Nikkei NextGen Women Leaders Panel & Networking Event
2025/3/25
Opening remarks from Consul General Osumi
Panel discussion
On Sunday, March 23, the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, in partnership with the Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMSJ) held Nikkei NextGen Women Leaders, a panel discussion and networking event in San Jose Japantown. In conjunction with Women’s History Month, this event featured panelists Mayor Ellen Kamei of Mountain View, Mayor Adena Ishii of Berkeley, Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Co-Chair Ms. Yuki Nishimura, and JAMSJ Executive Director Vanessa Hatakeyama, and sought to bring together a diverse audience of Japanese Americans, Japanese, and friends of Japan/Japantown to connect and discuss leadership and Nikkei (Japanese diaspora) identity.
The event began at Akiyama Wellness Center with a networking lunch, followed by the main program. In his remarks, Consul General Yo Osumi spoke on the leadup to the event, including the significance of San Jose as the hometown of the late Japanese American leader the Hon. Norman Mineta. He also expressed his hope that connections between the next generation of leaders among Japanese Americans, Japanese, and friends of Japan, especially young women, would continue to grow to strengthen friendship between Japan and the United States.
In the panel discussion, Mayors Kamei and Ishii, Ms. Nishimura, and Ms. Hatakeyama shared stories of their paths to leadership, spoke on their identities as Nikkei women, gave their perspectives on addressing the challenges they face, and encouraged the audience to take their own steps towards leadership. Following the panel, attendees broke out into smaller groups to share their thoughts on the panel, their own identity, and their aspirations towards leadership.
The second half of the event took place at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, giving participants the opportunity to network and tour the museum. Program lunch was provided by Japanese woman-owned Tokachi Musubi and refreshments from San Jose-local Milk Belly Bakery, with a guided sake tasting by Japanese woman-owned Sake Trend.
We thank our speakers, partners, volunteers, and attendees for a successful event exploring leadership and Nikkei identity.
The event began at Akiyama Wellness Center with a networking lunch, followed by the main program. In his remarks, Consul General Yo Osumi spoke on the leadup to the event, including the significance of San Jose as the hometown of the late Japanese American leader the Hon. Norman Mineta. He also expressed his hope that connections between the next generation of leaders among Japanese Americans, Japanese, and friends of Japan, especially young women, would continue to grow to strengthen friendship between Japan and the United States.
In the panel discussion, Mayors Kamei and Ishii, Ms. Nishimura, and Ms. Hatakeyama shared stories of their paths to leadership, spoke on their identities as Nikkei women, gave their perspectives on addressing the challenges they face, and encouraged the audience to take their own steps towards leadership. Following the panel, attendees broke out into smaller groups to share their thoughts on the panel, their own identity, and their aspirations towards leadership.
The second half of the event took place at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, giving participants the opportunity to network and tour the museum. Program lunch was provided by Japanese woman-owned Tokachi Musubi and refreshments from San Jose-local Milk Belly Bakery, with a guided sake tasting by Japanese woman-owned Sake Trend.
We thank our speakers, partners, volunteers, and attendees for a successful event exploring leadership and Nikkei identity.
Clockwise from top left: Mayor Ishii, Mayor Kamei, Ms. Nishimura, Ms. Hatakeyama
Small group discussions
Sharing thoughts from discussions
Consul General Osumi and panelists
Attendees tour JAMSJ
Food and drink by Nikkei women-owned and local businesses
