The expertise and experiences of women were at the forefront of an extended conversation during the first U.S.-Japan Women Leaders Dialogue convened by the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) in September 2017 in Tarrytown, New York. The two-day event capped the 2017 gathering of JCIE’s Parliamentary Exchange Program.

The program report.

Made possible in part through a Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission grant, the dialogue convened two dozen women leaders with diverse backgrounds across a wide spectrum of sectors from both countries. Among this prominent group of leaders were five members of the Diet delegation traveling to the U.S. as part of JCIE’s Parliamentary Exchange Program, including Internal Affairs Minister Seiko Noda, the highest-ranking woman presently serving in the Japanese government.

“I applaud JUSFC and the other funders of the dialogue for their foresight in recognizing that the challenges Japanese and American women face are all too similar,” said JCIE/USA Executive Director Jim Gannon. “Exchanging lessons on ways to support women leaders and expand their opportunities to contribute to US-Japan relations are critical to strengthening US-Japan ties.”

Japan’s Internal Affairs Minister, Honorable Seiko Noda addressed the group.

In its recent release of the report, Common Ground and Common Obstacles, JCIE highlights key takeaways and summaries of the inspiring discussions. Ideas ranged from sharing best practices for supporting women in politics and empowering women in the workplace, to groundbreaking recommendations such as the creation of a women’s caucus in the Japanese Diet. One significant thread throughout the day was how the U.S.-Japan alliance should be sustained as the cornerstone of stability in Asia.

The conversation also delved into broader cooperation around global policy issues such as economic populism and security, which echoed the tone of the longstanding record of dialogues fostered by JCIE’s U.S.-Japan Parliamentary Exchange Program, from which this historic women’s dialogue emerges.

Claire Chino, Executive Officer and General Council, ITOCHU Corporation, offered her thoughts on work-life balance. Listening in were (L to R): Hon. Seiko Noda, Wendy Cutler (VP & Managing Director, Asia Society Policy Institute), Peggy Blumenthal (IIE), Hon. Takae Ito (Democratic Party), Atsuko Toko Fish (Fish Family Foundation and Japan Women Leader’s Initiative).

Bringing 294 embers of the U.S. Congress and Japanese Diet to one another’s countries since its inception, the exchange program continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing understanding amid maturing U.S.-Japan relations.

The full JCIE report is available for download here. Click here to learn more about JUSFC’s institutional grant program.