Women's Initiative for Sustainable Empowerment

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support. Thanks to your generosity and the dedication of our outstanding mentors and facilitators, our flagship social innovation program, WISE in Obuse 2026, was a tremendous success.

This year, we welcomed 27 participants representing 13 countries—Bangladesh, China, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Ukraine, and the United States. Together, they spent three inspiring days collaborating across cultures and disciplines to develop innovative solutions to pressing social challenges.

Our distinguished mentors guided participants throughout the program with their expertise and personal experiences. a world-renowned robot designer and co-producer of the Robot Momo Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, shared his unique perspective on creativity, innovation, and systems design. A CEO and a leading public relations strategist, provided practical insights into business development and risk management. Founding investor and co-managing partner of Brewing Company, encouraged participants to remain grounded in practicality and to design solutions from the user's perspective. Their mentorship inspired participants to refine their ideas while gaining valuable lessons from each mentor's professional journey.

The program was held in the beautiful town of Obuse in Nagano Prefecture, where the legendary artist Katsushika Hokusai spent his later years and created the magnificent ceiling painting of a dragon at Ganshoin Temple. The inspiring setting reminded participants that creativity and innovation can flourish even in small rural communities.

The teams tackled a wide range of social issues. Their projects included an initiative that connects crocheted patchwork blankets from around the world to support people living in poverty while building a global movement of solidarity, and an interactive social media platform designed to foster meaningful dialogue on important social issues. The Special Obuse Town Award was awarded to a project that connects Kenyan avocado farmers directly with the Japanese market while sharing the stories of the producers, creating both economic opportunities and deeper social value.

We sincerely hope that the friendships, knowledge, and experiences cultivated during WISE in Obuse will continue to create a ripple effect, inspiring positive change in communities around the world.

At the same time, we remain deeply committed to addressing challenges closer to home. Rural communities in Japan—including Obuse and many other regions—continue to face barriers created by unconscious bias and traditional gender expectations, particularly affecting women and younger generations. Overcoming long-standing social norms within close-knit communities is not easy, but we believe that empowering individuals with confidence, skills, and global networks can help unlock their full potential. JSIE will continue creating opportunities where people from diverse backgrounds can learn from one another and become changemakers in their own communities.

Finally, we extend our deepest appreciation to our supporters at GlobalGiving, whose generous support made this program possible. We are also grateful to everyone who has believed in our mission and invested in the next generation of social innovators.

Thank you once again for your continued encouragement and support. We are delighted to share that, following the success of this year's program, WISE in Obuse will return in 2027. We look forward to another year of empowering future leaders and creating lasting social impact together.

Links:

• WISE in Obuse program report