President, Social Contribution Support Foundation
Honorary Advisor, Asia Women Leaders Forum
Wife of a Former Prime Minister of Japan

The world today stands at a moment of profound transformation.
It is precisely in times like these that I feel the importance — more than ever before — of “women’s maternal spirit”, the bonds between people, compassion, dialogue, and the heart to support one another.

Society has long been built through the dedicated efforts of many, and has advanced through a vertical force — one that breaks new ground and shapes the future. For that journey, I offer my deepest respect and gratitude.

At the same time, I firmly believe that women possess a remarkable power: the ability to connect people with one another and to nurture harmony and warmth. This horizontal force will play an increasingly vital role in building the peaceful and sustainable societies of tomorrow.

What the coming era calls for is not one force or the other, but rather the mutual respect, harmony, and cooperation of both — the vertical and the horizontal, together.

I extend my heartfelt admiration to AWLF for expanding the circle of dialogue and co-creation from Asia outward, and for passing on hope to the next generation.

May this Summit be filled with new encounters and learning, and may it serve as a source of hope for all who gather here.
And from the bottom of my heart, I pray that it will connect us ever more closely to world peace — and to the happiness of the children who will carry our future forward.

Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
Member of the House of Representatives, Japan

I would like to extend my sincere congratulations on the convening of the AWLF Kyoto Conference 2025.

At a time when there is a growing global backlash against the promotion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), the significance of the Asia Women Leaders Forum International Summit is greater than ever. DEI is a universal principle rooted in respect for the fundamental human rights of all people, and it also serves as a vital foundation for academic progress and the creation of new social value. It is imperative that we continue to uphold these values and work toward building a society in which every individual is able to fully realize their potential.

Asia is a region defined by its rich diversity. Women leaders emerging from across Asia bring with them a wide range of perspectives and experiences, and possess the capacity to elevate one another through dialogue and collaboration. I sincerely hope that this summit will further strengthen such connections and contribute to the advancement of social inclusion and sustainability.

I also look forward to the encounters and shared learning fostered through this conference serving as a powerful source of encouragement for the next generation of leaders. It is my heartfelt hope that the discussions and relationships cultivated here will help shape a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future.

President, The Asia-Pacific Ladies Friendship Society (ALFS)

With Respect to AWLF

The AWLF’s principle of “One Team, One Asia” is similar to the spirit of
the Asia-Pacific Ladies Friendship Society Inc. (ALFS), of which I was appointed president by the late Ms. Mutsuko Miki in 2005.

The Asia-Pacific Ladies Friendship Society Inc. (ALFS) has continued its activities slowly but without stopping since 1968, with Asian women joining hands to this day.

Once a year, we jointly hold a charity bazaar with women from Asian embassies in Tokyo, and the proceeds are distributed to participating countries. What we focus on is how the allocated funds will be used. We believe that a single donation is like planting a seed, and it is important to watch the women who receive the support become empowered and blossom.

AWLF’s vision is “Toward a World Where Women’s Smiles Create a Virtuous Cycle”.
In this noble spirit, we send our hopes and cheers to AWLF, aspiring for the empowerment of women to flourish toward achieving the SDGs’ goal of creating a society where “No one will be left behind”.

Former Prime Minister of Thailand

The relationship between Thailand and Japan is deep.
It will deepen further in the future.
I feel that women play a significant role in this process.

“By the women” and “For the women” initiatives should be more actively promoted. We feel that it is also very important for men to create a role for themselves in this process.

For peace and prosperity in Asia, further people-to-people exchanges are necessary.
I believe that AWLF will empower Asian women and produce many next-generation leaders for a beautiful Asia.

Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy
Member of the House of Representatives, Japan

If we are to create a society that is truly sustainable and peaceful, it is indispensable that women’s rights are protected and that their participation as active members of society is encouraged.
However, much work remains to be done until the concept is fully realized. Through empowering women, this can be achieved. In this context, I have great expectations for the Asia Women Leaders Forum to be held in Bangkok.There, women leaders from a variety of backgrounds will come together and discuss today’s most pressing issues. Male or female, we all stand to benefit from these great women’s achievements.

Vice Chairperson, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)

DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) is the source of innovation that cannot be brought about merely by extending from the past. It is the power that makes organizations and society resilient and sustainable by identifying risks that monocultures do not notice.

Women’s empowerment is at the core of promoting DEI. I hope that many women leaders will share the challenges of solving social issues, advance collaborative efforts, and lead social change at the Asian Women Leaders Forum summit.

Group CEO & CSuO, Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company

AWLF is a platform for “dialogue and co-creation” where Asian leaders connect and envision the future together.
We share the vision of looking ahead to the next 1,000 years and are supporting the AWLF Summit 2026 (Bangkok).

Inequality and division are widening across the world, and there is a growing sense of crisis around globalism and democracy.

With the spread of social media and AI, opportunities for genuine, human connection are being lost.

Anti-elite and anti-Enlightenment sentiments are on the rise, and top-down, self-righteous arguments are losing their power to persuade.

There is a growing need for a softer, more flexible view of humanity to replace the active, self-driven model of human nature that underlies neoliberalism.

In such an era, I am firmly convinced that no amount of emphasis would be too great on the significance of Asian leaders — who sense that nature and humanity, past, present, and future, are all interconnected — forging new bonds and possibilities through empathy.

Meiji Yasuda is exploring ways to participate in and contribute to the Summit together with Thai Life Insurance, our capital alliance partner.

President, The University of Tokyo

At a time when the promotion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is facing growing headwinds, initiatives such as the Asia Women Leaders Forum International Summit are more important than ever.

DEI is a principle grounded in the intrinsic value of respecting the fundamental human rights of people from all backgrounds and identities. I am deeply convinced that it also serves as a vital foundation for academic excellence and innovation. We must continue to uphold these values and work together toward a society in which everyone is empowered to fully realize their potential.

Asia has always been a region rich in diversity. Women leaders across Asia bring with them a wide range of perspectives and lived experiences shaped by their unique contexts. I sincerely hope that this summit will strengthen connections among these leaders, foster greater inclusivity and sustainability in our societies, and contribute to the empowerment of one another, as well as of the next generation of leaders.

Assistant Director-General, UNESCO
Honorary Advisor, AWLF

Women have a strong sense of valuing life. It will be a valuable contribution to world peace.

AWLF will attract leaders like a magnet and lead to peace in Asia and around the world.
I am confident that this strong passion and leadership will pave the way for hope and progress in the future.
The dialogues and collaborations ahead will be crucial steps towards achieving a better world.

Lastly, I extend heartfelt cheers to the Asian Women Leaders Forum for hosting this summit. We anticipate that your efforts will contribute to the peace and prosperity of the Asian region and the world.

CEO, RAUL Inc. / Advisor, AWLF
Director, Energy Information Center

I believe that maximizing the power of Asia and women is essential to protecting the future of our planet’s environment.

The summit of the Asia Women Leaders Forum will be a significant step towards this vital mission.  To ensure that by 2100, Asia and the world can enjoy  prosperity, we must further strengthen our efforts in combating climate change and decarbonization.

I sincerely hope that this summit will serve as a starting point towards achieving these goals.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Republic of the Philippines to Japan

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to Japan

It gives me immense pleasure to learn that the Asia Women Leaders Forum (AWLF) is organizing the Asia Women Leaders International Pre-summit 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. Taking this opportunity, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to AWLF on convening such a platform for women leaders and students from Asian countries to gather, share and learn from each other experiences, lessons and insights on promoting Asian women empowerment, facilitating SDGs implementation and enhancing Public-Private Diplomacy in Asian region. I highly evaluate the work of AWLF in strengthening women’s role in diverse sectors and this has contributed to empowering women and shaping a fairer and just society.

I believe that the Summit will continue contributing to all women across the world, including in Asia to be promoted to higher positions and to be provided wider opportunities to participate in all areas. 

I highly appreciate AWLF for approaching the Embassy of the Lao PDR in Tokyo and myself as a female Ambassador in Japan to be a part of this Pre-summit.  

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to Japan

Women are beautiful creatures.
Women are creatures that humanize other humans.
The beauty and humanity of women give birth to national leadership and unite together views in one voice for one world beauty.
Let us unite to unify the beauty of the world.

Honorary Consul-General
of the Kingdom of Bhutan in Tokyo

I extend my heartfelt support for the Asia Women Leaders International Pre-Summit 2024.

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a country that prioritizes happiness and sustainable development. When women further expand their roles and have access to their opportunities, it contributes to the overall prosperity and happiness of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Through this summit, I hope that countries across Asia, including Bhutan, will share their efforts towards women’s empowerment and strengthen collaboration.