Pink Shirt Day, a campaign in which people protest bullying by wearing such pink items as clothes and badges on the last Wednesday in February, is spreading across the nation.
This year, Pink Shirt Day is this coming Wednesday. Scheduled events include the release of a music video aimed at encouraging children who have been bullied, and the illumination of a sightseeing spot.
The movement began in Canada in February 2007, when students there took a stand against bullying by wearing pink shirts after a male student was harassed for wearing a pink polo shirt. The students' initiative helped end the bullying of the male student. It received much media coverage, and similar campaign activities spread to more than 70 countries.
Pink Shirt Day Tokachi, a group of teachers and others in Hokkaido's Tokachi region that promotes pink shirt activities, began their drive in 2013. As part of their efforts this year, the group will release a music video in which a local singer, junior high school students and others sing in English to encourage bullying victims. The video will be released on YouTube on Wednesday.
"Through the activities, I think we're creating an atmosphere where we can feel like everyone is protected by everyone," said Genta Niitsu, a first-year junior high school student at Otofuke Junior High School in Otofuke, Hokkaido.
Students at Mano Junior High School in Otsu have worn handmade pink name badges and displayed a slogan saying "Let's help your friends" at the school building in past campaigns. The school's student council plans to promote the importance of opposing bullying this year.
In Kanagawa Prefecture, a committee to promote Pink Shirt Day was founded by a local NPO called the Kanagawa Children's Future Fund and other entities. With support from local governments and companies, the committee will light up Yokohama Marine Tower with pink lights.
"Bullying victims will be able to escape from loneliness and have hope if they realize that there are people who care about them around the world," said Naoki Nakazono, the author of books based on his experience being bullied.
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