Mr. Hideo Yamada
Mr. Hideo Yamada
Kelly T. Clements, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, presented Mr. Hideo Yamada with the Eminent Advocate title, as a recognition of his valuable support to people forced to flee.
As a UNHCR Eminent Advocate, Mr. Hideo Yamada, President of Yamada Bee Farm, has demonstrated a strong and deepening commitment to supporting refugees. He joins a distinguished group of global champions committed to advancing long-term solutions for people forced to flee.
Between 2019 and 2025, Mr. Yamada 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 now has plans for a mission to Moldova, 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.
In 2025, Mr. Hideo Yamada undertook a field mission with UNHCR to Rwanda, where he engaged with refugee‑led livelihoods projects.
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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 people forced to flee worldwide.
As an Eminent Advocate, Mr. Yamada will support UNHCR in:
- mobilizing public engagement
- fostering innovative partnerships
- 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.
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.
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.”