not just through past history, like Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but also in the current world situation. There are still so many nuclear weapons, and survivors of bombings and atomic testing are still suffering. This is happening now."

Advice for Young People

Yuki has some advice for young people who want to be Everyday Ambassadors:

Stay Informed. "The world situation is harsh, and it’s hard to catch up on everything. Stay focused on what’s happening in the world, in your country, and in your local community."
Exercise Your Right to Vote. "Voting is so important. I want young people to participate in every election and think about their futures. We have the right to shape society."
Start by Engaging Your Local Leaders. "You have a right to know what’s happening, even in complex international security matters. Don’t be shy—let leaders see that young people have the courage to speak about real issues."
Encourage Others to Get Involved. "This applies not only to peacemaking but also to social issues like the environment and gender equality."

Takeaway for Everyday Ambassadors: The Power of Style

Wearing a kimono at a diplomatic meeting was its own kind of Everyday Ambassador move: it was aesthetically striking, yet deeply meaningful, the product of a deep connection she had created with a nuclear survivor. Yuki carefully curates her image—not for self-promotion, but as a tool to bridge cultural and ideological divides.

This is the power of style. It’s not something we’re always comfortable with. Some might see social media-ready slogans like the Two C’s and social media image-fashioning as the opposite of real human connection. But Yuki offers a new perspective: style can be powerful when it comes from and leads to meaningful relationships.

Although Yuki skillfully wields the tools of an Instagram generation, the difference is that she is clear about her purpose. Yuki’s authenticity comes from carrying the weight of an earlier generation’s stories with reverence. She has reinterpreted these stories into images and messages that foster a meaningful connection with other people her own age. She’s truly an Everyday Ambassador across the generations.

Do you dare to be an icon? Would it ever be a strategy worth trying to bridge divides and make connections? What would be the possibilities and the pitfalls? Share your experiences and ideas in the comments!