Join us for an insightful discussion next Wednesday, September 12, as Rina shares her career journey, how that can empower you to have a voice, and how to use that to bring about change.

Register for the meeting here!

The post Q&A with Rina Bovrisse, activist and founder of the Chateau School appeared first on FEW Japan.

Join us for an insightful discussion next Thursday, June 14, as Cynthia shares her career journey and her mission of empowering women in Japan to find new beginnings by reinventing themselves at any stage of life, re-entering the paid workforce, and kick-starting a rewarding career. Register for the meeting here!

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
I know very well what perfect happiness is! I clearly felt it one afternoon in Bangkok. My daughter was in high school, and she was on her summer vacation. My husband who always came home for lunch, had gone back to the office. My daughter and I were lying on the bed chatting. I knew I was perfectly happy. And that is why I know I am not perfectly happy now, and will never be again because I cannot bring back the past. I no longer aim for perfect happiness. I am fine with being content.

What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear is that my daughter will pass before me.

What is your current state of mind?
Focused.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Tact.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My daughter.

When and where were you happiest?
As stated above, when I was raising my daughter in Bangkok.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Writing

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My daughter

What is your most treasured possession?
Family photos

What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?
To Kill a Mockingbird

Who are your heroes in real life?
None

What is your motto?
If I agree to do anything, I will do it to the best of my abilities.

What does FEW mean to you?
Nothing in particular

When have you have felt most empowered?
When I realized I have the means to walk away from anything that is against my principles.

The post Q&A with Cynthia Usui, author and Head of Hospitality, Tokyo 2020 Olympics, The Coca-Cola Company appeared first on FEW Japan.

Join us for an insightful discussion this Thursday, April 12, on how to incorporate key legal skills and mindsets into your personal and professional lives, along with how Catherine and Naoko help women find a voice through law, and other key issues, such as the ‘Me Too’ movement in Japan. Register for the meeting here!

Catherine O’Connell

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Healthy body, healthy mind and being with family & friends.

What is your greatest fear?

Dark caves with cold flowing water.

What is your current state of mind?

Serene and excited at the same time.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

(False) modesty/gratitude (seen so much on social “I’m so pleased to be chosen to… I am so thankful for the opportunity to…). So, when “grateful” is used as a way to market and promote oneself rather than actually being thankful.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My dad.

When and where were you happiest?

Talking with my dad on the phone from Japan to New Zealand.

Which talent would you most like to have?

An ability to predict the future.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? 

Being a trusted advisor. In an ethics/compliance investigation, where a witness told me the only reason they spoke up and told the truth was because they trusted me, that they felt protected and that I showed empathy. The evidence from that witness allowed us to finally get rid of the evil people in the business that no one wanted to speak up about. That moment was when I knew that my work as a lawyer had meaning and was valuable to others.

What is your most treasured possession?

Photos of my family and friends.

What do you most value in your friends?

That they are not fair-weather friends.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?

“The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin (also “Presence” by Amy Cuddy).

Who are your heroes in real life?

My mum… and my mum again.

What is your motto? 

See the picture here. To fill one’s life with experiences not things. To have stories to tell, not stuff to show.

What does FEW mean to you?

A place to connect with like-minded and diverse-minded women, share experiences and help each other with our various talents/knowledge/experiences.

When have you have felt most empowered?

Right now, as I launch my own business. It’s like the gates opened to an open field and I am able to do anything I want, only limited by myself.

Naoko Matsuzaki

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Health, peaceful state of mind, independence, freedom.

What is your greatest fear?

Losing important people in my life (family, close friends, mentors who helped me in critical circumstances).

What is your current state of mind?

Satisfied overall, enjoying my new adventure.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Feminineness.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Mom.

When and where were you happiest?

College, Law school.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Youthfulness, both mentally and physically.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Being accepted to and graduating from Stanford (I still think it was a miracle…).

What is your most treasured possession?

Pictures and memories.

What do you most value in your friends?

Trust, sharing same values.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?

“What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20” by Tiena Seelig.

Who are your heroes in real life?

Mom.

What is your motto?

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever.”

What does FEW mean to you?

A place to learn from others and get inspired.

When have you have felt most empowered?

When I was able to help people overcome challenges, when clients or colleagues call me for help.

The post Q&A with Catherine O’Connell and Naoko Matsuzaki appeared first on FEW Japan.

Join us for an insightful panel discussion on how diverse young women are serving as grassroots agents of progressive change in Tohoku as they #PressforProgess at our meeting this Thursday, March 15. Register for the meeting here!

Jackie F. Steele

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Watching my children grow and play without inhibition.

What is your greatest fear?

A major earthquake in Tokyo and being separated from my kids.

What is your current state of mind?

Ready to challenge new ways of living and working.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

In academia, being prolific in published articles.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

The possibility of democratic politics.

When and where were you happiest?

When I saw my daughter’s face for the first time.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Cooking skills would be practical, but I actually love eating what my partner cooks for the family.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Raising children without losing my individuality and autonomy.

What is your most treasured possession?

My freedom and my family.

What do you most value in your friends?

Generosity of spirit, genuine loyalty, funny critical wit.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?

The Sexual Contract, by Carole Pateman.

Who are your heroes in real life?

Charles Taylor, Iris Marion Young, Machiavelli, Jack Layton.

What is your motto? ´

The personal is political.

What does FEW mean to you?

A space for global women to connect and learn together in Tokyo.

When have you have felt most empowered?

When performing with Kamo Tsunamura Daiko in Sendai.

Megumi Ishimoto

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Laughing and chatting with friends and family.

What is your greatest fear?

The next mega earthquake in Japan.

What is your current state of mind?

Getting ready for my next project.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

The Japanese virtue of modesty .

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My partner.

When and where were you happiest?

When I believed I was going to be Peter Pan.

Which talent would you most like to have?

IT.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A network of next generation women change agents in Tohoku.

What is your most treasured possession?

My team.

What do you most value in your friends?

Authenticity.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?

I don’t know, but “How the other half dies: The real reasons for world hunger” changed my mindset.

Who are your heroes in real life?

Definitely the young women leaders whom I work with in Tohoku.

What is your motto?

Be true to myself.

What does FEW mean to you?

I don’t know yet, but maybe a good networking place.

When have you have felt most empowered?

When I participated in the JWLI 2014 one month-long leadership training in Boston.

The post Q&A with Jackie F. Steele and Megumi Ishimoto appeared first on FEW Japan.

Learn about how finding the right colors that suit you can present a positive and empowering image and give you confidence to reach your full potential at our Monthly Meeting this Thursday, January 11.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Spending time with my family in a sunny place, not having to run somewhere afterwards.

What is your greatest fear?

Not being loved.

What is your current state of mind?

Energized!

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Piety. I respect people being religious, but don’t like to be convinced to believe as well.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My kids.

When and where were you happiest?

In Spain, when we lived there, loved the Mediterranean life!

Which talent would you most like to have?

Be a good singer.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Building up my own business doing what I love to do.

What is your most treasured possession?

My silver jewelry pieces.

What do you most value in your friends?

Listen and make me laugh.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?

Read so many good books, but don’t have a must-read, sorry!

Who are your heroes in real life?

My husband and kids.

What is your motto?

In life: ‘Try to gather as many beautiful memories as you can in life.’ In work: ‘Life is too short to wear boring clothes.’

What does FEW mean to you?

A group of inspirational women who want to learn from other women.

When have you have felt most empowered?

When giving birth.

The post Q&A with Color and Style Consultant Maud Janssen appeared first on FEW Japan.

Find out how organizations and individuals are helping to open up Japanese society, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, at our meeting this Thursday, October 12.

Anjeli Narandran, International Coordinator at Peace Boat

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being so free of worries and regrets that I can really enjoy the present.

What is your greatest fear?
Losing people I love.

What is your current state of mind?
Sleepy! I’m looking forward to the weekend!

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Patience. Next!

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My soon-to-be husband, Finlay.

When and where were you happiest?
Right now. Life is good!

Which talent would you most like to have?
I’d like to be able to speak Japanese fluently and with flair.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The friendships I have made and the relationships I’ve nurtured.

What is your most treasured possession?
My passport!

What do you most value in your friends?
The fact that they can laugh at themselves and not take themselves too seriously despite being objectively incredible people.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?
Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood. I read it when I was a teenager and it made a huge impression on me. It’s a masterpiece about female friendships and the joys and cruelties they entail.

Who are your heroes in real life?
The tireless peace activists I work with every day. My colleagues are my role models and my heroes.

What is your motto?
Something I learned from doing improv theatre in my youth: Don’t be afraid of something new – just try it. What’s the worst that could happen?

What does FEW mean to you?
FEW is a platform for women here in Japan to bring out the best in one another.

When have you have felt most empowered?
I feel the most empowered when I’m doing something I really love and I know I’m good at – whether it’s running a peace education workshop, performing or making art.

Louise George Kittaka, a newspaper columnist, university lecturer and cross-cultural trainer featured in The Japan Times and Savvy Tokyo

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Traveling somewhere with my husband or kids. I love exploring new places and, away from the frantic pace of everyday life, we can relax, reconnect with each other and make special memories together. (And get photos for my scrapbooks–see #9 below).

What is your greatest fear?
Losing the people I love.

What is your current state of mind?
Somewhat harried, juggling many plates as usual, mind constantly mulling things over… but this has been my “normal” for many years. Even when I’m out running or at the gym, I’m composing emails or “to do” lists in my head.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Hmm, this is a tough one. I’ll say ‘courage’. It’s a great thing to be courageous, but there is always the risk of trying too hard to be brave and  show the world that you’ve got things all worked out. Sometimes it is OK to admit that you’re scared, feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed… Sometimes our courage deserts us and so we need others to understand, and to be open to offers of help.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Husband, together since I was 20. And, of course, our three kids. Can I add my cats, too?

When and where were you happiest?
I would have to say now, right where my life is. I like where I am and who I am, which wasn’t always the case.

Which talent would you most like to have?
I think I’d love to be able to draw well–that would be a great talent.  I used to draw a lot as a child and while I’m not a horrible artist, it’s not my forte.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Raising three great kids and building and maintaining a thriving career (virtually single handed much of the time) in Japan. I’m still sane!

What is your most treasured possession?
Maybe it’s cheating, but I’ll say my scrapbook collection. Scrapbooking is my hobby, and I get a lot of pride and enjoyment out of it. I do it the old-fashioned way, by hand, not digitally. It helps me balance all the hours I spend in front of my laptop.

What do you most value in your friends?
The ability to make me laugh. I need people like that in my life!

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?
One I just read, ‘Bad Feminist’ by Roxane Gay. Highly personal yet it speaks volumes.

Who are your heroes in real life?
Three writers I’ve loved since childhood: C S Lewis, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Beverly Cleary. I also admire Oprah Winfrey and Meryl Streep.

What is your motto?
“Each day is a gift.” And I believe that.

What does FEW mean to you?
A valuable opportunity for a great group of women to share wisdom, information and laughter. (I imagine there is a lot of laughter at FEW meetings and I like that idea!)

When have you have felt most empowered?
When I see one of my articles in print, read it through again and think ‘Yes, I nailed it!’

The post Q&A with Multiculturalism Experts Anjeli Narandran and Louise George Kittaka appeared first on FEW Japan.

Hear about women’s love-hate relationship with the fashion industry, why one style doesn’t fit all, and how we can solve this issue as individual consumers at our meeting on Thursday, July 13.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

The life I’m in right now: working in my dream-job and having enough time for my family.

What is your greatest fear?

I’m a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister and a friend. I’m living in a country with one of the highest rates of earthquakes worldwide, we are in a time where political relations are difficult…. I could think about a ton of fears or not. I prefer not to.

What is your current state of mind?

I’m trying to improve certain aspects of my business this year. And both of my kids need a lot of attention. To combine both is challenging and fun, and I think it’s worth it.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

To have a perfect figure. I don’t think that you have to be slim, sporty or long-legged to be beautiful.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My husband and my sewing machine are in a constant battle.

When and where were you happiest?

I’ve had many states of life when I was really happy. Although, a very unhappy time was when I felt locked up in an office building on the 13th floor with no chance to open the windows (even though my paycheck was amazing).

Which talent would you most like to have?

Cooking! I have no imagination to create meals, which causes a dilemma every day. One day, I will need to take a proper course or be able to employ a cook.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I think that I’ve created a really nice environment for my family, my clients and myself.

What is your most treasured possession?

Don’t laugh, but I really can’t think of any “thing” in my life that couldn’t be replaceable.

What do you most value in your friends?

Catching up with old friends, sitting down and talking as if you just had met yesterday.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?

A book by Talane Miedaner, Coach Yourself to Success. It was a great book for me to clean up and structure my life. I also suggest Animal Husbandry by Laura Zigman in case you need to cure love sickness.

Who are your heroes in real life?

My mother-in-law and my friend Ricarda.

What is your motto?

Complainers are losers.

What does FEW mean to you?

After I joined FEW, I realized that I’d been living inside of a ‘nutshell.’ Through FEW, I cracked the nutshell, put my seed in the ground and let it grow. And especially now as a member of the WSC Committee, I feel that I’m constantly watering this seed.

When have you have felt most empowered?

After Vanessa Oshima spoke about “Negotiating” at the WSC meeting in March. Her speech was brilliant, and afterwards I felt that I hadn’t done too much wrong in the way that I developed my atelier.

The post Q&A with tailor Melanie Uematsu appeared first on FEW Japan.

Hear the moving stories of Japanese war brides from this inspiring speaker at our meeting next Thursday, June 8.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being so utterly engrossed in something, everything else fades away.

What is your greatest fear?

As a true believer in the benefits of constructive self-delusion, I try really hard not to think scary thoughts.

What is your current state of mind?

Trying not to think about the other ten other things I ought to be doing.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Being au courant.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My kids. It’s embarrassing sometimes :).

When and where were you happiest?

Maybe – right now?

Which talent would you most like to have?

Being able to carry a tune. Not diva-level, just decent enough so that when it’s my turn at karaoke, people don’t get up and leave. Is that too much to ask?

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Still working on that one.

What is your most treasured possession?

My parents’ love letters from before they were married. Wouldn’t have recognized them ;(.

What do you most value in your friends?

Curiosity.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?

Wouldn’t call it essential, but I’m partial to Dorothy Parker. Edgy dames rule.

Who are your heroes in real life?

Anyone who stands up for truth and justice.

What is your motto?

With apologies to Portland and Austin – I guess it would have to be “Stay Weird.”

What does FEW mean to you?

FEW saved my life when I came to Japan back in the 1980s. The only place people didn’t ask why I wasn’t a housewife (!).

When have you have felt most empowered?

Maybe now?  Being a vegetarian foreign-working woman no longer stops traffic. Will have to find other ways to be weird…

The post Q&A with filmmaker Lucy Craft appeared first on FEW Japan.

Find out how to follow your creative passions at our meeting this Thursday, May 11.
Henna Veitch, Founder of Design by Henna

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being able to travel the world and see examples of creative work. At the same time, producing my work to sell/show.

What is your greatest fear?
Losing my sight.

What is your current state of mind?Peaceful, happy.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Obedience – the willingness or being forced to obey, be controlled, carry out orders.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My husband.

When and where were you happiest?
When I lived in Florence in 2000. So much art….

Which talent would you most like to have?
The ability to write music.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Completing my PhD while on maternity leave.

What is your most treasured possession?
My mother’s sewing box.

What do you most value in your friends?
Kindness.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll – total escapism and fun.

Who are your heroes in real life?
Gandhi, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, Jo Malone.

What is your motto?
Love life you the full, create something, take pride, be happy.

What does FEW mean to you?
FEW is fun, it’s laughter on a grey day, it’s positivity when I feel lost.

When have you have felt most empowered?
The day I resigned from my career and started Design by Henna.

Betty Sayn-Wittgenstein, Chocolatier at Passion Chocolat

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Finding the balance between private and professional life.

What is your greatest fear?

Loosing one of the five senses.

What is your current state of mind?

Discover and learn.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

I think none of them are overrated! On the contrary we all should respect and practice them more.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Lorenzo, my husband.

When and where were you happiest?

Last year, when I got married to Lorenzo.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Writing – letters, stories, poems …

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Becoming shareholder of Passion Chocolat! I have been working very hard for years in the atelier, until one day the owner asked me to enter the company.

What is your most treasured possession?

I have a box with lots of things from little objects to photos, all the things I connect good memories to and value most.

What do you most value in your friends?

Honesty.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?

I don’t read enough myself to give good advice.

Who are your heroes in real life?

There are a few, one of them is my best friend Antonia, after a severe accident she had to learn everything again from swallowing to walking and despite her remaining disabilities she never gives up!!!!

What is your motto?

Just do it! if success or failure you will grow with it!

What does FEW mean to you?

Connecting to like-minded women and supporting each other.

When have you have felt most empowered?

I think when I signed my contract to work for Passion Chocolat in Belgium. It was this conscious moment of changing my path!

Natale Adgnot, Visual Artist

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Harmony with my family and prospects of future adventures together.

What is your greatest fear?

Missing out on something great because of prejudices — mine or others’.

What is your current state of mind?

Curious (about the future and about the world in general) and restless.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Beauty. This might sound counterintuitive coming from someone who has spent much of her life in the realm of aesthetics, but my highest goal as a maker of things has always been to create something that is interesting. Respectively, I believe that the quest for physical beauty has led many people to forget to strive for something deeper.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

The happy family I form together with my husband and daughter.

When and where were you happiest?

In New York when I first discovered the fulfillment of belonging to a community of active artists.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Imperviousness to criticism.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Forging a life that expands more widely than the small world I grew up in.

What is your most treasured possession?

My memories of life’s best experiences.

What do you most value in your friends?

Authenticity and the tendency to draw out the best in me.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?

“Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert is one of the most empowering books I’ve ever read in terms of leading a creative existence. But before that, seeds were planted in my life by the classic book “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. For over 20 years now, lessons learned from that book have paid off time and again.

Who are your heroes in real life?

Women like Bjork, Frida Kahlo and Coco Chanel who brought their unique creative visions to life through sheer moxie, often in spite of difficult life circumstances and obstacles unduly placed before them because of their gender

What is your motto?

“The more you know yourself, the less judgmental you become.”

What does FEW mean to you?

I’m totally new to FEW, but it seems to provide the kind of community that brings out the best in people.

When have you have felt most empowered?

Each time I’ve decided to move to a new place (which I’ve done 4 times since graduating from university), I’ve soared on the winds of self-determination and adventure.

The post Q&A with Henna Veitch, Betty Sayn-Wittgenstein, and Natale Adgnot appeared first on FEW Japan.

Get the inside scoop on tourism and travel trends on Thursday, April 13.

Chiara Terzuolo

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Hiking in the quiet mountains, with a bottle of wine and bread in tow.

What is your greatest fear?

I have many, but dental work is pretty high on the list.

What is your current state of mind?

Inspired but busy.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Chastity, as in my experience it is only imposed on women as a way to shame us.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Writing.

When and where were you happiest?

Lately, it was probably back in November in New Zealand, tramping through the wilds (yes, with both wine and bread in our backpacks).

Which talent would you most like to have?

I wish I could draw.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Acquiring fluency in Japanese.

What is your most treasured possession?

Doc Marten boots.

What do you most value in your friends?

Kindness and drive.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?

Big Magic (Liz Gilbert), How to be a Woman (Catlin Moran).

Who are your heroes in real life?

Those who stand up for equality and decency, even in the most dire straights.

What is your motto?

Don’t really have one.

What does FEW mean to you?

A place for women to be inspired by one another and eventually become their own inspiration.

When have you have felt most empowered?

Completing marathons, getting published and speaking to groups about tourism.

Rie Miyoshi

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Simple – Surrounded by the people I love, hopefully involving the outdoors, BBQ and craft beer.

What is your greatest fear?

Missed opportunities / not saying the right thing at the right time.

What is your current state of mind?

Positive and hopeful even through times of busyness and uncertainty!

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Docility. It’s one thing to do what’s right because you believe it’s right and of course to be tactful, but oftentimes women in Japan are required to act a certain way because of how society dictates – it’s important to have passions, opinions and drive. Thankfully, this is changing!

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

God – I would not be where I am today if it were not for him.

When and where were you happiest?

Was stuck on a broken boat in the middle of the ocean in a very remote part of Indonesia. Was down with extreme heat stroke, worrying whether I was going to make my flight (and even make it through this boat ride). Looked up and saw a million stars everywhere and suddenly everything seemed like it was going to be alright.

Which talent would you most like to have?

To be wiser in reading situations and people.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Generally speaking, representing the outdoor travel/tourism industry in Japan as a woman.

What is your most treasured possession?

Not hugely materialistic but if I had to choose, probably my hard disk drive with all my photos (exciting, I know).

What do you most value in your friends?

Honesty.

Which book do you think is a must-read for women?

Read this a while back, but “I am Malala” really spoke to me – how education (something we take for granted) is so prized and how she stood up for it, and had no trace of bitterness even after her attack.

Who are your heroes in real life?

My mom, for being able to stay level-headed and optimistic even during difficult times and keeping me grounded.

What is your motto?

Inspire or be inspired.

What does FEW mean to you?

It’s important to have a place where women can be proud of their achievements, encourage each other and have a place to share and collaborate especially in Tokyo where men still make up most of the workforce – FEW solves that!

When have you have felt most empowered?

Any time I collaborate with local tourism boards to promote Japan or with fellow travel experts and artists to create something – whether its artwork, a video, an article – I feel empowered. You’re sharing your ideas with other talented people and that act of working together and gaining new perspectives means a lot.

The post Q&A with Travel Industry Experts Chiara Terzuolo and Rie Miyoshi appeared first on FEW Japan.