Empty Beds Japan

In February, Bird of Light Ukraine brought the powerful Empty Beds exhibition to Tokyo, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. This solemn and moving event focused on the 19,546 Ukrainian children abducted by Russian forces—a tragedy that transcends borders and speaks to the deepest human experiences of loss, love, and resilience.

Presented in a Tokyo theater, the exhibition featured stark images of empty beds—symbols of children still missing, still waiting to return home. Alongside the exhibition, we launched a Japanese-language photobook that shared the intimate stories of these children. These were distributed in kindergartens, bathhouses, and public spaces across the country, sparking both conversation and reflection.

Central to the event was Rostislav Lavrov’s powerful testimony. At just 16 years old, he was abducted, detained, and subjected to forced Russification. His escape, his survival, and his decision to testify before the U.S. Congress have made him a powerful voice for Ukraine’s stolen children. In Tokyo, he shared his story live with a stunned and tearful audience—his words reaching hearts and headlines alike.

The campaign captured national attention in Japan. NHK prime-time news and four major newspapers covered the event, with an estimated reach of 3.24 million people. But this was more than media—it was a moment of solidarity. Many Japanese people remembered their own national trauma of abduction under North Korea. They recognized in Ukraine’s story a pain they too have carried.

This is the universality of Empty Beds: no matter where you are in the world, every person understands what it means to be a child, or to love a child. Through this shared experience, empathy blooms.

We are deeply grateful to our Japanese partners, volunteers, and media for their support. The success of this campaign is proof that when people stand together, truth is heard and justice finds its voice.

ともに未来を守る — Protecting the future together.