Women's Initiative for Sustainable Empowerment

We express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support. Our flagship social innovation program, 2023 WISE in Saku-Karuizawa, Nagano, was a tremendous success, thanks to the dedication of our talented mentors and facilitators. We were delighted to welcome 29 participants from various countries, including the United States, Cambodia, Venezuela, Colombia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Norway, and Japan.

Our esteemed mentors included Mr. Tatsuya Matsui, a globally-active robot designer, and Ms. Marika Tazawa, the owner of Kurabito Stay, where travelers can immerse themselves in the sake-brewing experience in Saku. The program took place at Yuai Sanso, a beautiful garden in Karuizawa, where we all shared invaluable moments together. After COVID years, we strongly believe that such an engaging and intimate event within our WISE program will have a profound impact on the participants.

The winning team, composed of energetic individuals aged 16-19, showcased remarkable ideas and enthusiasm. We sincerely hope that the experiences they shared here will create a ripple effect, ultimately bringing about positive change on a broader societal level. As you may be aware, rural areas like Nagano, younger generations and women continue to face challenges stemming from unconscious bias and traditional gender-based roles imposed upon them. Breaking free from the conservative mindset deeply rooted in tightly knit communities remains a significant hurdle for them. JSIE remains committed to providing opportunities for these younger generations and women to unlock their full potential.

We would like to extend special thanks to our supporters at GlobalGiving for their invaluable assistance in running this program. Once again, thank you for your continued support. We are thrilled to announce that we will be continuing this project for 2024!

Links:

• Ms. Marika's Kurabito stay continues to attract many sake lovers
• Mr. Matsui's artistic way of life really attracts everyone!

• 2023_WISE_SakuKaruizawa_report_E.pdf (PDF)
  

We are so grateful for your continued support. We are fully prepared for our flagship social innovation program, 2023 WISE in Saku-Karuizawa in Nagano, with talented mentors and facilitators. For example, our mentors include a globally-active robot designer, an IT boot camp co-founder from Silicon valley and the owner of Kurabito stay where travelers can try sake-brewery experience. We just opened registration for 30-35 capacity (first-come, first-serve) and participants can join our workshop at a beautiful garden stay in Karuizawa to share valuable time together. The total number of WISE fellows reached more than 240, and we strongly feel that such a small scale of our WISE program will make an impact on participants and eventually create a ripple effect in the society. Please circulate workshop info for those who may be interested in. The program is in English so that participants can freely discuss ideas in a frank manner. We have gained local support from Karuizawa village and Saku city municipalities and supporters like you from GlobalGiving.

In Japan's rural areas like Nagano, younger generations and women continue to suffer from unconscious bias or traditional gender-based roles pressed upon them. The biggest hurdle for them is to break the mind-set chain of a conservative community of tight knitted values. JSIE continues to provide opportunities for those younger generations and females to unlock their full potential. Thanks again for your support. We will keep you updated for the 2023 WISE program in Saku-Karuizawa.

Links:

• WISE in Saku-Karuizawa
• WISE program overview
• 2019 report of WISE in Beppu, Oita prefecture