2022 Survey of Initiatives to Promote Women's Political Participation and Advancement in Japan

PART II: Initiatives to Promote Women's Political Participation and Advancement

Hifumi Tajima, Chief Program Officer, JCIE/Japan

This is the second part of a survey conducted as reference materials for the 2022 US-Japan Women Leaders Dialogue of the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE). A portion of the information included here has been reprinted from the 2020 Directory of Women’s Organizations in Japan with permission from the ICHIKAWA Fusae Center for Women and Governance (as indicated at the end of each relevant description). Information on other organizations has been gathered from the internet and has not yet been confirmed with each organization.

The Miura-Shin report introduced in Part I discusses the current situation in Japan, noting, “In recent years, political parties have set up political courses and schools for the purpose of finding new candidates, and are trying to strengthen their recruiting functions, but they are not yet able to provide systematic training. In the first place, there is no systematic building up of parliamentary training programs in Japan…”

In Japan, many NPO groups are working on themes such as gender, human rights, workplace issues, media and women, professional groups, domestic violence, child-rearing, single mothers, child poverty, constitutional and civil law revisions, peacekeeping, and support for women in Asia and Africa. The 2020 Directory of Women’s Organizations in Japan includes 94 such organizations. For the purposes of this report, however, we have focused on organizations carrying out specific and direct activities to promote women’s political participation. We have organized these into the following six categories:

  1. pioneers in the promotion of women’s political participation

  2. politician training and initiatives to elect women to the Diet and local assemblies

  3. advocacy for laws and policies to promote women’s political participation

  4. political party activities to promote women’s political participation

  5. politician networks

  6.  initiatives to deepen interest in politics among the next generation of women leaders

While this list is by no means exhaustive, it is hoped that it will be a useful tool for promoting women’s political participation in the future. 

Part I of this survey was published in the report of the 2022 US-Japan Women Leaders Dialogue, Moving the Needle on Gender Equity through US-Japan Collaboration.

(Listed by year of establishment) 

1. Pioneers in the promotion of women's political participation

公益財団法人 日本女性学習財団

Address:
Nihon Joshi Kaikan, 2-6-8 Shiba Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0011

Tel:                      
03-3434-7575  Fax: 03-3434-8082

Website:              
https://www.jawe2011.jp/outline/index.html

Established:
1941

Representative:
Yasuko Muramatsu, President

Objective of Establishment:
Contribute to the promotion of lifelong learning and next generation development aimed at establishing a gender-equal society.

History:
The Nihon Joshi Kaikan was built in 1937 with donations from members of the Federation of Young Women’s Associations of Japan and Federation of Women’s Associations of Japan, as well as grants from the Imperial Household and houses of Imperial princes. In 1941, the Nihon Joshi Kaikan was established as an incorporated foundation. When it merged with the Association for Social Education in 1945, the new organization became the Dai-Nihon Womenʼs Association for Social Education. It was later renamed the Japan Womenʼs Association for Social Education in 1972. In April 2011, the organization transitioned from an incorporated foundation to a public interest incorporated foundation, which it remains today.     

Activities:
Triggered by the UN International Women’s Year in 1975, the association aimed for “female participation in society, gender equality, and women’s independence”. Ever since the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing Conference), activities have focused on empowerment of women and support for women to participate in society as follows. 1) Research projects, 2) human capital development programs, 3) information resources, and 4) liaison and support for related organizations, all aimed at women’s lifelong learning and development of the next generation. In addition, the association seeks reports on research and practical implementations from broad fields for the achievement of a gender-equal society, presenting the “Japan Association for Womenʼs Education Future Award” for the most outstanding reports. Finally, the association also engages in leasing of the space of Nihon Joshi Kaikan building. 

Annual Budget:
¥150 million (2021)

Publication:
Monthly magazine “We learn” for Gender Equality

Officers:
President:  Yasuko Matsumura
Managing Director: Shunichi Fujii(Executive Director・Secretary General)
Board of Directors: Reiko Aoki and 9 others

I女性会議

Address:
Toshin Building 5F, 2-27-2 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033

Tel:
03-3816-1862 (Main) Fax: 03-3816-1824

Email:
[email protected]

Website:
https://joseikaigi.com/

Established:
April 14, 1962

Representatives:
Suzuko Kudo & Setsuyo Oku, Co-Chairs (First Chairs: Yoko Matsuoka, Sumako Fukao, Setsuko Hani, Teruko Kishi, Nahoko Takada, Sumiko Tanaka, Masako Noguchi, Yae Tadokoro)

Objective of Establishment:
Work together with everybody to achieve the democratic rights and prosperous lives guaranteed by
the Constitution, and work for world peace and the complete emancipation of women.

Activities:
1. Aim to abolish discrimination against women in every sphere, establish women’s right to
work, and advance women’s participation in the policy decision-making process
2. Act to protect democracy and the fundamental human rights of all people 
3. Protect the rights of children and undertake educational movements that nurture an
enriched humanity
4. Act to protect nature, the environment, and livelihoods 
5. Oppose changes that deteriorate the Constitution and conduct anti-nuclear, anti-war, pro-peace activities
6. Aim for solidarity among the women of the world, and especially the women of Asia

Activities Planned for 2021:
1. Women’s political participation, establishment of regulations for gender equality 
2. Pursuit of a system of compensation for the victims and evacuees of the Fukushima nuclear
reactor accident 
3. Establishment of humane working rights for employees of both sexes 
4. Protection of women’s reproductive rights
5. Engage in issues in aged care so the elderly may live humane lives in their local areas
6. Legislation for gender equality and actualization of a system of optional separate surnames
for married couples
7. Lobby to protect diets and lives in the face of economic agreements and environmental
destruction
8. International solidarity with the women of the world

Admission Policy:
Membership is open to anyone who agrees with the council’s purpose.

Bulletin:
Bimonthly Newspaper for Women (Tabloid size 8P)

Remarks:
April 2003, Japan Women’s Council changed its name to the current one.

Officers:
Co-Chairs
Suzuko Kudo & Setsuyo Oku (as of Oct 14, 2020)

公益財団法人市川房枝記念会女性と政治センター

Address:
Fusen Kaikan 2-21-11 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-0053

Tel: 
03-3370-0238 Fax: 03-5388-4633

Email:
[email protected]

Website:
https://www.ichikawa-fusae.or.jp/

Established:
October 1962

Representative:
Kimiko Kubo, President

Objective of Establishment:
Building on the founder’s beliefs and accomplishments, the organization aims to realize a peaceful, equal, citizen-centered society. The goal is to become a base both in Japan and overseas with women responsible for democratic governance. Activities are: political education/ empowerment and cultivation of women in the political sphere; information gathering, preservation, supply and dissemination; research, surveys and publications; collaboration and support with domestic and overseas organizations; building space leasing; and others.

History:
Established as Fusen Kaikan in 1962 as an incorporated foundation under approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The first chairperson was Fusae Ichikawa, a lifelong activist for women’s suffrage. Over the half a century since its establishment, the foundation’s mission has been the achievement of policymaking centered on male and female citizens who determine the direction of society through truly democratic processes. As such, the organization undertakes political education empowering women to engage in the political process, information dissemination, support for citizen activities, international exchange, preservation and disclosure of materials related to women’s suffrage, and provision of information to domestic and overseas researchers. The foundation was renamed the Ichikawa Fusae Memorial Association after Ichikawa’s death in 1981 and it embarked on a new start  in 2009 as the ICHIKAWA Fusae Memorial Association Center for Women and Politics to further promote realization of an equal, peaceful, citizen-centered society. It was later authorized as a public interest incorporated foundation and transitioned to the ICHIKAWA Fusae Center for Women and Governance from April 1, 2013.

Activities:
1. Lecture series: monthly lectures on a wide range of topics. In 2021, these included child-rearing support, sexual violence, the able-bodied and male-centric society, and reproductive rights. A number of special seminars are also held each year on urgent issues, such as “National and Local Government Responses Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic”.
2. Publication of Josei Tembo (Women’s Perspectives): journal specializing in women and politics first published in July 1954. Bimonthly publication, six issues per year.
3. Fund for women’s political participation: funding to support activities and research by individuals and women’s organizations working to advance women’s participation in politics so that they may become agents of democratic governance. As a Member of the House of Councillors, Fusae Ichikawa entrusted any increases in her annual salary and allowances from the time of her first election until 1975 to the Center. This amounted to 20 million yen by the end of the 1983 financial year leading to the establishment of the Ichikawa Fusae Fund with money to be used to improve the status of women. The fund was renamed the Ichikawa Fusae Women’s Political Participation Fund when it received a designated donation of 14 million yen from the Citizen’s Association for Promotion of Ideal Elections in 2010. By the 38th year in 2020, a total of 17.3 million yen in funds across 48 cases had been distributed.

4. Publications:
a. Catalogue of Women’s Suffrage Documents (1987~)
b. Databook on Japanese Women and Politics-Fixed point observation every 10 years since 1965. Status of women’s participation in politics and public office, women in the world and suffrage, chronology of women’s issues, and organization of the materials.
c. Web Edition-Directory of Women’s Organizations in Japan
d. Handbook: How to Run a Campaign with Citizens
e. Books about Fusae Ichikawa and women’s suffrage

5. Facilities: Exhibition room, library, meeting room for rent by the hour
Bulletin: Bimonthly Josei Tembo (Women’s Perspective)

Annual Budget:
¥35 million yen (2020)

Officers:
President: Kimiko Kubo
Executive Director: 3
Board of Directors: 8
Trustees: 13

2. Politician training and initiatives to elect women to the Diet and local assemblies

全国市民政治ネットワーク 

Address:
ASK Building, 2-19-13 Kabuki-Cho, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0021 

Website:
https://local-party.net

Established:
May 1977

Objective of Establishment:
Network of local political parties brought together by the common ideal of sharing the work of expanding better community life and politics.

History:
A social movement started in 1977 by the Seikatsu Club Consumers’ Co-operative, whose membership (centered on greater Tokyo) had expanded to 230,000 people by that time. Consumers, taxpayers, and ordinary citizens from various sectors of daily life formed a network to launch a movement aimed at getting people into local assemblies, to participate in politics on behalf of individual stakeholders. When they first started out, the actions were referred to as a “Proxy Movement” (or Network Movement).

Activities:
1. Parliamentarian privilege and lengthy terms of office for parliamentarians, who hold vast information and power, can give rise to vested interests and thus contribute to the corruption of politics. For this reason, the assembly members, who come from a national network of affiliated bodies, switch after two to three terms.
2. Each network campaigns for individual political donations to stamp out concession politics. Assembly members take the initiative to make donations to the network according to the law from their remuneration and disclose the flow of money. Those funds make it possible for regular citizens, stakeholders and women who otherwise have no access to funds to stand as candidates.
3. Change the “political culture” through participatory politics
4. Biennial national exchange assembly
5. Branches in 25 prefectures

松下政経塾

Address:
5-25 Shiomidai, Chigasaki, Kanagawa, 253-0033 

Website:
https://www.mskj.or.jp/en/

Established:
June 21, 1979

Representative:
Takashi Toyama, Principal

Objective of Establishment:
The Matsushita Institute of Government and Management (MIGM) trains future leaders who can envision an ideal society and then devote themselves to making that vision a reality through self-directed, experience-based/practical learning. Associates all live on campus, eating and sleeping under the same roof as they devote themselves to their studies.

History:
MIGM was established to realize Panasonic Corporation’s founder Konosuke Matsushita’s strong resolve “to realize peace and happiness in the world through both material and spiritual prosperity”. He felt it was vital to cultivate Japan’s leaders of tomorrow, and in 1979, this mission led him to establish MIGM to nurture future leaders. In 2019, the Institute merged with the Konosuke
Matsushita Memorial Foundation to launch a new public interest incorporated foundation, K.MATSUSHITA FOUNDATION.

Activities:
1. Youth Programs: Citizenship education programs for high school and university students who will carry Japan into the future, in which they contemplate life and pursue their ambitions.
2. Konosuke Matsushita Speech Contest: an online speech contest encouraging youth to tackle the SDGs, with a vision for a fairer society by 2030
3. Study Program: allows undergraduate and post-graduate university students to engage in debate on the theme of “Japan’s Future Course” by attending lectures by leaders from various fields and participating in an exchange with foreign diplomats
4. Lectures: activities to gain a greater understanding of the resolve of institute founder Konosuke Matsushita and the principles underlying its establishment
5. As of November 2021, the total number of parliamentarians and organizational heads to graduate from MIGM: 71

Annual Budget:
About ¥330 million

Bulletin:
Books on leadership theory

Officers:
President: Masayuki Matsushita
Principal: Takashi Toyama

女性の政治スクール

Address:
c/o Office of Yoriko Madoka, Room 814 Bancho Heim, 1-2 Nibancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0084 

Website:
http://www.madoka-yoriko.jp/school

Established: 
1993

Representative:
Yoriko Madoka, President (Former Member of the House of Councillors)

Objective of Establishment:
Politics is not created and shaped solely by politicians, but with each individual citizen influencing the politicians. Half of the population are women; there needs to be a country where the female voice can be properly reflected in policymaking, which requires the development of social systems, including quotas, and the provision of opportunities for women to further cultivate their political skills.

History:
Active since 1993, the term starting in December 2021 will be the 26th.

Activities:
1. Each term consists of 10 lectures held once a month from 13:30 to 17:00 on Saturdays. The gender of the students is not a consideration.
2. Two lecturers, including such speakers as Democratic Party for the People representative Yuichiro Tamaki, leaders from various fields, and government ministry bureaucrats, are invited to each 2-part lecture class. Inspection tours and lectures are also held in rural areas.
3. Of the students who attended the school, there have so far been eight members elected to the Diet and almost 100 members to local government. In the unified local elections of April 1994, 59 alumni ran for election, and 51 were elected.

Membership Fee:
Admission Fee: ¥10,000  
Course Fee: ¥60,000

Officers:
Honorary President: Kayoko Hosokawa (Wife of former prime minister)

一般財団法人 WIN WIN

Address:
New State Manor Room 725, 2-23-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0053

Tel:
03-6276-6979 Fax: 03-6276-6980

E-Mail:
[email protected]  

Website:
http://www.winwinjp.org

Established:
June 9, 1999

Representative:
Ryoko Akamatsu, President since inception

Objective of Establishment:
The organization aims to increase the number of female members in both national and regional parliaments as well as female leaders in all areas of society, and seeks to develop and bring about change in society by promoting the social progress of women.

History:
The organization was launched by six Japanese women who were inspired by “EMILY’s List” in the United States to get more women into politics to become the driver for societal change. They were Ryoko Akamatsu, Aiko Okawara, Ruri Kawashima, Mitsuko Shimomura, Yoko Hayashi and Yoriko Meguro. It was launched on the basis that changing politics meant not accepting other candidates who stepped forward but sending out their preferred candidates, having people who represent them enter the political sphere, and ‘creating a society in which women have power.’

Activities:
1. Support for individuals standing in parliamentary elections
2. Study groups and awareness-raising towards implementing a quota system in parliaments
3. Planning and implementation of seminars, research sessions, and lectures aimed at training women who aspire to be parliamentarians, leaders in the business world, or leaders of nongovernmental organizations. Monthly hosting of the Akamatsu Politics and Economics Juku Seminar to foster the next generation of female leaders.
4. The organization has built a support network for female candidates hoping to launch into politics, called for members from around the country, and kickstarted a range of activities to get more women into national and local politics. To date, they have produced an incredible 107 successful candidates: 63 people in eight Lower House elections, 39 people in eight Upper House elections, and 5 people in eight gubernatorial elections.

Membership Fee:
¥10,000; ¥5,000 if joined on or after July 1

Members:
About 200 members

Bulletin:
News Letter— Published once a month (A4 size 2P)

Officers:
President: Ryoko Akamatsu
Managing Director: Tumie Yamaguchi
Board of Directors: Yoko Abe, Hiromi Ikeda, Keiko Oishi, Ryo Ochiai, Ryoko Dozono, Masako Hiramatsu, Yasuko Matsumoto, Yoshiko Watanabe
Auditor: Emiko Nakai
Trustees: Teruyo Amari, Kimie Iwata, Reiko Kanise, Chizuko Kuroiwa (Term: –Dec 2022)

女性を議会に 無党派・市民派ネットワーク(略称「む・しネット」

Address:
208 Nishifukase, Yamagata, Gifu 501-2112

Established:
2000

Representative:
Midori Teramachi, Secretary–General

Objective of Establishment:
A network working to encourage non-partisan and civic-group women to participate in politics to achieve citizen autonomy.

Activities:
Any member or non-member can plan a project as long as it does not go against the purposes and goals of the group. Conducts study courses on elections for politicians and citizens four times a year coinciding with municipal elections. Activities include holding symposiums on “Women (we) are the ones who change politics!” and “Ensuring the survival of various minorities.” Provides an equal forum for members and non-members alike, and for citizens and politicians. Publishes Mu-Shi no Oto Tsushin. Connects women politicians to work toward citizen autonomy.

Blog: https://blog.goo.ne.jp/mushinet Mu・Shi no ne Tsushin

Officers:
Staff members are candidates, decision-making is by consensus, and there is no representative.

赤松政経塾

Address:
c/o WIN WIN, Room 725, 2-23-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0053

Established:
September 2014

Representative: 
Ryoko Akamatsu, President

Objective of Establishment:
To foster women who are working to become a leader in various fields, from those thinking of entering politics to running a private organization.

History:
Established by the WIN WIN foundation to nurture women aiming to enter politics or run a business or private organization.

Activities:
Provides learning opportunities to nurture future female leaders. Enables networking and information exchange between students from diverse fields.
Conducts 2 classes of two-hour lectures from 6 p.m. on Saturday once a month. Lectures are held in person and online, with Ryoko Akamatsu, president of the school, making the opening presentation.
1. First lecture: Lectures by people involved in national and local politics, presenting their reasons for becoming politicians, and the extent of their political activities.
2. Second lecture: Lecture by leaders from various fields, sharing knowledge and information based on their experiences.
3. Dinner discussion: A dinner session is held after the lectures with the lecturer where questions that could not be raised during the lecture can be asked and discussions continued in order to deepen exchange and build networks among the students.

一般社団法人 パリテ・アカデミー 

Address:
Nihon Joshi Kaikan 6F, 2-6-8 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0011

Tel:
050-3567-8050

Website:
http://parity-academy.org

Established:
March 2018

Representatives:
Mari Miura (Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Law, Sophia University) & Ki-young Shin (Professor of Research Organization for the Promotion of Global Women’s Leadership, Institute for Gender Studies, Ochanomizu University), Co-Founders and Chairs

Objective of Establishment:
The Academy’s mission is to achieve politics that prizes gender equality and diversity so that women and minorities may participate equally in decision-making processes. The vision for an ideal society is one of “inclusion, with no one excluded”, “relationships of respect for each other’s differences”, and “the pursuit of justice”. The activities of the Parity Academy are aimed at developing leadership among young women.

History:
Prior to launching the Academy, Mari Miura and Kiyon Shin observed a various programs developed for female political leaders in the United States in order to initiate training programs based on academic expertise. Analysis from a political science perspective of what makes it hard for women to come forward as candidates has led to the development and provision of a range of unique programs. With the wealth of research conducted prior to its establishment and a clear concept and principles, the Academy aims to provide the necessary training spanning the spectrum from learning to practical implementation.

Activities:
The Academy engages in the following programs under the keywords “gain self-confidence” “acquire skills” and “connect with colleagues”:
1. Development of young female political leadership
2. Lectures to develop successful female political leaders:5-part lecture series with training on speeches and policymaking
3. Female political leaders training camp: 2-night/3-day residential program for practical election training
4. Thematic practical seminars: conveying one’s platform via SNS and videos
5. Development of expert trainers
6. Cultivating expert trainers for the female leadership development lectures
7. Leadership training for government bodies and business
8. Cooperation with government bodies and businesses wishing to develop female leaders, provision of The Parity Academy’s educational materials, dispatch of trainers, making a proposal for a planning.
Results from 2019: five candidates ran in nationwide local elections, four of whom were elected; one person ran in town council elections and was elected; three people ran for the Upper House but were defeated.

Officers:
Director-General: Yuriko Nishikawa

3. Advocacy for Laws and Policies to Promote Women's Political Participation

クオータ制を推進する会(Qの会)

Address:
Room 725, 2-23-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0053

Tel:
090-4529-4634(Ms Sato) Fax: 03-5304-7876

Email:
[email protected]

FB:
https://www.facebook.com/quota.japan/

Established:
June 2012

Representative:
Ryoko Akamatsu, President

Objective of Establishment:
Despite the government establishing a “goal of women in 30% of all leadership positions in various spheres of society by 2020”, even in terms of political participation which should be at the vanguard of such change in society, only 10% of parliamentarians are women. In the judiciary, government, and private organizations as well, very few women participate in decision-making. The Association aims to introduce legislation that it is time to introduce a quota system in Japan.

History:
In the autumn of 2011, WIN WIN Representative Ryoko Akamatsu reached out to core nationwide
women’s organizations, and the eight that responded joined WIN WIN in early 2012 for a liaison conference to prepare for the association’s establishment. In addition to deciding on the name Association to Promote Gender Quotas (Association Q), they commenced activities such as paying visits to the Minister of State for Gender Equality and the people responsible for women’s policies within each political party. The association’s conventions were agreed to in early 2013.

Activities:
1. Hold meetings inside the Diet to appeal to Upper and Lower House parliamentarians. These meetings are held at any opportunity under the slogan “Women in Half the Seats!!”
2. Hold study groups to explore the possibilities for legal quota systems
3. Jointly convening the National Women’s Education Center (NWEC) Forum on the Promotion of Gender Equality with NWEC
4. Publish newsletter 

Bulletin:
Association to Promote Gender Quotas News Letter (publishes as needed)

Officers:
President: Ryoko Akamatsu
Advisor: Mari Miura (Professor, Sophia University), Reiko Ooyama (Professor, Komazawa University)

Officers: Yoko Abe, Eiko Ishige, Tamiko Okura, Reiko Kaminaga, Sachiko Kawahashi, Yoko
Kunihiro, Toshiko Saito, Chisato Sato, Masako Hiramatsu, Yumiko Makishima, Emiko Yazawa, Maya Yamazaki

パリテ・キャンペーン及びパリテ・カフェ

Website:  
https://parite50.wixsite.com/parite

Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/parite50/

Twitter:
@parite50  

Established:
2016

Representative:
Mari Miura, Professor, Sophia University

Objective of Establishment:
Working on a variety of campaigns to change the gender bias in the parliament, to achieve a 50%/50% political representation of women and men equally, and to create a more diverse government where women, caregivers, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQs can live more freely.

History:
At the symposium commemorating the 70th anniversary of women’s suffrage in 2016, all participants expressed their determination to “strongly recognize the necessity of equal participation of men and women in all decision-making positions and to double the number of female members of the Diet within 10 years” and organized an executive committee to start activities.

Activities:
1. Organize Parité Campaign Events: On April 10 every year, the day women’s suffrage materialized, the Campaign holds a commemorative event. Since the first event in 2004, the topics of events include such as “Seriously increase the number of women in the parliament”, “If the world were an equal number of men and women?”, “A society where everyone can work! Let’s make it happen with the Parité Congress (equal representation of men and women)”, “Parité Appeal on the Street: Politics, Parité, and Me. A relay talk,” “Women’s Suffrage Week 2020,” and so on. In 2021, “Let’s Increase the Number of Women Legislators, Online Talk Fest” was held to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage.
2. Signature campaign: for the 2021 House of Representatives elections, it conducted a signature campaign asking each political party to take concrete steps to increase the number of female candidates.

Parité Cafe:
Themes are set according to the interests of the participants, such as how to increase the number of female members of the Diet, working conditions, childcare issues, sexual harassment, nuclear power plants issue, and education. Parite Café participants discuss the issues that women are facing and share the need for more female parliamentarians, and call for activities to deliver their requests directly to the Diet members and assembly members. Those who wish to run the Café will register as a Café owner and plan and operate the program. Themes are set according to the interests of the participants, such as working conditions, children on nursery school waiting lists and childcare issue, sexual harassment and domestic violence, system to allow married couples to choose between sharing one surname or using separate ones, nuclear power plants issue, and education. The outcome of the discussion will be listed up and confirmed through questionnaires to decide priorities, handed to the politicians of their constituency to nurture politics and women closer together.

4. Political Party Activities to Promote Women’s Political Participation

自由民主党女性局・女性未来塾

Address:
1-11-23 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8910

Tel:
03-3581-6211 (Main) Fax: 03-5511-8888
LDP Women’s Affairs Division -421620471342703

 TW:
@joseikyoku

Website:
http://women.jimin.jp/

FB:
https://www.facebook.com/

Established:
Nov 15, 1955 (Future Leadership Program started in 2018)

Representative:
Hanako Jimi, Director (First Director: Hideko Mogami)

Objective of Establishment and Activities:
The division works to maintain liberty and democracy, uphold a free society, and improve welfare and stability in people’s lives, based on the party’s fundamental platform. Affiliated female party members are constantly striving for self-improvement, working to raise political awareness and proactively offering their opinions while working to develop the division’s ongoing activities in keeping with the times.

Activities Plan for 2021
1. Expand the strength of the party and strengthen women’s organizations: election campaign strategy for the next general election; support female parliamentarians at all levels, help discover and support new candidates, and promote women’s political participation; listen earnestly to people’s voices and act to reflect them in various policy measures.
2. Actions to protect the lives of women and children: strengthening of activities for women’s participation and advancement of health; child abuse prevention– continuation of the “Happy Orange Movement”; development of support for child-rearing and education, the elderly and aged care, and disabled persons, including measures to fight poverty; support for disaster-struck regions and the promotion of disaster preparedness and disaster reduction measures from the perspective of women and ordinary citizens.
3. “Women’s Future” Cram School (lectures and seminars held regularly with guest speakers/politicians in which discussions are also held)

Membership Fee:
¥4,000 (Annual)

Admission Policy:
A person of Japanese nationality, 18 years of age or older, who sympathizes with the principles, platform, and policies of the LDP.

 Current State:
47 Prefectural branch associations

Bulletin:
Weekly Liberal Democracy (Tabloid size 12P)
Monthly Women’s Magazine Liburu (AB size 70P)

Women’s Affairs Division Officers:
Director: Hanako Jimi
Acting Director: Akiko Honda, Hayato Suzuki
Deputy Director: 16 (as of Jan 2022)

公明党女性委員会

Address:
17 Minami Motomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0012

Tel:
03-3353-8375 Fax 03-3353-0477

FB: 
https://www.facebook.com/komeiwoman/

TW: 
https://twitter.com/komei_woman/

Website: 
https://www.komei.or.jp/iwoman/

Established:
Nov 17, 1964

Representative:
Noriko Furuya, Chairman (First Chairman: Yasu Kashiwabara)

Objective of Establishment and Activities:
Based on Komeito’s founding principle of “the pursuit of happiness for humankind through a humanism which places utmost value on ‘life, living and the right to survival’”, the group develops policy proposals and movements from the female perspective. It also aims to realize a gender equal society in which all people in every part of society can actively participate, demonstrating their individuality and capabilities.

Activities Plan for 2021:
1. With an awareness that gender equality is at the foundation of the advancement of women’s participation, make sure women’s voices are broadly reflected in policy through Diet session deliberations and through petitions, and take the lead on initiatives to actualize essential policies for the advancement of support for single-parent households and seamless support for children and child-rearing, protection of human rights, health promotion, measures for disaster preparedness, and other similar areas.
2. Hold “Women’s Talks” nationwide to tune in to diverse female voices
3. Proactively organize public addresses by female parliamentarians on occasions such as Women’s Health Week, Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Pink Ribbon Month (Breast Cancer Awareness Month)
4. Proactively convene policy research meetings and ideas exchange sessions between local parliamentarians and members of the National Diet in an effort to further strengthen national and local network capabilities
5. Initiatives to strengthen messaging through SNS, strive to make parliamentarians’ work more visible.

Membership Fee:
¥3,000

Admission Policy:
Must be recommended by at least two party members

Current State:
Approximately 240,000 female party members (About 54.5% of the total)

Bulletin:
Daily Komei Shimbun (Newspaper size 8P)
Quarterly Komei Graph (A4 variable size 48P)
Monthly Komei (A5 size 80P)

Remarks: 
In September 1999, the Women’s Committee was established as a superordinate organization of the Women’s Bureau.

Officers:
Chair: Noriko Furuya
Deputy Chair: Toshiko Takeya (Director of Woman’s Bureau), Kanae Yamamoto, Tomoko Ukishima, Yoko Wanibuchi, Kumiko Yoshida, Hiromi Takase, Sayaka Sasaki, Takae
Ito (as of January 2022)

社会民主党女性局(SDP社民党)

Address: 
Maruki Enomoto Building 5F, 3-18-17 Minato, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0043

Tel:
03-3553-3731 Fax:03-5540-9081

Email:
[email protected]

Website:
http://www5.sdp.or.jp

Established:
November 1945

Representative:
Mizuho Fukushima (Member of the House of Councillors)

Objective of Establishment and Activities:
The Social Democratic Party advocates the principles of “Peace, Freedom, Equality, Coexistence”. It seeks a society in which citizens, as sovereigns, can participate equally, that accepts diverse values, that respects individual dignity and human rights, and that emphasizes welfare and the environment. Apply the Constitution of Japan in daily living while also working to spread its message in the world. Promote women’s participation in politics, the economy, and every field in society. Develop the legal system to approach issues of labor, social security, prevention of violence and abuse, and health and insurance from the perspective of gender equality.
1. Follow up on laws based on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Basic Act for Gender Equal Society, and promote the enactment of a Gender Equality Law
2. Rectify the wage differential between men and women, realize equal pay and conditions for temporary workers, and achieve work-life balance
3. Lifelong support for women’s health based on reproductive health and rights
4. Strengthen DV Prevention Act, enact laws prohibiting sexual violence
5. Eliminate poverty among women and children
6. Revise the Civil Code (e.g. enact a law on optional separate surnames for married couples)
7. Promote gender equality in politics, introduce aquota system

Membership Fee:
Less than 40 years old: ¥1300/month
40 to 60 years old: ¥2000 yen/month
60 years old: Special measures can be taken for party members who need to reduce or exempt party fees.

Admission Policy:
18 years of age or older. This includes foreigners who have been residing in Japan for more than three years

Current State:
2268 Female Party members (15.7% of total)
1 Female Party officer (10% of total)

Bulletin:
Weekly Shakai Shinpo (Social News)
Monthly Shakai Minshu (Social Democracy)

Remarks: Member of the Socialist International Women
Changed the party name from the Japan Socialist Party to its current name in 1996.

Officers:
Director: Mizuho Fukushima

日本維新の会幹事会女性局 

Address:
Sanei Nagahori Building, 1-17-16 Shimanouchi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0082

Tel:
06-4963-8800 Fax: 06-4963-8801

Website:
https://o-ishin.jp/

Established:
October 31, 2015

Representative: Junko Tsuji, Director-General (First Director-General: Junko Tsuji)

Objective of Establishment and Activities:
The group seeks a society that is more diverse due to the social progress of women and in which every individual can participate without sexual discrimination, and it strives to expand the number of female parliamentarians and candidates and engage in politics and policymaking from the female point of view. It aims to actively debate support mechanisms for candidates from the female perspective and to develop roadside speeches and appearances only by women.

Activities Plan for 2021:
Women’s Bureau will make vigorous efforts to create special support mechanisms to discover new female candidates swiftly, strive for a more diverse society based on social progress by women where people can participate free from discrimination on the grounds of gender, and work to expand the number of female parliamentarians who can engage in policymaking from the female point of view.

Membership Fee:
General Member of the Party: ¥2,000 (Annual fee)
Special Member of the Party: Depends on the type of legislator

Admission Policy:
1. Those who agree with our party’s platform, principles, policies, etc.
2. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and have Japanese nationality. 
3. Those who do not belong to any other political party.

Bulletin:
Quarterly Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation)

Officers:
Director-General: Junko Tsuji
Deputy Director-General: Mitsuko Ishii
Party Policy Research Council Chairman: Kaori Takagi
Chairman of the Party General Affairs Committee: Mizuho Umemura
(The Term of Office: Same as the representative term)

立憲民主党ジェンダー平等推進本部

Address: 
1-11-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0014

Tel: 
03-6811-2301 Fax: 03-6811-2302

Email:
[email protected]

Website:
https://cdp-japan.jp/campaign/gender_equality

Established:
September 2020

Representative:
Eri Tokunaga, Director-General (First Director-General: Masako Okawara)

Objective of Establishment and Activities:
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan advocates for gender equality, aiming to make the party the manifestation of that goal. The party plans to move forward proactively to support female candidates, Diet member-sponsored legislation, and policy proposals for the promotion of gender equality. These initiatives are aimed at creating an environment conducive to greater participation by women in politics, bringing about the desire to participate, and having the voices of women who account for half of all constituents resonate powerfully in policy.

Activities Plan for 2021:
The Office will coordinate with experts and women’s groups to bring about gender equality throughout the legal system. It will examine revisions to the DV Prevention Act (Act on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the Protection of Victims) and to the provisions in the Penal Code regarding sexual crimes. It will work to ensure the enactment of previously submitted measures for support for victims of sexual violence and optional separate surnames for married couples. Aiming for gender parity, continuously revise the plan for supporting female candidates in advance of the next elections and formulate a plan for the second phase. Draw attention to and advance activities of the existing committee for harassment prevention to move forward on measures for the effective prevention of harassment, and advance gender equality in every facet of the party, including policy, elections, party governance.

Membership Fee:
¥4,000 (Includes subscription fees for bulletins)

Current State:
109 House of Representatives members, 45 House of Councillors members, 154 total members (As of April 30, 2021)

Bulletin:
Monthly Rikkenminshu (A4 size 8P)

Officers:
Director-General: Eri Tokunaga (C)
Executive Deputy Director: Akiko Okamoto (R)
Advisor: Naoto Kan (R), Masaharu Nakagawa (R), Takashi Shinohara (R),
Tomoko Abe (R), Chinami Nishimura (R), Masako Okawara(R)
Deputy Director-General: Yasuko Komiyama(R), Yoshitaka Saito(C), Shinji Morimoto (C), Takashi Kii (R)
Secretary General: Shu Sakurai(R)
Deputy Secretary General: 11
(Term of office, until the next House of Representatives election, as of Dec 7, 2021)

国民民主党・男女共同参画推進本部

Address:
Nagata-Cho Grid 4F, 2-5-3 Hirakawa-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0093

Tel:
03-3593-6229 Fax: 03-3597-2823

Email:
[email protected]

Website:
https://new-kokumin.jp/

Established:
September 15, 2020

Representative:
Wakako Yada, Director-General (First Director-General: Wakako Yada)

Objective of Establishment and Activities:
The Democratic Party for the People aims to realize a gender equal society and strives to guarantee opportunities for equal participation by both sexes in operations and management of the party, starting with backing candidates for public office. The Gender Equality Promotion Headquarters works under a director to consolidate the party’s activities both within and outside the party for the promotion of gender equality.

Activities Plan for 2021:
The organization is working to achieve 35% female candidates in order to increase the number of female parliamentarians. It constructs a support system to prepare their candidates for victory. It also cooperates with a wide range of groups such as RENGO (labor union), organizations promoting women’s participation in politics, and NPOs offering child-rearing support, in order to eradicate all forms of harassment of women, to support women suffering hardship, and to protect the employment and livelihood of working women

Membership Fee
¥4,000

Admission Policy:
1. Those who agree with the basic principles and policies of the DPFP
2. Must be 18 years of age or older and a Japanese citizen

Current State:
7 House of Representatives members, 12 House of Councillors members

Bulletin:
Bimonthly Kokumin Minshu Press

Officers:
Director-General: Wakako Yada
(Term of office: Until September 2023)
※Same as the term of office of the party leader

日本共産党中央委員会・ジェンダー平等委員会

Address:
4-26-7 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-8586

Tel:
03-5474-8441 Fax 03-5474-8390

E-mail:
[email protected]

TW:
@JCPgenderec

Website: 
https://www.jcp.or.jp/jcp_with_you/

Established:
July 1922

Representative:
Akiko Kurabayashi, Director (First Director – Asano Kanda)

Objective of Establishment and Activities:
The party works to rebuild democracy in Japan from fundamentals so the people truly are the key actors, by correcting two major distortions in society: excessively following the US, and prioritizing large corporations and profits in the business world. In its platform, the party advocates for a “gender equal society” and acts to realize gender equality in all aspects of society. The party itself has put gender equality into practice and works to implement lessons learned from successful movements at home and overseas in reforming itself.

Activities Plan for 2021:
As COVID-19 spread, it revealed anew the grave gender gap in Japanese society: widespread suspension of business and employment terminations affecting part-time work and temp jobs, which more than 50% of all female workers hold; sudden across-the-board school closures resulted in the burden of care for children and the elderly on women; and unfair payment of special allowances to the head (usually men) of household. The party will make every effort to create a gender-equal society for the post-pandemic period.
1. Earnest initiatives to increase the number of women in political decision-making circles: aiming for 50-50 men and women
2. Creating a society in which both men and women can live and work in a humane way, balancing jobs and home life: achieving equal pay, advancing laws to shorten working hours 
3. Strengthening anti-poverty measures for women: fixed on a two-pronged response of drastic wage increases and improved social security 
4. Improving pay and conditions in the fields of medical care, aged care, welfare, daycare, after-school care: towards a society that values care 
5. Eliminating violence against women: strengthen measures to prevent violence with an emphasis on comprehensive sex education and reproductive health and rights 
6. Ratification of the Optional Protocol, introduction of optional separate surnames for married couples, and abolish the “head of household” system to move to a society that values the individual: enforce all components of the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, make genuine advances on gender mainstreaming.

Membership Fee:
1% of actual income

Admission Policy:
Japanese who are at least 18 years old. Acknowledgment of the platform and constitution, and recommendation of two party members.

Current State:
About 132,000 female party members (49% of the total)

Bulletin:
Daily Akahata, Sunday edition Akahata, Monthly Josei no Hiroba (Women’s Forum)

Officers:
Director: Akiko Kurabayashi
Deputy Director: Taku Yamazoe, Aya Fujita
Member: Sohei Nihi
Secretary General: Nozomu Sakai
Deputy Secretary General: Yoko Iida
(Term of office, until the next party congress)

都民ファーストの会・ファースト政経塾

Address:
Room B-2, 4-32-4-2F Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023

Established: 
January 2017 (First Seikei-juku: 2022)

Representative:
Party Leader: Chiharu Araki, Member of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly

Objective of Establishment:
Tokyoites First Association was established under the slogan “Great Tokyo Reform” with the aim of rebuilding the capital city into a new Tokyo that can become a sustainable society in all areas, including the economy, welfare, and the environment, well into the future. To refine Tokyo’s attractive assets and improve its international competitiveness. The goal is to stage a society in which each and every Tokyo resident can play an active role and feel secure. They also established the First School of Politics and Economics in order to make politics more accessible to those who share our vision of “Tokyo’s Great Reform” and to create human resources who can work together to change the future of Tokyo and Japan.

History:
Established in January 2016, aiming to establish the local party in Tokyo, and created “Hope School,” a political school headed by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. In January 2017, it began operating as a regional political party. In October 2021, established the political organization “First no Kai” with the aim of entering national politics.

Activities: 
1. The main principles of the party are “Tokyoites First,” “Information Disclosure,” and “Wise
Spending.”
2. The First Seikei-juku will hold a total of five lectures from January through May. There are 113 students in the first term, about 30 of whom are women.

Bulletin:
Tomin First Press

Officers:  
Special Advisor: Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Party Leader: Chiharu Araki, Member of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly
Secretary-General: Member of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly

5. Politician Networks

全国フェミニスト議員連盟

Address:
 c/o Ms Masako Ito, 1-204 Green Commons Kawagoe, 5-5-3 Isehara-cho, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-1108

Tel & Fax:
049-233-8034

E-mail:
[email protected]

FB:
Search for “Alliance of Feminist Representatives”

Website:
http://www.afer.jp/

Established:
Feb 15, 1992

Representative:
Yoshiko Maeda, Kaoru Masuda, Chairs (First Chair: Mariko Mitsui, Satomi Nakajima)

Objective of Establishment and Activities:
The objective is to increase the number of female parliamentarians and build a society in which women’s voices are reflected in policy. The group will release statements whenever an incident involves women’s issues and regularly petition the government and political parties demanding female participation in policymaking circles. It holds symposiums, summer seminars for policy studies, and power-up seminars. The group conducts surveys on gender equality and female participation, publishes reports, and presents the findings. It publishes the bulletin AFER.

Activities Plan for 2021:
1. To eliminate all forms of discrimination against women, promote initiatives in various regions to get the Optional Protocol of CEDAW ratified
2. To achieve the principles laid out in the Act on Promotion of Gender Equality in the Political Field, demand a quota system be enforced within each political party and organization and petition for 50% women in the party executive and in parliament. 
3. Given the impossibility of achieving the goal of 30% women in leadership positions by 2020 as laid out in the Fourth Basic Plan for Gender Equality, spread the idea of neither sex having less than 40% in any policymaking venue as a measure for gender equality.
4. Work to discover, support, and build networks with possible candidates to avoid parliaments with no women
5. Be proactive about disseminating information through the AFER bulletin and home page and expanding membership
6. Use mailing lists and other methods for information exchange and interaction between members
7. Hold summer seminars, training sessions, and symposiums for the empowerment of women
8. Participate in Association Q initiatives and collaborate with other organizations promoting women’s participation in politics
9. Gather and disseminate domestic and foreign information to counter backlash of gender balance

Budget:
Approximately ¥3.11 million

Annual Membership Fee:
Member of the Diet: ¥10,000
Town and village councillors: ¥5,000
Citizens: ¥5,000

Admission Policy:
Citizens and members of the Diet (non-partisan) who agree with the purpose and activities of this alliance

Current State: 
200 members and subscribers

Bulletin:
Quarterly AFER

Remarks:
To plan and organize international forums. Gather information from and collaborate with women’s movements in other countries and international women’s action groups.

Officers:
Advisor: Misako Iwamoto, Shigeki Uno, Mari Miura
Chair: Yoshiko Maeda, Kaoru Masuda
Accountant: Emiko Otsuka, Hinata Misako
Secretariat: Masako Ito, Taeko Koiso
Auditor: Noriko Higuchi, Noriko Higuchi, Mariko Murakoshi
Public Relations: Yoko Nomura 
International Relations: Keiko Kusaka
(Term of office: until 2022 General Assembly)

特定非営利活動法人 エヌ・ピー・オー・フィフティネット

Address:
Room 317, 1-4-2 Kata Machi, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka 534-0025

Established:
2001 

Representative: 
Yuko Moriya

Objective of Establishment:
To contribute to the realization of a gender-equal society by engaging in projects related to politics and policymaking with women.

History:
1996, Backup School planning group established
1999, Name changed to “Fifty Net.”
2001, Incorporated as NPO

Activities:
1. Engaged in activities to support the election of female politicians so they will constitute 50% of all officeholders.
2. Operates the Backup School in Kansai, which provides education on policymaking, political structures, election expertise to women interested in politics and running for office.
3. In addition to lectures by researchers and politicians, the courses also offer practical programs such as election simulations and public campaigning.
4. It also provides opportunities for women politicians and candidates to exchange information and build networks.

Bulletin:
Newsletter “Fifty Net”
Women’s Book Editing and Publishing

ウーマンシフト

Address:
2-1-9 Ueno Sakuragi, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0002 

Website: 
https://womanshift.wixsite.com/womanshift/

Year Established:
2015

Representative:
Sayo Honme, President (Member of Taito City Assembly)

Objective of Establishment:
Network of young female assembly members whose mission is to increase the number of female parliamentarians who can get policies into action. They run study groups primarily for local members, advocate the role of “local politician” as a career choice for women.

History:
Member Homme engaged in a number of activities after becoming a new member of Tokyo’s Taito Ward Assembly in 2011, coming face to face with a range of issues in the process. She felt keenly the need to create an environment that would be supportive of young female Assembly members. She learned her way around the assembly by exchanging information with members in other cities. After being elected to a second term, Honme determined to create a mechanism to support female members in cooperation with others elected at the same time, leading to the launch of Woman Shift immediately after nationwide local elections when she won her second term.

Activities:
As of the end of 2018, the ratio of women in local assemblies stood at 13.1%, with 81.3% of those over 50 years old, showing how few young female assembly members there are. Knowing this situation results from a lack of role models and mechanisms to develop assembly members making it hard for women to step forward, the organization conducts online and in-person study sessions to share ideas on realizing policy. And by showing those lessons to possible candidates, to increase the rate of policy realization once they are elected.
1. Career lectures for students
2. Study sessions for young female assembly members
3. Network-building
4. Creation of a handbook on political activities based on real experiences
5. Operation of ‘Joseraji’ channel on stand.fm aimed at bringing women closer to politics and increasing female parliamentarian numbers

政治分野における女性の参画と活躍を推進する議員連盟(超党派)

Address: 
In the Diet

Established:
February 2015

Representative:
Masaharu Nakagawa, Chair (Member of the House of Representatives)

Objective of Establishment:
Urged enactment of the Act on Promotion of Gender Equality in the Political Field, and since the law was enforced in May 2018, keep a check on the government’s actions, as well as work to make advances on future challenges through cooperation with experts and related organizations.

History:
Association Q’s 2014 event titled “Achieving 202030 in Japan’s National Diet” was the starting point toward legislation on increasing female parliamentarian numbers. The call for the creation of a bipartisan caucus to increase female parliamentarians by Lower House member Masaharu Nakagawa was endorsed by members of both houses and established with the participation of 28 Lower House and 20 Upper House members.

Activities:
1. Launch a working team and formulate measures. Building on the principles of the “Act on Promotion of Gender Equality in the Political Field”, draft a measure for the Public Offices Election Act that serves as a positive law to allocate women as candidates in single-seat constituencies.
2. Appeal to participants to act through NWEC-Association Q workshops and other events
3. Lobby Diet members and hold meetings inside the Diet

Officers:
Chair: Masaharu Nakagawa, Member of the House of Representatives
Chief of Secretariat: Kuniko Koda

女性活躍を国際的に推進する議員連盟

Address:
In the Diet

Establishment:
July 2017

Representative: 
Seiko Hashimoto, Chair (Member of the House of Councillors)
Rui Matsukawa, Chief of Secretariat (Member of the House of Councillors)

Objective of Establishment:
With a deep awareness that the realization of a society in which women shine is critical to achieving all-encompassing prosperity around the globe, the Alliance aims to cooperate and contribute to initiatives concerning women’s participation in Japan and overseas, in coordination and cooperation with countries around the world.

Activities:
1. In Afghanistan, where the Taliban has restored, heeding the need to protect the rights of women and girls in areas such as education and political participation, the Alliance presented Foreign Minister Hayashi with a “Statement on Protection of the Rights of Women and Children in Afghanistan” and petitions the Japanese Government to take necessary actions.
2. In conjunction with UN Women, convene talk events on policies including the improvement of the system for childcare leave.

福岡・女性議員を増やす会

Address:
3-1-28-405 Muromi, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0015

FB: 
https://www.facebook.com/quotafukuoka/

Established:
April 2018 

Representative: 
Keiko Tominaga, President

Objective of Establishment:
Working to create a society where everyone can live comfortably by increasing the number of women politicians currently overwhelmingly small number.

Activities: 
1. Projects such as a “Political School for Women”, information dissemination, and lectures for women intent on running for office.
2. Eleven alumnae of the political school ran for office during the 2019 unified local elections. Seven were elected as members of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly and Fukuoka City Assembly.
3. Publishes the free Parité Wave from Fukuoka newspaper, which introduces a wide range of data, examples from other countries, interviews with leaders and incumbent lawmakers, and the relationship between social issues and politics. 

Bulletin:
Free Paper Parité Wave from Fukuoka

Officers:
President: Keiko Tominaga
Board of Director: Nobuko Hasegawa
Chisako Fujii
Kazue Fujita
Kumiko Miyoshi
Haru Morikawa
Miyuki Yamakawa
Mayumi Yamazaki
Advisor: Keiko Hieda

6. Initiatives to Deepen Interest in Politics among the Next Generation of Women Leaders

学生団体ivote 

Website:
http://i-vote.jp/

Established:  
April 2008

Representative: 
Kaito Yada, President (3 rd Year student of International Political Economy, Aoyama Gakuin University)

Objective of Establishment:
Aim to increase voter turnout among youth to ensure reflection of youth opinions in politics.

History:
In 2008, created “ivote” and started information sharing through blog.

Activities:
1. Activities to reduce the distance between politics and youth.
2. Operate group’s own website: ivote Media (http://ivote-media.jp/)
3. Hold online events.
4. Hold “Izakaya ivote” dialogue programs for get-togethers with National Diet members and local politicians.
5. Publish election gazette Yawaraka Senkyo Koho (Gentle Election Gazette), and other publications.
6. Hold mock elections at elementary, junior high and high schools.

Bulletin:
ivote Media (http://ivote-media.jp/)

Officers:
President: Kaito Yamada (3rd year student of International Political Economy, Aoyama Gakuin University)

Vice President: Nonoka Koizumi (1st year student, Faculty of Law, Chuo University)
Secretary-General: Tomohiro Niwa (2nd year student of Human Sciences I, the University of Tokyo)

Director of Public Relations: Kasane Kobayashi (3rd year student of faculty of literature, Taisho University)

17 members (As of May 2020)

一般社団法人 Happy Woman

Address:
6-6-2 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052

Website: 
https://happywoman.online/

Established:  
January 15, 2015

Representative:  
Koichi Ogawa & Tomoharu Koshiba, Representative Directors

Objective of Establishment:
1. Promotion of the SDGs set by the United Nations
2. Create social movements built on the spread of International Women’s Day
3. Build a society in which everyone can participate equally
4. Expand girls’ education, nurture future generations
5. Support single mothers
6. Support female entrepreneurs
7. Support female artisans, creators and engineers
8. Support women’s health
These are the objectives of the organization which aims to realize a society in which all people can demonstrate their individuality and full potential and live happy, enriched lives, and to revitalize the economy and society through the power of women.

History:
November 1, 2020: name changed from Woman Innovation

Activities: 
1. Activities for achieving a society in which women are happy
2. Events/ Seminars/Training
3. Branding/ Marketing
4. Production/ Consulting
5. Planning & Production/ Creative
As part of activities to advance women’s participation in politics with the objective of increasing the number of female parliamentarians in Japan, the organization supports women aspiring to become politicians, helps build networks of incumbent female parliamentarians toward successful achievement of policy, collaborates with Woman Shift, and creates opportunities to connect the activities of female parliamentarians with women active in a range of fields.

Officers:
Representative Director: Koichi Ogawa, Tomoharu Koshiba
Board of Directors: Yoko Sato
Hiroe Tamura
Yasuko Ota
Asako Kimura
Emi Tsuchiya
Kazuya Takahashi

一般社団法人 ユースデモクラシー推進機構

Address:
Kojimachi Plaza 9F, 5-2 Niban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0084

Established:  
July 6, 2015

Representative:
Takatsugu Niki, Kengo Nose & Masami Honda (Co-chairs)

Objective of Establishment:
The Agency takes a youth democracy perspective in its work, applying ICT and other cutting-edge technology to share knowledge for quality improvements in all kinds of political activities and procedures, conduct training activities, and effectively utilize the knowledge and experiences gained in those processes to contribute to flexible and efficient development across society.

Activities: 
Activities center on survey research, educational and training activities, infrastructure projects, and public relations and networking. Hold regular study groups of the Youth Democracy Lab to serve as a space for digital natives to share their expertise and contemplate the future, and for the development of knowledge on sparking real action. Hold monthly meetings of the Rebalance Forum (a public forum), which gathers people to consider and implement a vision for the future of society. Hold the Digital Constitution Forum (DigiKen) – a venue for debate on a constitution for the digital era, modeled on future-oriented youth. Operation of a nationwide, bipartisan platform of young parliamentarians called Nijudai Tosen Giin no Kai (Association of Elected Parliamentarians in their 20s) whose activities are aimed at the transformation of the public mood by reskilling individuals, sharing case studies and methodologies, and cooperating on action.

Officers:
Co-Chair: Takatsugu Niki
       Kengo Nose
       Masami Honda
Managing Director:   Shunsuke Kato
Auditor:   Shin Iida
Director for Special Missions: Shintaro Arae & Fumiya Yamagata

一般社団法人No Youth No Japan

Website:
http://noyouthnojapan.org/

Year Established:  
August 2019

Representative: 
Nojo Momoko, Representative Director

Objective of Establishment:
Aiming to familiarize university students and members of younger generations with the idea of political participation, the organization’s objective is to create opportunities through Instagram and other social media, events and campaigns, for under-30s people to think about society going forward.

History:
July 2019: commenced activities at the time of the Upper House elections

Activities:
Built on the values of (a) Diversity – a voice for each and every person, (b) Interaction – banding together to do what a single person cannot, and (c) Wakuwaku – “nothing starts without
excitement!”, the organization engages in activities for
1. dialogue through an Instagram account
2. contributing to the “senkyo dot com” (Go2senkyo.com) website
3. with the local elections “Vote FOR MY TOWN” project
4. “Talking with Politicians through Instagram”

Bulletin:
Instagram : noyouth_nojapan
YOUTHQUAKE: U30 Sedai ga Tsukuru Seiji to Shakai no Kyokasho (A Textbook on Politics and Society
Built by Under-30s) (book) No Youth No Japan Vol.1: Watashitachi no Ikitai Shakai o Tsukuro, U30 no Tohyo kara Mirai o Tsukuru (Building a Society We Want to Live In, Building the Future with the Votes of Under-30s) (book)

一般社団法人 ヴォイス・アップ・ジャパン

Website:
https://voiceupjapan.org

Established: 
2019

Representative:
Kazuna Yamamoto, President

Objective of Establishment: 
Voice Up Japan envisions an equitable society in Japan where anyone can feel safe to live and speak up regardless of one’s gender, sexuality, race, nationality, or religion.

History:
The Voice Up Japan was established in early 2019 by Kazuna Yamamoto after she started a petition on change.org against a Weekly SPA tabloid magazine article that ranked universities by their ease of access to female students for sex. A few months later, Voice Up Japan and two other human rights groups started a petition to push for legal reform of the law regarding sexual violence in Japan after the acquittal of a father who was accused of sexually abusing his junior high school daughter. The petition asked for a revision of the penal code to make sex without consent a crime, and the signatures were presented to the Minister of Justice. In less than a year, nearly 100,000 signatures had been collected. In November 2019, the group held a press conference on the serious situation of sexual harassment faced by Japanese job-hunting students which attracted much attention in Japan and abroad.

Activities:
Lectures and events are held for government officials, embassies, schools, and universities, on social issues that are still commonplace in Japan, such as gender disparity, sexual violence, and misogyny. Aims to raise awareness of social issues by building a community through such activities as web articles and demonstrations.
1. Law reform, education, and other enlightening activities aimed at eliminating gender-based violence such as sexual violence
2. Advocacy activities to increase the proportion of women in political and decision-making situations
3. Empower, educate, and train the next generation of leaders so that the voices of the youth can reach the decision-makers. The group has student branches at universities nationwide to support student activities.
4. Emphasize the importance of diversity in society and decision-making, and make partnerships and recommendations to increase diversity in Japanese society and organizations.

Bulletin:
Published “Sexual Consent Handbook” in collaboration with the Keio University Branch and SafeCampus Keio, an organization at Keio University that aims to eradicate sexual violence.

Officers:
President: Kazuna Yamamoto
Board of Director: Johann Fleuri
Yu Ogawa
Elif Erdogan
Wolfer Christian
Toshiya Nishimura

スタンド・バイ・ウィメン

Website:
https://standbywomen.mystrikingly.com/

Established
May 2021

Representative:
Mari Hamada, President

Objective of Establishment: 
The organization aims to achieve gender equality, to stand by female parliamentarians who speak out for the protection of human rights, widen the circle of solidarity between women, and support their activities in elections and other areas. It supports female parliamentarians and candidates who sympathize with  causes such as support for optional separate surnames for married couples and same-sex marriage, and opposition to discrimination against transgender people. It wants to resolve the gender gap in political circles and build a society in which female parliamentarians and candidates and election staff can engage in political activities with peace of mind.

History:
Bipartisan organization established in May 2021 by interested students, full-time workers, parliamentarians, academics, and others who share its ideals.

Activities:
1. Support activities for female parliamentarians and candidates: propose engagement methods, create a support manual, share know-how, and hold study groups to enable women to engage in elections and political activities with ease.
2. Serve as an accessible channel for women who want to support female parliamentarians: connecting female parliamentarians and candidates who share the ideal of gender equality with women interested in roles as staff, volunteers, and interns.
3. Information dissemination based on research data and surveys: share information on the gender gap in politics, and plan and hold events for women interested in politics.
4. Hold lectures on strategies for dealing with online harassment and offer harassment training to parliamentarians.