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title: "World Albatross Day celebrations around the world: Japan holds a three-week-long event"
---

# World Albatross Day celebrations around the world: Japan holds a three-week-long event

*![Japan WADSW 2024 07 07 Hiroshi Hasegawa](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2024/Japan_WADSW__2024-07-07_Hiroshi_Hasegawa.JPG)  
Organizers and contributing artists gather i**n the Nature Centre of the*[*Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park*](http://www.wildbirdpark.jp/en/)*on 07 Jul**y, the last day of a three-week exhibition held as part of the**World Albatross Day and Seabird Week* *held over**15-21 June.  The Short-tailed Albatross decoy in front of Dr Hiroshi Hasegawa (centre) was previously used on*[*Torishima*](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/acap-breeding-site-no-65-torishima-where-short-tailed-albatrosses-have-survived-both-feather-collectors-and-an-active-volcano)*.  Dr Hasegawa photographed the life-sized bird displayed on the banner hehind him.  The downy Short-tailed Albatross chick, a life-sized  *[*needle felt*](https://bearcreekfelting.com/felting-101/)*creation by**Tsugumi**immediately to its left, formed part of the exhibit, as did the decoy*

 With the fifth World Albatross Day on 19 June having passed, it is pleasing to note the celebration has become a growing global phenomenon, with the day being marked around the world, as evidenced by a [compilation](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/world-albatross-day-celebrations-around-the-world-a-photographic-record) of illustrations that had been posted to social media and by organized events, such as those held each year since 2020 by the [Australian Antarctic Division](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/world-albatross-day-celebrations-around-the-world-australias-antarctic-division-dsiplays-a-banner-and-eats-some-cakes).

 *![Japan 2024 WADSW exhibit 2](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2024/Japan_2024_WADSW_exhibit_2.JPG)  
The venue for the World Albatross exhibit**held in the Nature Centre of the Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park*

 Japan is no exception.  The fourth World Albatross Day and Seabird Week was held in Japan over 15-21 June this year.  It is the second to take place in person, having been held online in 2021 and 2022.  The event began with a call to action by Short-tailed Albatross doyen Dr Hiroshi Hasegawa, who is well known to *A**CAP**L**atest**N**ews* readers, both from his publications and for his stunning photography.  The event was organized by six NGOs in Japan – BirdLife International Tokyo, Institute of Boninology, Little Tern Project, the Oceanic Wildlife Society, the Wild Bird Society of Japan and the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology.

 **![          ](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2024/Japan_2024_WADSW_talk.JPG)*  
The audience listens to one of the event’s talks held in the Nature Centre*

 On 16 June at the Nature Centre of the Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park and online, seven talks were given to nearly 120 participants (in-person and on online).  Subjects of the talks included seabirds as the most threatened bird group, fisheries bycatch, an update on Short-tailed Albatross conservation, on the extremely rare Chinese Crested Tern, the role of aquaria in seabird conservation, at-sea observations from ferries, artworks (mainly drawings and photographs, but also needle-felted seabirds), as well as Short-tailed Albatross and Little Tern decoys.  In addition, seabird conservation animation series were shown on repeat.  About 1200 visitors enjoyed the exhibition.

 *![Japan 2024 WADSW little tern guided tour](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2024/Japan_2024_WADSW_little_tern_guided_tour.JPG)  
Searching for Little Terns on the field outing*

 During the week a guided tour to the site of a rooftop colony of Little Terns attracted more than 40 participants, and flying terns and other birds were seen.

 Read more about Japan’s celebration of WAD2024 in Japanese[here](https://albatrossday.org/events/).

 *![preview shorttailed eng No Yamashina logo](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2024/preview_shorttailed_eng__No_Yamashina_logo.jpg)  
The*[*ACAP Species Infographic*](https://www.acap.aq/world-albatross-day/acap-species-educational-series/species-infographics)*for the Short-tailed Albatross, a Japanese version is in production in support of World Albatross Day*

 With thanks to Yasuko Suzuki, BirdLife International for information.

 *John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 11 July 2024*