AWLF Online Summit Vol.6｜Event Report

[Event Report] AWLF Online Summit Vol.6

Guest: Ms. Hisako Matsui (Film Director & Author)

On Friday, January 9, 2026, the Asia Women Leaders Forum (AWLF) hosted the sixth edition of its online summit series.

We were honored to welcome Ms. Hisako Matsui, a film director and novelist who has continued to express powerful messages through her work at the forefront of Japanese cinema and literature.
We sincerely thank everyone who participated, and above all, Ms. Matsui for her heartfelt and candid reflections.

The AWLF Online Summit serves as a “third place” where Asian women leaders come together across generations and borders for dialogue and mutual learning through shared stories and values.

■ Guest Speaker

Hisako Matsui｜Film Director & Author

Feature Films: Yukie, Oriume, Leonie
Documentaries: What Are We Afraid Of?, The Constitution of a Strange Country
Novels: Uzukuhito, The Last One, Living Together (Total sales exceeding 200,000 copies)

Debuting as a film director in her 50s, Ms. Matsui has continued to cross boundaries between dramatic films, documentaries, and novels, consistently engaging with society through her own words and lens.
Her unique style, writing, directing, and producing her films single-handedly has allowed her to address complex themes such as gender, sexuality, caregiving, and social structures with depth and originality.

■ Highlights from the Keynote

“Life changes every 10 years.”

In her keynote, Ms. Matsui shared her life journey and career transitions, speaking with honesty, warmth, and clarity.

20s: Magazine Writer
30s: Talent Management
40s: TV Drama Production
50s: Transition into Film Directing

By facing what was in front of me wholeheartedly, the next door naturally opened.

This phrase encapsulates her path—by fully engaging in each stage of her life, she found herself guided toward new possibilities.
Her courage to embrace change and her resilience in navigating each chapter with flexibility and intention served as a powerful inspiration to women of all generations.

She also spoke candidly about the more difficult chapters of her journey: divorce at 33, raising a child as a single mother, the six-year struggle to fund her debut film Yukie, and the success of Oriume, a film on caregiving that reached over one million viewers.

■ “We need people who will believe in us.”

A recurring theme throughout the dialogue was the importance of having supporters, people who believe in and walk alongside us as we pursue our goals.

Ms. Matsui shared her experiences navigating structural barriers as a female filmmaker, the persistent gender gap in Japanese society, and how she has chosen to embrace aging and transform it into a source of creative expression.

Despite the challenges, she continues to live by the philosophy:

“Even so, I will do what I want to do.”
This unwavering stance resonated deeply with participants, offering courage and encouragement across generations.

■ From the Dialogue Session

In the second half of the event, participants engaged in a Q&A and small-group breakout sessions to reflect on the talk.

Ms. Matsui spoke about her career trajectory and creative philosophy. Many attendees expressed how inspired they were by her words about building a life by “doing what you can, with sincerity, each step of the way.”

She also shared behind-the-scenes stories of her films, the challenges of fundraising and directing as a woman, and the indispensable role of supporters throughout her career.

Participants exchanged reflections on gender, identity, and leadership, creating a vibrant space for intergenerational and intercultural dialogue.

■ Looking Ahead

AWLF continues to work toward its vision of cultivating 10 million women leaders from Asia by 2030, with a major international summit scheduled for 2026 at the United Nations ESCAP headquarters in Bangkok, bringing together 333 Asian women leaders.

This online summit was yet another step toward that shared future, an uplifting moment where perspectives and compassion transcended borders and generations.

Our next online summit (Vol. 5) is scheduled for Friday, December 12.
We warmly invite you to join us again.

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