About
Drive action to address the inequalities faced by women in Japan and create lasting solutions
This one-day conference will explore the current status of women in Japan. Participants will assess current barriers for women and consider future opportunities for social transformation. The various speakers, panel discussion, and break out speakers will engage young people with the most pressing social, political, and economic issues facing women in Japan. We are honored to announce that Ms. Kathy Matsui, Ms. Motoko Rich, and Ms. Yumiko Murakami will be our keynote speakers. There is no fee to attend, but we will gladly accept donations for AUW.
Kathy Matsui
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Kathy Matsui is vice chair of Goldman Sachs Japan, co-head of Macro Research in Asia and chief Japan equity strategist. She is a member of the Asia Pacific Management Committee and Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd. Executive Committee.
Kathy was ranked No. 1 in Japan Equity Strategy by Institutional Investor magazine multiple times, she was chosen by The Wall Street Journal newspaper as one of the “10 Women to Watch in Asia” in 2007 for her work on the “Womenomics” theme, and she was also named to Bloomberg Markets magazine’s “50 Most Influential” list in 2014.
Kathy has served on numerous government committees aimed at promoting gender diversity in Japan. She is a board member of the Asian University for Women (AUW) Support Foundation, chair of the Board of Councilors (Japan) of the US-Japan Council, director of the Fast Retailing Foundation, member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and Keizai Doyukai. She also serves on the Advisory Council for the Japan Society Fund Against Breast Cancer.
Kathy earned an AB, magna cum laude, in Social Studies from Harvard University and an MA from Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies.
Motoko Rich
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Motoko Rich is Tokyo bureau chief of the New York Times. She has been a journalist for 26 years in London, Atlanta and New York and worked at the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal before moving to the Times in 2003. Over her career she has covered a wide range of beats, including real estate, book publishing, economics, education and environmental issues. She grew up mostly in northern California, but attended ASIJ for two years in elementary school. As Tokyo bureau chief she reports on politics, society culture and international relations. She has written extensively about the role of women in Japan, with pieces about working mothers, daycare, why women are increasingly remaining single and the lack of women at Tokyo University.
Yumiko Murakami
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Since Yumiko joined OECD in 2013 as the head of OECD Tokyo Centre, she has been at the forefront of policy discussions between OECD and governments, businesses and academia in Japan and Asia, covering a wide range of economic policy issues.
She has been leading discussions with various stake holders in
Japan and Asia, particularly in the areas of Corporate Governance, tax guidelines, gender diversity, education, international trade and innovation. Prior to joining the OECD, Yumiko held a number of leadership positions as a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse. Yumiko has diverse professional experiences, ranging from banking in New York and London to UN Peace Keep Operations in Cambodia.
Yumiko has an MBA from Harvard University, MA from
Stanford University and BA from Sophia University. She sits on the Japan Advisory Board of Harvard Business School as well as several advisory committees of the Japanese Government. She is the author of a bestseller book, “Turning Demographic Challenges into Economic Opportunities” (Japanese only) Ranked #1 at Amazon Japan, economics category.
Schedule
13:00 - 14:00
Keynote Speakers
Kathy Matsui, Motoko Rich, and Yumiko Murakami will talk about their journeys to success and address the current problems and status regarding gender equality in Japan.
14:00 - 14:45
In this panel discussion, our three speakers will partake in a Q&A session led by SAGE leaders.
Panel Discussion
14:45 - 15:15
Break
There will be a thirty minute break before breakout sessions begin. During this break, there will be food, activities, and an opportunity to network.
15:15-16:50
Breakout Session
All attendees will split up into their breakout groups (society, politics, or economics) to collaborate and create lasting solutions to existing issues in these fields.
Get in Touch with SAGE
The American School in Japan (ASIJ) Students Advocating for Gender Equality’s (SAGE) mission is to spread awareness about gender inequality issues all around the world, while also raising money for the Asian University for Women (AUW) in Bangladesh. Last year SAGE was able to raise enough money to support the scholarship of one young woman to the Asian University for Women.
1-1-1 Nomizu, Chofu, Tokyo, Japan 182-0031
