Social Innovation in Focus: A US-Japan Dialogue
Join us October 30!
This public forum will focus on the past, present, and future of social innovation through the lens of the evolving US-Japan relationship.
Alumni of the Social Innovation Forum Japan (SIFJ)—a pioneering iLEAP program funded by The Japan Foundation—will reflect on the impact the initiative has had since its inception in 2011, sharing personal stories of social innovation and the successes they’ve experienced.
The event will also examine where we stand today in terms of social innovation, with discussions on how US-Japan collaborations have helped address pressing global challenges like resilience and inclusivity. Looking forward, the forum will explore how continued cooperation between the two nations, combined with emerging technologies, can shape the future of social innovation.
進化し続ける日米関係の視点を通して、ソーシャルイノベーションの過去、現在、そして未来に焦点を当てるパブリックフォーラムです。国際交流基金の支援を受け、2011年に設立したiLEAPプログラム「ソーシャルイノベーションフォーラムジャパン（SIFJ）」の卒業生たちが、設立からこの取り組みがもたらした影響を振り返り、彼ら自身のソーシャルイノベーションに関する経験や学びを語ります。
また、現在のソーシャルイノベーションの現状を見つめ、日米の協力がレジリエンスやインクルージョンなどのグローバルな課題へどのように貢献してきたかについて議論します。さらに、今後を見据え、両国間の継続的な協力と新しい技術の融合が、ソーシャルイノベーションの未来をどのように形作るかについても探っていきます。
- Venue: Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel 39F
26-1 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8512 - Time: 3:30 – 5:30 PM
- Cost: FREE
Panel Participants
Tomoko Shirai, CEO of Children's Policy think tank
Tomoko Shirai, born in Chiba Prefecture, is an expert in children’s education and welfare. A graduate of the University of Tokyo and the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management, she has established several learning spaces for children, including Japan’s first publicly-funded, privately-managed free school and after-school care for children affected by the 2011 earthquake. Tomoko also served as the representative director of the New Public Association and currently leads a children’s policy think tank focused on educational reform. She is a member of several government committees and a regular TV commentator on social policy.
Hideyuki Inoue, Co-Founder, Just Be LLC
Hideyuki Inoue is the co-founder of Stanford Social Innovation Review Japan and co-representative of INNO-Lab International. After graduating from Keio University and earning a graduate degree from George Washington University, Hideyuki joined the NPO ETIC., where he launched Japan's first social venture business plan competition, "STYLE," in 2001. In 2003, he founded Social Venture Partners Tokyo to support young social entrepreneurs. Over the years, Hideyuki has developed courses on social entrepreneurship, with his project-based learning method, "My Project," now widely used across Japan. A Young Global Leader recognized by the World Economic Forum in 2009, Hideyuki’s recent work focuses on integrating mindfulness with social innovation, fostering leadership that drives meaningful change. His paper, "Collective Impact in Practice," was published in Diamond Harvard Business Review in 2019.
Maco Yoshioka, CEO & Founder, Single Mother Sisterhood
Maco Yoshioka is the founder and president of Single Mothers’ Sisterhood, launched in 2021 to support the physical and mental well-being of single mothers. With 22 years of experience leading Madre Bonita, a nonprofit she founded to assist postpartum women, Maco has dedicated her career to women's health. A University of Tokyo graduate, she also studied sports science and has a personal connection to her work as a single mother herself. Her new initiative provides self-care classes online to empower single mothers across Japan.
Takuya Okamoto, Founder, LiveEquality
Takuya Okamoto is the CEO of Sennen Construction and a social entrepreneur dedicated to providing secure housing. He is also the founder of LivEQuality, a movement promoting inclusivity and empowerment. In addition to his business, Takuya is an educator and avid practitioner of mindfulness, farming, and various physical activities, striving to create a more just and sustainable world.
Ayumi Matsubara (Suzuki), Head of Communications, Domino’s Pizza Japan
Ayumi Matsubara is the Head of Communications for Domino’s Pizza Japan, where she manages corporate communications and consumer PR. With over 28 years of experience in public relations and corporate affairs, Ayumi has also led CSR efforts through Sanchoku Domino’s since 2022. Prior to her corporate roles, she worked for a non-profit organization C’s (Coalition for legislation to support citizens’ organizations) for about 20 years, promoting legislation such as the NPO Law and the approved specified NPO corporation system. After that, she worked in global PR, corporate communications, and crisis management at a global PR agency, and in 2019, she worked to improve brand recognition from the launch of the PR department at a foreign online travel agency.
Yuya Nishimura, CEO & Founder, Esse-Sense
Yuya Nishimura is the CEO of esse-sense, a media platform connecting researchers in Japan to society. His company operates a large database of 340,000 researchers, organizes conferences, and facilitates partnerships between businesses and researchers. Yuya’s innovative work in research and entrepreneurship is closely tied to the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, with whom he collaborates annually.
Kaoru Utada, Director of Programs and Partnerships, US-Japan Council
Kaoru Utada is the Director of Programs & Partnerships at the U.S.-Japan Council, where she has worked since 2012. She is a leader in U.S.-Japan relations, overseeing programs that empower students and young professionals. With a background in broadcast journalism at ABC News, Fuji TV, and NHK, Kaoru is also passionate about volunteer work, particularly in disaster response. She holds a BA from Skidmore College and is the founder of the Hoshuko Alumni Association.
Dr. Joshua Walker, CEO & President, Japan Society
Dr. Joshua W. Walker is the President and CEO of Japan Society. A global strategist, he previously led initiatives at Eurasia Group and represented the U.S. at the 2017 World Expo in Kazakhstan. With a diverse career spanning government, academia, and international relations, Joshua holds degrees from the University of Richmond, Yale, and Princeton. Bilingual and bicultural, he spent his early years in Japan, where his parents continue to serve as missionaries.
Jake Schlesinger, CEO, United States-Japan Foundation
Jacob M. Schlesinger is the president and CEO of the United States-Japan Foundation, an organization focused on strengthening relations between the two countries. A seasoned journalist, he spent over 30 years at The Wall Street Journal, covering significant global events, including Japan’s 2011 Fukushima disaster. He is also the author of Shadow Shoguns and a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize. Schlesinger holds a BA in economics from Harvard and is currently based in Washington, D.C.
Moderator:
Dr. Britt Yamamoto, Founder, RootSpring, Author
Dr. Britt Yamamoto is an educator, changemaker, and best-selling author of The Soil of Leadership: Cultivating the Conditions for Transformation. As a clinical associate professor at the University of Washington and the founder of leadership organizations such as Perennial, RootSpring, and SOIL, Britt has helped nurture the leadership potential of individuals worldwide. His work spans multiple sectors and geographies, from India to Mexico, fostering personal and collective transformation.