JCIE held the first US-Japan Women Leaders Dialogue to convene top women leaders from varying walks of life in both countries at the beautiful Pocantico Conference Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. This included four members of a Diet delegation traveling to the United States on JCIE’s Parliamentary Exchange Program, as well as Internal Affairs Minister Seiko Noda, the highest-ranking woman presently serving in the Japanese Cabinet.
A group of 25 inspirational women (and a few men) from the political, business, think tank, academic, media, and philanthropic sectors joined to discuss ways to advance women’s leadership in domestic politics and business, work-life balance, and broader issues of policy concern: the US-Japan alliance and promoting stability in Asia Pacific, US-Japan cooperation in supporting the international order, and the shared challenges of globalization and economic populism.
The dialogue was made possible through the generous support of the Henry Luce Foundation and the Japan-US Friendship Commission.
Friday, September 15
Opening Reception
Dinner
[Welcoming remarks]
Ms. Peggy Blumenthal, Chair, JCIE/USA; Senior Counselor to the President, Institute of International Education
Ms. Hideko Katsumata, Executive Director & COO, JCIE/Japan
[Opening keynote]
Hon. Seiko Noda, Minister of Internal Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan; Minister in Charge of Women’s Empowerment; Member, House of Representatives of Japan
Saturday, September 16
Advancing Women’s Leadership in Domestic Politics
[Initial comments]
Hon Kuniko Inoguchi, Member, House of Councillors of Japan; former Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs
The US-Japan Alliance & Asia Pacific Stability
[Initial comments]
Amb. Rosemary DiCarlo, President, National Committee on American Foreign Policy; former US Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Dr. Takako Hikotani, Columbia University
US-Japan Cooperation in Supporting the Liberal International Order
[Initial comments]
Ms. Aiko Doden, Senior Commentator on International Affairs, NHK Broadcasting
Ms. Susan Berresford, former President, Ford Foundation
Shared Challenges of Globalization and Economic Populism
[Initial comments]
Ms. Wendy Cutler, Vice President & Managing Director, Washington DC Office, Asia Society; former Acting Deputy US Trade Representative
Hon. Toshiko Takeya, Member, House of Councillors
Sunday, September 17
Women and Work: Meeting the Challenges of Work-Life Balance, Healthcare, and Aging
[Initial comments]
Claire Chino, Executive Officer and General Counsel, Itochu Corporation
Wrap-up Session
[Reflections]
Hon. Seiko Noda, Minister of Internal Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan; Minister in Charge of Women’s Empowerment; Member, House of Representatives of Japan
Ms. Peggy Blumenthal, Chair, JCIE/USA; Senior Counselor to the President, institute of International Education
Ms. Hideko Katsumata, Executive Director & COO, JCIE/Japan
RELATED NEWS
JCIE Publications | Common Ground and Common Obstacles: US-Japan Women Leaders Dialogue
Highlights of a two-day discussion among American and Japanese women leaders on the shared political, security, and societal challenges facing their countries and on ways to advance women’s leadership at home and in the US-Japan relationship.
US-Japan Parliamentary Exchange | 2017 Japanese Women Leaders Visit to the US
JCIE’s 2017 US-Japan Parliamentary Exchange Program delegation from Japan was comprised entirely of women for the first time ever. Five impressive legislators and one senior journalist joined us for a weeklong program.
