The title “荒野に希望の灯をともす” from the 1994 Yokohama City International Peace Lecture can be translated into English as “Lighting the Lamp of Hope in the Wilderness.”

On August 25, 2024, an international peace lecture hosted by the city was held at the Yokohama City Hall Atrium. After screening the film “A Light of Hope in the Wilderness” (directed by Kenji Yatsu), which documents the 35-year activities of Tetsu Nakamura, who dedicated his life to protecting the lives and livelihoods of people in Pakistan and Afghanistan, a panel discussion was facilitated by Mr. Toda, the representative of Forum2050, with students from Seisa High School.

The theme of this event was to learn from the lifelong activities of Tetsu Nakamura and to consider what each of us can do for peace in the face of international conflicts and tensions arising from ethnic and religious differences.
Initially, there were discussions about whether ordinary people could learn much from the great achievements of an outstanding individual. However, through the careful tracing of Nakamura’s life in the film, Yatsu’s narration, and the dialogue with high school students, many participants gained valuable insights. They learned the importance of not setting limits for oneself and persisting in what one believes in. There might be something, no matter how small, that only you can do.