Photo/Illutration Actress Mana Ashida is appointed as the United Nations Development Program's newest goodwill ambassador for Japan on March 6 in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward. (Kazushige Kobayashi)

Actress Mana Ashida, a former child star, vowed to create a sustainable world as she assumed her new role as the United Nations Development Program's goodwill ambassador for Japan.

Ashida, 20, was appointed on March 6 by the international organization that combats climate change and moves to eradicate poverty in developing countries, among other missions.

Despite already being a renowned actor beloved by all generations, Ashida, who came into the national spotlight at age 5 in the TV drama “Mother,” has now set her sights on her latest challenge.

The nomination came as typhoons, droughts, wildfires and other natural disasters cause serious damage to communities the world over. A survey by the UNDP shows that 80 percent of citizens worldwide want their governments to beef up countermeasures against the climate crisis.

The UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo was struggling to select an ambassador who could “effectively convey” its messages to the widest possible audience throughout Japan to motivate them to take action.

Looking for one who can reach out to a range of individuals across generations and encourage them to swing into action, Ashida was selected in particular from among the list of candidates.

Hideko Hadzialic, director of the UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo, expects Ashida to spread messages from the standpoint of a young person from Japan.

“She (Ashida) always tries to relate to the feelings of people plagued by poverty, inequality and disasters,” said Hadzialic.

Ashida, filled with doubts, initially hesitated, however. She questioned whether she was the right person for the role and if she had anything meaningful to contribute.

Asked how to share the UNDP’s messages, particularly with a group that avoids discussing global issues, dismissing the practice as “snobby,” Ashida emphasized that she would proceed step by step while learning from her forerunners.

“Fine culture is occasionally shaped as a result of someone having the courage to promote what is good as inherently valuable in front of a variety of people,” Ashida told a news conference where her appointment was announced. 

Balancing her roles as both an actress and a college student, Ashida is committed to excelling in her professional and academic pursuits.

“I still have a lot of things to learn from now,” she said. “I will devote myself to building a sustainable and bright future, tackling significant challenges alongside all of you, so humanity can avoid extinction.”

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