Envoys call for stronger women's leadership across Asia-Pacific

Japanese Ambassador to South Korea, Koichi Mizushima, advocated for greater women's leadership in the Asia-Pacific region during a celebration marking the 10th anniversary of Women Corporate Directors (WCD) Korea. Addressing the event in Seoul, Mizushima stressed that Japan's recent election of its first female prime minister is a testament to decades of deliberate efforts to promote women's participation in politics.

He highlighted Japan's commitment to gender equality, pointing to the country's 1999 Basic Act for Gender Equal Society and the recent introduction of the Sixth Basic Plan for Gender Equality aimed at fostering women in leadership roles. Mizushima emphasized the significance of empowering the next generation, noting that Japan's foreign ministry established the Next Generation Gender Network in 2025 to cultivate young leaders and enhance cross-border cooperation, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

The ambassador stressed that the ultimate objective remains clear: to create a society where women wield a strong voice and actively engage in decision-making processes.