#Japan #Fukuoka #Fish Family Foundation #JWLI Bootcamp

JWLI Bootcamp 2025: A Platform for Women's Leadership in Fukuoka

The Fish Family Foundation, based in Boston, has taken another significant step in empowering women leaders by announcing the JWLI Bootcamp 2025, scheduled for July 25-27, 2025 in Fukuoka, Japan. This bootcamp primarily aims to cultivate female leaders dedicated to solving local issues in the Kyushu, Okinawa, and Chugoku regions. The initiative is part of the broader Japanese Women’s Leadership Initiative (JWLI), founded by Akiko and Larry Fish in 2003.

With over 200 graduates to date, JWLI programs include the JWLI Fellowship, CCJA (Champion of Change Japan Award), JWLI Bootcamp, and JWLI Scholarship. These programs focus on developing and recognizing women leaders, especially in the social sector.

The JWLI Bootcamp offers a condensed version of the four-week Boston program in a three-day intensive workshop format in Japanese. It is designed to prepare women leaders to capture community voices and create sustainable societal changes. Previous bootcamps have successfully been held in various locations including Nagoya, Ishinomaki, Tokushima, Osaka, and Sapporo, demonstrating the growing interest and need for such platforms across Japan.

Program Overview:

The upcoming bootcamp will accept 16 participants from a pool of 33 applicants, focusing on women leaders active in the specified regions. The participants will engage in various sessions aimed at enhancing their leadership skills and gaining insights into social entrepreneurship.

• - Dates: July 25-27, 2025
• - Location: Botanical Life Square, Fukuoka City Botanical Garden, 5-1-1 Kozasa, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, 810-0033

Key Sessions:

• - July 25 (Fri):

- Opening Session: Creating New Societal Values and Sustainable Organizational Management
- Networking Event (inviting participants, instructors, and supporters)

• - July 26 (Sat):

- Ito Session: Business Planning for Social Impact
- Namiki Session: Developing Self-Awareness and Confidence as Leaders

• - July 27 (Sun):

- Participant Presentations: Showcase of outcomes from the two-day program
- Graduation Ceremony: Certificates awarded and chosen participants receive the opportunity to speak at Venture Café Tokyo, an innovation community spanning five countries across nine cities in Asia.

Instructors:

The bootcamp will feature experienced instructors including:

• - Eriko Ito: Executive Director of the Social Impact Management Initiative and JWLI 2019 Fellow.
• - Noriko Namiki: Head of the American non-profit YWCA Oahu and Certified StrengthsFinder Coach.

Participants:

A diverse group of leaders has been selected through a competitive process:

• - Yumiko Akiba: Non-profit Asobi to Manabi Kenkyujo
• - Kiyoko Ando: Non-profit Parent Support Step
• - Hiromi Egashira: Non-profit Socio no Mori
• - Yasuko Ohara: Rutas Works Co., Ltd.
• - Ikuko Kawaguchi: Non-profit Japan Inclusive Creators Association
• - And several others, representing various impactful organizations in Japan.

Organizing Body:

The Fish Family Foundation leads the JWLI initiatives and was established in 1999 to aid underprivileged youth in Boston and foster women leaders in Japan. This aligns with their mission to support socio-economic development by empowering individuals in their communities.

Founder's Vision:

Akiko Fish has tirelessly promoted women’s leadership and disaster relief efforts, raising significant funds for victims in Tohoku, Japan. Her accolades include the Champion of Change award from the White House and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.

For those interested in learning more, visit the JWLI website.

Partnerships:

The event is co-organized with Anzen Kaigi Co. Ltd., an organization dedicated to improving safety in transportation and workplace environments, and the Fukuoka City Botanical Garden, which provides the venue for this inspiring initiative.

Support:

The bootcamp is supported by Fukuoka City and the Fukuoka Prefectural Gender Equality Center, as well as cooperating with Venture Café Tokyo, emphasizing a collaborative effort towards enhancing women’s leadership networks in Japan.