This time, I had the privilege of serving as a judge in place of my father, Koji Kinutani, a painter who always looks forward to judging this contest every year.

I was deeply moved by the many works in which children listened attentively to the voices of the Earth, reflected earnestly and expressed their thoughts through their drawings. Each piece was wonderful. I wished I could give an award to every single one, which made the judging extremely difficult.

As adults, we tend to think of humans and nature separately, but many of the artworks in this contest depicted people, nature, and the living environment blending and coexisting with each other. Through their works, the children taught me that not only beautiful nature, but even destroyed nature is a part of us. I feel great hope for the future in their pure and sharp sensibility.

The JQA International Environmental Children's Drawing Contest is a place where children can freely exercise their imaginations and express their feelings for the Earth. At the same time, it is a valuable opportunity for us adults to listen to their voices and think about the future together. It is my sincere hope that this contest will be an important step in encouraging people of all generations to think about the global environment and to act responsibly.

I would like to send my heartfelt thanks and cheers to children around the world who have delivered such wonderful works.