UNHCR Announces Mr. Hideo Yamada as its 7th Eminent Advocate for Refugees
UNHCR Announces Mr. Hideo Yamada as its 7th Eminent Advocate for Refugees
BANGKOK – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is pleased to announce the confirmation of Mr. Hideo Yamada as its 7th Eminent Advocate, joining a distinguished group of global champions committed to advancing protection and solutions for forcibly displaced and stateless people.
Mr. Yamada, President of Yamada Bee Farm, has demonstrated a strong and deepening commitment to supporting refugees. Since 2019, he has contributed more than USD 5.5 million to UNHCR, both personally and through his company Yamada Holdings LLC. His sustained generosity includes major unearmarked contributions, support for the Ukraine situation, and emergency assistance following the 2025 Myanmar earthquake. In recognition of these contributions, he was awarded Japan’s Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon (konjushoho) in 2024.
In 2025, Mr. Yamada undertook a field mission with UNHCR to Rwanda, where he engaged with refugee‑led livelihoods projects, including a beekeeping initiative aligned with his own professional expertise. The visit left a strong impression on him, inspiring further practical support, including exploring the donation of a honey‑processing machine to enhance local production. He is now preparing for a second mission to Moldova in 2026, where he will meet with partners connected to the beekeeping sector in Ukraine and Romania and gain deeper insights into the needs of Ukrainian refugees.
With a longstanding commitment to humanitarian values, Mr. Yamada has used his platform to raise awareness of the plight of refugees and to promote greater solidarity across Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. His appointment recognizes not only his influential voice, but also his dedication to amplifying the stories, aspirations and resilience of the 117.3 million people forced to flee worldwide.
As an Eminent Advocate, Mr. Yamada will support UNHCR in mobilising public engagement, fostering innovative partnerships and encouraging wider support for refugees’ rights, inclusion and access to opportunities. He will work closely with UNHCR teams and partners in Japan and across the globe to spotlight both urgent needs and promising solutions - especially in education, livelihoods and community empowerment.
“Mr. Yamada’s longstanding commitment to supporting refugees is truly significant. It symbolizes the growing engagement of leaders in Japan’s business community in addressing global humanitarian challenges, and I believe it will further promote understanding and expand support both in Japan and across the international community.”
At his confirmation ceremony in Tokyo, Mr. Yamada expressed his appreciation for the role and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting displaced communities.
“I am deeply honoured by this appointment. At the same time, I see it not so much as recognition of the past, but as an expectation and responsibility for the future,” he said. “Through my engagement with UNHCR, my understanding of the difficult realities faced by refugees has deepened. Going forward, I hope to continue supporting the dignity and hope of those who find themselves in such challenging circumstances.”
UNHCR’s Eminent Advocates are a select group of global influencers who lend their voices, platforms and expertise to help protect refugees and mobilize support for UNHCR’s mission. Mr. Yamada is the first Eminent Advocate from Japan.
UNHCR looks forward to continuing to work with Mr. Yamada in advancing protection and solutions for forcibly displaced people across the region and around the world.
For more information, please contact:
In Bangkok: Jemma Galvin, [email protected]