Topic

The pandemic has laid bare the weaknesses in societies worldwide and particularly the inequities in terms of racial, economic, and gender disparities. It has also weakened public trust in government and science, which in turn has negatively impacted the ability to control the pandemic.

• How has the COVID crisis impacted Japanese and American women’s ability to participate in the workforce and advance in their careers?
• How can the post-pandemic recovery be leveraged to create new, more equitable systems and institutions for women in the US and Japan?
• How can women in politics work to promote greater trust in government and science in ways that can foster greater resiliency in the future?

Welcome & Introduction

Ms. Hideko Katsumata, Executive Director & COO, JCIE/Japan
Ms. Peggy Blumenthal, Chair, JCIE/USA; Senior Counselor to the President, Institute of International Education

Initial Remarks from Dialogue Co-Chairs

Hon. Diana DeGette, Member, US House of Representatives (D-CO)
Hon. Seiko Noda, Member, House of Representatives of Japan, Executive Acting Secretary-General, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

Remarks from Resource Persons

Ms. Sachiko Habu, Editor-in-chief, Nikkei xwoman
Ms. Sheryl WuDunn, Co-founder, FullSky Partners; Author; former journalist, New York Times; Pulitzer Prize winner for journalism

Moderated Discussion

Topic

The first session of the US-Japan Women Leaders Dialogue examined ways in which the pandemic has laid bare the weaknesses in our societies and particularly the gender inequities in such areas as the impact the pandemic has had on full-time vs. part-time/contract-based employees, people’s ability to telecommute and their access to technology, availability of paid sick leave and family leave, access to childcare and eldercare, and the work-life balance and gendered roles in the home. It was agreed that “getting back to normal” after the pandemic subsides is not an option. In Session 2, participants discussed the following:

• What do we want the post-pandemic “normal” to look like?
• What specific policies and practices can be introduced to create new, more equitable systems and institutions for women in the US and Japan?
• How can women in the United States and Japan work together and work with women around the world to ensure that the evolving global economy and the next normal reflect women’s voices and interests?

Welcome & Introduction

Ms. Hideko Katsumata, Executive Director & COO, JCIE/Japan
Ms. Peggy Blumenthal, Chair, JCIE/USA; Senior Counselor to the President, Institute of International Education

Remarks from Resource Person

Yoko Takeda, Chief Economist and General Manager of the Research Center for Policy and Economy at Mitsubishi Research Institute

Initial Remarks from Dialogue Co-Chairs

Hon. Diana DeGette, Member, US House of Representatives (D-CO)
Hon. Seiko Noda, Member, House of Representatives of Japan, Executive Acting Secretary-General, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

Moderated Discussion

Topic

The first two sessions of the 2021 US-Japan Women Leaders Dialogue underscored the need for greater participation by women in the policymaking and workplace arenas in order to address gender inequities and ensure that the full potential of women can be realized in our economies and in our communities. Despite some progress, women’s political participation in both countries remains woefully inadequate. In the final session participants discussed the following:

• What strategies are most effective in encouraging women to engage in and thrive in politics at the local and national levels?
• What can we learn from one another?
• Where can women leaders in both countries most effectively work together to support one another and strengthen US-Japan ties?

Welcome & Introduction

Ms. Hideko Katsumata, Executive Director & COO, JCIE/Japan
Ms. Peggy Blumenthal, Chair, JCIE/USA; Senior Counselor to the President,  Institute of International Education

Remarks from Resource Person

Ms. Deborah Walsh, Director, Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers
University

Initial Remarks from Dialogue Co-Chairs

Hon. Diana DeGette, Member, US House of Representatives (D-CO)
Hon. Seiko Noda, Member, House of Representatives of Japan, Executive Acting Secretary-General, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

Moderated Discussion