Works — Documentary
Youth Climate Case Japan — A short documentary
Kiko Network | Recording why each of the 16 plaintiffs chose to speak up.2025–2026 | Climate change / Human rights / Documentary
Sixteen young people who see climate change as their own problem — together with Kiko Network and a legal team — sued ten of Japan’s major thermal power companies, demanding cuts in CO2 emissions in line with the levels set out by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). This is the Youth Climate Case Japan.
According to the latest science, including the IPCC, children born in 2020 are projected to face four to seven times the adverse effects of climate change experienced by those born in 1950. Japan relies on coal for around 30% of its electricity, and is the only G7 country that has not set a deadline for phasing out coal power.
Over about a year, with help from young creators across Japan, Narita Jun recorded the voice of each young plaintiff on film.
Why they spoke up
One, as an elementary school teacher, feeling the effects on children. One, who left a major company to carry a responsibility to the next generation. One, who kept feeling the changes in the places they surf and ski. One, who since their teens has found the courage to speak about the changes in their hometown, Hokkaido.
The plaintiffs are, in the best sense, “ordinary people.” For people like them, speaking up is not easy. That is exactly why I wanted to film their voices — and to share them.
The finished short documentary reached many people, especially their own generation, and it is still screened at Youth Climate Case events and wherever the plaintiffs speak.
Client’s Voice
It reached far more people than usual, and many came to know about the Youth Climate Case.
Each plaintiff was shown naturally, with their feelings portrayed with care, and the short film had a good pace and was easy to watch. Our lawyers, too, said it was a moving piece.
On social media it reached far more people than our usual posts (80–90% of viewers were not our followers), and I believe it achieved its goal of introducing the Youth Climate Case to a wide audience.
Kiko Network (Specified Nonprofit Corporation) ・ ★★★★★ 5.0
Working on something similar?
Film, branding, communications — feel free to get in touch, in English or Japanese. I’ll listen first, then suggest the right shape for it.