Messages of hope from Greenpeace Supporters

Individual supporters like you are the power behind movements to change society. Our work is reliant on donations from supporters who share our goals. Greenpeace supporters are an essential part of the  Greenpeace movement. Read some personal messages from our supporters.

Yuri Yamaguchi

I became interested in environmental issues when I was a student. This led me to join an energy company that deals with fossil resources—an industry where major transformation was most needed. It was a conscious decision to place myself in the midst of that tension. Today, I engage in various activities outside my job, guided by the concept of ‘regeneration’—the rebuilding of connections between all forms of life. At the same time, I continue to hold onto the goal of contributing to change from within, as a member of my company.

By staying connected with Greenpeace—an organization that consistently and sincerely sounds the alarm from the frontline—I’m reminded not to lose my sense of urgency and to continue facing reality head-on. That’s why I choose to give regular donations. Although our roles may differ, I hope to remain a part of our shared journey towards a future of hope.

Yasuhito Hirashima

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 was a turning point that made me question a society that was pushing for more nuclear power. In early 1997, after attending a talk by Goro Nakamura, I realized that just thinking about these issues wasn’t enough—I needed to act. The first step I took was to completely stop using cars. This was no easy task for someone who lives in Shinshu, but I’ve stuck with it ever since.
Another action I took was to support an environmental NGO. After researching various organizations, I found that Greenpeace was the one that spoke out and acted with the most integrity—and I’ve been donating ever since. I also feel a deep connection to Greenpeace because it was the organization where the late Yasuko Matsumoto*, who I deeply respect, started her work.

Legacy donations—what do you want to leave behind for our children?

Legacy giving is an important form of donation for an organization like Greenpeace, which is funded purely by donations from individuals. Legacy giving is when a person donates part or all of their estate through their will. Senior Philanthropy Advisor, Naotaka Fujimoto, who is in charge of legacy donations at Greenpeace, talks about Greenpeace’s work related to legacy giving.

I think that recently we see more about legacy giving on TV and in magazines.

“Yes, we are also receiving more and more inquiries about legacy giving, and I feel that there’s an increase in interest. Some people have actually made legacy donations, and we also hear from people who want to include a donation to Greenpeace in their notarized wills. When we conducted a survey about legacy donations with our supporters, many people said they would like to receive more information. However, many people think that legacy giving = a large donation, and don’t realize that small donations are also possible, so I feel it’s important for us to give people more information.”

Even if you are interested, actually writing a will can be quite daunting.

“Yes, I think it can be hard without the right opportunity. That’s why we invited an expert to give a workshop about writing an ‘ending note’. When writing an ending note you can fill it in bit by bit, starting with the parts that you feel able to write. I think it was helpful for people to be able to actually envisage how they should go about writing a will. We got lots of positive feedback, with many people saying they learnt something new. We are planning to continue these workshops in 2025, too.”

So a legacy donation can be any amount, small or large, but I think that many people would say that their assets are not significant enough to be considered an “estate”. Can the donation be in a form other than cash?　

“Yes, we also accept donations of non-cash assets, such as real estate or financial assets. Recently, we’ve received an increasing number of inquiries from people wishing to donate real estate. In response we have strengthened our systems to better accommodate a broader range of real estate donations. With prior consultation, we can also do our best to accommodate requests to make donations that are not just ‘specific bequests’, with a specified amount, but also ‘comprehensive bequests’, where people may leave part, or all, of their estate as a donation.”

I believe that you would need to consult a professional to write a will, so I would worry about the cost.

“Yes, we understand such concerns, that is why we are a part of the Free Wills Campaign, which is run by the Will for Japan association, a partner of Greenpeace. We ran this campaign in 2023 and 2024, and it subsidizes 100,000 yen towards the cost of writing a will. We will announce when we are running the campaign again, so please take advantage of it if you are interested.”

What if I don’t know any professionals who can help with will writing?

 “At Greenpeace we can also introduce you to an expert. We have a network of environmentally concerned lawyers, as well as judicial scriveners who are familiar with legacy giving, so we can look for an expert near you and introduce you. Please feel free to contact us for help.”

Please give us a message as the Greenpeace staff member in charge of legacy donations.

“When you hear the word ‘inheritance’, many people will think of a family house, but I think the most important thing should be what you want to leave behind. I think legacy giving is a wonderful way to ensure that your wishes live on into the future. When we conducted a survey about legacy giving, we received many comments such as, ‘I believe that it’s our responsibility to leave behind a society that’s even just slightly better than the one we have now’, or ‘I want to leave behind a safe, beautiful, and nature-rich planet where people can live in security”. I will always keep these messages in mind and treat the intentions of our donors with great care and respect as I go about my work.”

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