KITAKYUSHU FORUM ON ASIAN WOMEN OCTOBER 2007

Triannual Publication

WOMEN TODAY ………………………… 

EDUCATIONAL VIDEO PROMOTION …… &CURRENT ISSUES SERIES…………… !

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS REPORTS…… 'NEW VISITING RESEARCHERS ……… "THE FORUM WINDOW ………………… 

JOINT RESEARCH REPORT…………… #INFORMATION…………………………… 

THE KITAKYUSHU ESD COUNCIL…… %

NO.

51

OCTOBER 2007

Women Today
Cold War Era. It provided me with a great opportunity to learn new perspectives, which differ fromthose of Japan and the U.S. I believe that such an
experience will be helpful when Japan builds acrewed rocket in the future.

I have yearned for space since childhood. The
launch failure of the Space Shuttle Challenger inspired me to become an astronaut. When I watched
the Challenger astronauts smiling and waving on
TV before liftoff, I strongly felt that we humans
could really go into space. Several tens of seconds
after liftoff, however, the Challenger was destroyed
in a huge explosion. I was deeply shocked at thedisaster, but, at the same time, I started to strongly
desire to take up the dream of the deceased astronauts. I subsequently studied aerospace engineering at the undergraduate and graduate levels, before joining the National Space Development Agency of Japan (now the Japan Aerospace Exploration
Agency (JAXA)). At JAXA, I was involved in developing and designing the JapaneseExperiment
Module“Kibo” that will be attached to
the International Space Station(ISS). In 1999, I was selected as
an astronaut candidate for theISS. After completing various
training programs, I was formally certified as an astronautin 2001. Conventionally, astronauts have stayed in space forabout two weeks. However, astronauts who stay aboard theISS must remain in space for up
to six months. I felt that the seCourtesy of JAXA
lection process for an ISS astronaut placed greater emphasison the physical and mental aspects than had been the casepreviously.

The history of relations between humans and spaceis still young. Needless to say, there have been failures and accidents in exploring these relations.
However, we have to overcome them and continue
our endeavors in pursuit of greater safety and reliability. Although the scope of space in which human activities are possible is still very limited, theproblems that may occur in such limited space
epitomize the problems we encounter on Earth. For
example, we should consider
how to curb the generation ofwaste and recycle the limited
amount of water in space. Seeking solutions to these problems
will be effective in addressing
problems in our everyday life on
Earth. A good example of this is“space food.” Thanks to its excellent sustainability and portability, the food that astronauts
carry with them into space canalso be used on Earth.In either
case, its shelf-life makes it ideal
for long-term storage and use in
the event of disaster. In fact,many astronauts say that eating is one of their greatest
pleasures in space. Several Japanese companies have alreadyundertaken research on space
Naoko Yamazaki
Currently, I am training at the
food. More recently, many JapaAstronaut
Johnson Space Center (JSC) in
nese space food products havethe U.S. in preparation for a space mission. Trainbeen certified by JAXA. I look forward to enjoying
ing at JSC comprises a wide variety of programs,
space food with a Japanese flavor, which is familiar
including courses for space shuttle operation; T-38
to me, during my mission in space in the near fuflight; ISS assembly; and physical strength develture.
opment. Moreover, since astronauts work as ateam, we spend every day studying English andUntil a short time ago, when it came to space,
Russian to facilitate smooth communication. We
many people conjured up the image of an obscure,also provide support from Earth for other astronauts
inaccessible realm. However, we can now find in evewho are currently performing missions in space.
ryday life many services and products that remind
us of our relationship with space. These include
When we actually go into space, we will board adaily weather forecasts, satellite broadcasts, andU.S. space shuttle or a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
GPS-equipped mobile phones. Several decades ago,
In fact, I have obtained two certifications, one aseven airplanes were not a popular means of travel
Space Shuttle Mission Specialist and the other as
for most people. Nowadays, however, a great many
Soyuz Flight Engineer. Certification for a Russian
people travel by air to various countries across naaircraft would have been inconceivable during thetional boundaries. The same will also hold true forNo.51 October 20071

food, culture, art, and medical care. I would be very
happy if I could develop children’s interest in spaceby directly telling them about my experiences. At
the same time, I hope to help them find their own
individuality.
It is true that there are many difficulties to overcome before becoming an astronaut, and afterwards
as well. I have been pursuing my career as an astronaut thanks to the many people who have supported me, and who are still supporting me. Today
in Japan, we frequently hear the words “work-lifebalance.” To establish an environment that facilitates a successful balance between work and home,irrespective of gender, it is important to create a society in which everyone is given equal options. Although my husband took paternity leave, maleworkers in Japan who take childcare leave are stillin the minority. I presume there are men who wish
to be more engaged in parenting, and women who
wish to be more involved with work. I long for therealization of a world in which all can freely choose
their way of life, without being restricted by stereotypical views.

▲The International Space Station (ISS)
Courtesy of JAXA

space travel. I believe that the age will come when
so many more people can travel into space. Thenthey may ask “What is an ‘astronaut’? Was theterm ‘astronaut’ once used?”
It has not yet been decided when I will fly into
space. However, when I do go, I plan to conduct experiments, taking advantage of my long stay inspace. For example, I will be able to produce a large
protein crystal in space thanks to zero gravity.
Since such a crystal can lead to the development of
new drugs, its production is one experiment that I
really want to perform. I also wish to grow vegetables. Vegetable cultivation in space will be an intriguing experiment, partly because the experimentcan continue over many generations. Moreover, I
plan to hold classes directly from space with children on Earth. The power of images is very strong.
In fact, in my elementary school days, I was greatly
excited with the clear images of craters on theMoon and Saturn’s rings, viewed through an astronomical telescope. That excitement provided mewith the opportunity to develop my interest in
space. In recent years in Japan, more and morechildren have become alienated from science. In addition, a decline in children’s academic ability inscience and the low percentage of female students
who advance to science and technological universities or colleges have all become matters of concern.
Nowadays, many people associate the word “space”
with science subjects. I believe, however, that spacecan be considered from various aspects including

In my childhood, I simply felt that I loved space.
However, when I learned that the components constituting a star were the same as those comprising
the human body, I was deeply impressed. Then I
thought how we humans were also part of thestars. If you suffer hardships or come to a deadlock,just look up and view the vast universe, and ponder
the fact that you are part of it all. Then you may
feel love for yourself and for the Earth, our planet.
The Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” of the ISS
will finally be launched next year. An ISS project is
not possible for a single country. It is possible only
when people around the world work together,transcending national boundaries and cultural differences. In the past, my respected mentor taughtme that we should change what can be changed but
accept or tolerate what cannot be changed. Although it may be difficult to distinguish between
what can and cannot be changed, while considering
what I can do and what I can change, I will open up
my potential and continue moving forward at myown pace.

Profile of Naoko Yamazaki
Naoko Yamazaki received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees
in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Tokyo. She
joined the National Space Development Agency of Japan(now the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) in 1996. In
2001, she was certified as an astronaut. She was certified
as a Soyuz-TMA Flight Engineer in 2004, and as a Space
Shuttle Mission Specialist in 2006. Yamazaki is the second
Japanese woman to qualify as an astronaut.
This text is based on an interview with astronaut Naoko Yamazaki of Tsukuba Space Center, JAXA on July 26, 2007.

2

No.51 October 2007

Current Issues Series

Population and Gender (3)The Cairo Program of Action
and Fertility Transition

Makoto Atoh
Professor, Faculty of Human
Sciences, Waseda University

Increasing numbers of population scientists have begun
commenting that the explosion in world population willst
end before the close of the 21 century. Their view isbased on the fact that birth rates are steadily declining
on a global basis. The total fertility rate (TFR) of
developing regions, home to 81% of the world’s
population, dropped from 5.4-the average rate between
1970 and 1975-to 2.9-the average rate between 2000
and 2005. During the same period, the average TFR of
the entire world dropped from 4.5 to 2.7.

governments to control the national population. With
this viewpoint in mine, the Program of Action suggeststhat individual governments should support women’s
exercising their rights. Moreover, based on therecognition that achieving gender equality is key toresolving population problems, the Program of Action
demands that efforts be made to achieve genderequality and women’s empowerment as primary goals.
After the ICPD, some population scientists argued
about whether or not recognition of the Cairo Programof Action is correct from the perspective of empiricalscience; namely, achieving gender equality as a key tolowering birth rates; and resolving problems related topopulation and development. Studies of countries thathave experienced fertility transition imply that wecannot simply conclude that gender equality has driven
fertility transition. Although we can reasonably assume
that achieving gender equality eventually facilitates a
decline in birth rate, it is still difficult to prove that
achieving gender equality is easier than reducing birthrates.

If we view the worldwide trend and the trend for all
developing regions, we can certainly confirm a steadytransition from the traditional high-fertility regime tothe modern low-fertility regime. Yet, great gaps exist
among regions. East Asia, including China, forinstance, has already experienced fertility transition
with below-replacement fertility. Latin America andSoutheast Asia are in the final stages of fertility
transition. On the other hand, South Asia, including
India, and West Asia, comprising many Islamic
countries, are currently undergoing transition. SubSaharan Africa is still in the initial phase of fertility
transition. Generally, less developed regions continue tosuffer from high birth rates and high population
increase.

Even so, it is true that women’s social status isparticularly low in the regions of high birth rates,
namely, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and West
Asia. To promote family planning and lower birth rates
in these regions, it is of strategic importance toincorporate gender-sensitive initiatives into theirdevelopment programs. Specifically, more than in any
other area, these regions need to improve women’s
school enrollment ratio, and actively encourage womento participate in decision making.

To address the world’s population challenge,
particularly the challenge of population explosion, theUnited Nations has organized three inter-governmental
conferences. Of these, the International Conference on
Population and Development (ICPD), held in 1994 in
Cairo, attracted particularly great attention, since the
ICPD proposed an unprecedented approach.

Apart from the discussion whether or not women’s
empowerment has worked to lower birth rates in theregions where fertility rates have already declined, theCairo approach is still effective in promoting
reproductive health service in the remaining highbirth-rate regions and addressing their population
problems.

The Program of Action adopted at the ICPD introduced
to the world completely innovative concepts ofreproductive rights (women’s rights to decide their own
reproduction) and reproductive health (complete
wellness regarding all aspects of reproductive systems
and their functions). According to the new concepts,
family planning should be a tool for women to realize
their reproductive rights, rather than a tool for

No.51 October 2007

3

New Visiting Researchers
The following is the introduction of KFAW’S new visiting researchers for two years from April 2007.

Reina Ichii
Full-time Lecturer, Institute for Gender Studies, Ochanomizu University
Specializes in public economics, feminist economics and public policy

Newcomers in Gender Budget Analysis : Japan, Republic of Korea and Taiwan, Province of China(Co-researcher: Yasuko Muramatsu, professor emeritus, Tokyo Woman’s Christian University)
As the first attempt in Japan , this project aims to introduce gender budget analysis (GBA ) in Japan . To date , GBA has been
introduced in at least 60 countries and regions as means of gender mainstreaming through government budgets . In Japan ,however, GBA has not been introduced fully. In the initial phase of this project, to prepare for the introduction of GBA in Japan, weplan to conduct a review of GBA programs that are already under way in the Republic of Korea and Taiwan , Province of China,
from the perspective of promoting gender equality and women ’s empowerment . During the initial phase , we will examine
frameworks and methods of budget analyses . In the next phase , we are going to conduct an analysis of the budgets of Japanesenational and local governments . We will first analyze budget statements and relevant documents , and also conduct interviews
with policy makers regarding the current budget process in order to specify analytical foci for this project. Next, we will analyzechanges in budget sizes and allocations , together with performance indicators . We will also consider budgetary impacts using
gender -disaggregated data . Finally , based on the research findings , we will consider the possibility of building a GBA model
applied to Northeast Asian countries and regions.

Junko Otani
Associate Professor, Kyushu University Faculty of Languages and Cultures; Kyushu University Graduate
School of Human-Environment Studies; and Kyushu University Asia Center for Policy Studies
Specializes in social policy and public administration, international health studies and population,demography, sociology

Empirical Study on Community and Gender in Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan andKyrgyz (Co-researchers: Takuzo Osugi and Asuka Kawano)
The objectives of this study project include conducting field work and experimental studies about communities and women’s
activities in Central Asian countries, particularly Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, for which we have few previous studies.
Based on our study results, we plan to recommend appropriate policies to central and local governments of Central Asian countries
as well as to donor countries. Central Asian countries reappeared on the center stage of world history immediately after the collapseof the Soviet Union. Despite the fact that these countries belong to Asia just as Japan does, only a few studies have previously been
carried out Central Asia. As a result, there is still only insufficient data available. For Japan, Central Asia has geopoliticalimportance partly because of its location on the other side of China. The region is also attracting worldwide attention for its
environmental and energy issues. In this ongoing project, field studies are under way in Central Asia under the framework of Asianstudies of Kyushu University Interdisciplinary Programs in Education and Projects in Research Development (P&P) (Junko Otani
and Takuzo Osugi, Representatives for academic years 2006 - 2008). Collecting data in this region has become much easier since
Asuka Kawano began studying at Tashkent State Pedagogical University in Uzbekistan for two years since September 2006. Taking
advantage of this opportunity, the project team will conduct extensive field studies of local communities from gender-sensitive
perspectives.

Harumichi Yuasa
Associate Professor, Department of Practical Law, Faculty of Law, Kyushu International University
Specializes in comparative election/political systems and informatics

Comparative Study on Municipalities Positive Action towards Evaluation of Bidders for
Public Contracts
In this study project, we plan to study positive actions taken by municipalities with the aim of promoting gender equality. In
addition to asking registered bidders to furnish reports on their measures to promote gender equality, some municipalities favorably
treat bidders who are committed to creating gender-equal workplaces. From a global perspective, we plan to conduct comparative
studies of such incentive systems particularly regarding their effectiveness and legal problems surrounding them.
In the United States, Executive Order 11246 demands that positive actions (autonomous initiatives taken by enterprises in order toabolish gender-based discrimination at workplaces) be taken at the time of concluding all public contracts. In Japan, although somemunicipalities have introduced what they call “policy bidding,” its effects and problems are often argued. Moreover, Japan has not
yet established concrete evaluation criteria for conducting positive actions or restricting “unfavorable” bidders.
In this project, we plan to study conditions presently imposed on public contractors from gender-sensitive perspectives primarily in
the U.S. and EU. We will compare study results with those of case studies regarding similar conditions imposed by Japanesemunicipalities. Based on study results, we will propose concrete criteria for evaluating bidders and legal grounds of such criteria as
well as legislative proceedings. Our recommendations will be positive actions that can be taken by Japanese municipalities when
they select and conclude public contracts.

4No.51 October 2007

K F A W Joint Research Report
Opening the Door to Migrant Care Workers for the Elderly in Japan-What
What Can We Learn from the EU and East Asia ??
Masami Shinozaki, KFAW Chief Researcher
researchers from Denmark, Germany and Italy
participated in the project . In addition , researchers
from Singapore and Taiwan , Province of China also
participated . This report introduces part of theresearch results conducted in Japan , referring toreports from other countries.

After concluding the Economic Partnership Agreement(EPA) with the Philippines, the Japanese government
decided to receive 600 care workers and 400 nurses fromthe Philippines starting April 2007. Until then, theJapanese Immigration Control Law had forbidden
foreigners from working in Japan, except for thoseengaged in specified professions, such as artists, lawyers,technological and academic professionals as well as othertypes of specialists. In response to intensifying market
competition from advancing globalization, the Japanese
government has decided to open the labor market tosome developing countries in return for exporting
industrial products, information and technologies fromJapan. It might be possible to expand this access in thenear future to other countries including Mexico andThailand which have carried EPAs with Japan.

1

In Japan, migrant care workers are expected to be
employed by welfare institutions for the elderly, mostnotably special elderly nursing homes and health carefacilities for the elderly. To identify challenges andproblems related to the employment of migrant care
workers, KFAW researchers surveyed the views of
directors of such welfare institutions in Tokyo andFukuoka Prefecture, as well as those of managers of careprograms.

In Japan, the majority of care workers have been
women. Especially the care work of the elderly has beentaken by their wives, daughters-in-laws and daughters.
Therefore, even after the introduction of the Long Term
Care Insurance Law in 2000, it is said the salaries andother working conditions of the professional care givers
have remained low. In addition, the quality of care is
not good enough. Presently, Filipino migrant workers
are limited by EPA to working in nursing homes andhospitals for the elderly who need long term care andcan not work in private homes. In any event, they aretaking care of the elderly’s needs while respecting thelatter’s rights and human dignity. At the same time,
many Japanese care workers are beginning to work andor live with foreign care workers. These are almost
historically first experiences for the Japanese.

■Table 1 Survey of Directors’ Views
regarding Foreign Staff Employment
Number ofWith
None
positively
as muchRespondents
conditions as possible

None
at
all

No
Answer

Tokyo

２２９

８
(３．
５%)

１２４
(５４．
１%)

２０
(８．
７%)

４９
(２１．
４%)

２８
(１２．
２%)

Fukuoka

１５０

２
(１．
３%)

５１
(３４．
０%)

８
(５．
３%)

７６
(５０．
７%)

１３
(８．
７%)

As indicated by Table 1, 57.6% of directors in Tokyo
stated that they would hire migrant care workers either
willingly or under certain conditions. A total of 30.1% of
directors answered that they would not hire migrantcare workers, or would do their best not to hire them. As
such, in Tokyo the number of directors who were positive
toward hiring migrant workers far exceeded the numberof directors who were not. In contrast, in Fukuoka,
directors who were positive comprised only 35.3%, while
those who were reluctant accounted for 56.0%.

What kinds of issues and concerns do both Japanese andthe Filipino workers need to tackle? Will the
introduction of foreign care workers worsen Japanesecare workers’ working conditions and the quality ofnursing labor even more? In what ways can Japanese
workers collaborate with foreign workers as equal
partners, overcoming differences in language, social
customs, labor practices, cultural and religious
backgrounds and values? Meanwhile, we must also
study the matter from the perspectives of foreign
workers. Will their rights be protected? Will they be freefrom discrimination? Will Japanese society ensure thatthey will be respected as professionals, and that they canwork in an environment free from racial and cultural
prejudice? Will they feel content to work in Japan?

As for why migrant workers should be employed, thelargest number of directors in both Tokyo and Fukuoka
Prefecture (22.3% in Tokyo, 12.3% in Fukuoka)
mentioned a labor shortage. Although the survey
demonstrated great differences between the two regions
regarding directors’ attitudes toward employing migrant
workers, a labor shortage is a common factor which
drives directors to hire migrant workers.

To seek answers to the above questions, the Kitakyushu
Forum on Asian Women (KFAW) conducted a joint
research project on migrant care workers for two years
from April 2005 - March 2006. The title of the project
was “Policies and Actual Situations of Migrant Care
Workers”. Some European countries have alreadyaccepted migrant care workers and long accumulated
research on this matter. Among those countries,

No.51 October 2007

Reactions of Japanese Care Workers:
Survey at Welfare Institutions

On the other hand, for reasons why they were reluctant
to hire foreign workers, the largest number of directors
referred to language difficulties (19.2% in Tokyo; 13.3%
in Fukuoka). This was followed by differences in daily
customs (6.6% in Tokyo; 4.7% in Fukuoka); concerns thatJapanese elderly people might not accept foreign

5

families to hire low-wage foreign workers to work insidetheir own homes. A challenge for Italy in the future is
how Italian people can secure a steady supply of suchforeign workers when the workers’ own countries
achieve economic development.

workers (5.2% in Tokyo;6.7% in Fukuoka); and a lack ofsufficient Japanese staff members (3.9% in Tokyo; 7.3%
in Fukuoka).
In order to work together with migrant care workers,
language is a big problem. Care workers need to read
and write care service records accurately. They need tocommunicate with recipients well. In order to do so, theyneed to understand local dialects as well as standard
Japanese. Since Japanese elderly people experienced
World War II either within Japan or on overseas
battlefields, to fully understand the psyche of recipientsof their services, care workers need to understand thepersonal backgrounds of recipients, including
unfavorable experiences during the war. The survey
revealed that directors and managers of care programs
were particularly concerned about these matters.

In Singapore and Taiwan , Province of China , publiccare systems have not yet been established . Alongwith an increase in the number of women who
have high academic and occupational careers inthese countries , the number of housemaids and care
workers are also increasing. These latter workers areprimarily migrant workers from nearby countries
of lower economic levels . Various regulations ,however, are imposed on these foreign workers. In
Singapore , for instance , their marriage is regulated .
Other problems include short -term visas (for 2-3
years ); low wage levels ; insufficienttraining
programs; and labor contracts that favor employers.
Many of these problems may involve infringement of
human rights. In the context of ongoing globalization,
our own homes will possibly become workplaces open to
the global labor market. With this in mind, we muststrive to realize working conditions that fairly reward
workers in accordance with the efforts they make.

On the other hand, Japanese directors and care program
managers fairly recognized the various advantages ofhiring migrant care workers. Many valued foreign
workers’ cheerfulness, sincerity, and enthusiasm to help
the elderly. Some even said, “Can you expect suchqualities from Japanese young care workers?” Whereassome referred to the low salaries of migrant workers as
an advantage, others stressed the vital importance offair and equal payment, based on skills not on
nationality.

2

In Japan, many foreign women who have permanent
residence or a marriage visas have begun working as
care workers. Of these, Filipino women married toJapanese men, including those already divorced,
comprise the largest group. Some Filipino women formed
a care workers’ organization to promote activities withthe slogans: Transcending National Boundaries
with Hearty Care, and Improving Labor
Conditions for All Care Workers. These women are
expected to promote collaboration with Japanese care
workers. Moreover, they can support Filipino women
who are coming to Japan in the near future. To learn
more about working together with migrant care workers
for the elderly in Japan including the prior, please readour upcoming book (initially Japanese only) on the
results of this research.

European Experience and Emerging Problems
in East Asia

Next, KFAW researchers studied related initiatives
taken in other countries where migrant care workers
have long been employed, along with immigration/
immigrant policies in these countries.
Based on studies of reports submitted from Denmark,Germany and Italy, KFAW researchers found that
Denmark was the most eager to provide migrant
workers with opportunities to learn the language anddaily customs of the host country. In addition to training
programs for care workers as well as other professions,language programs are generally provided for two or
three years, the length varying according to individualmunicipalities. In Denmark, target audiences of suchtraining programs are primarily refugees, their families
and their second generation, who have Danish
citizenship and would probably live in Denmark for life.

▲An Iranian care worker; a director of awelfare institution for the elderly; and acivil servant, Naestved city, Denmark▲Arlene Quizon Nishimura, a native Filipina,
works as a care worker at a long-term careinstitution in Hachioji Eisei-Hospital, Tokyo.
She was also a panelist at the 17th Kitakyushu
Conference on Asian Women.

In Germany, employing foreign care workers became
legal several years ago. However, due to the high costs oflegal employment, it is said that many German families
hire foreign care workers illegally. In Italy, it is legal for

6

No.51 October 2007

The Kitakyushu ESD Council
Our home city, Kitakyushu, was once known for its smoggy skies filledwith “rainbow-colored smoke,” and a sea that was so polluted that evenbacillus coli could not survive there. The pollution, once regarded as asymbol of a thriving economy, was a result of the city’s industrial policythat placed the utmost priority on economic development. Today,
however, Kitakyushu is proud of its blue skies and blue sea with manykinds of fish and other marine life. To restore the clean environment, awomen’s grassroots group initiated an anti-pollution campaign, whichdeveloped into a city-wide movement involving residents, businesses
and the city government. Based on this experience, the residents ofKitakyushu are now committed to realizing a sustainable local as well as
global community in many different areas.
▲The Kitakyushu ESD Council LogoAt the World Summit on Sustainable Development,
held in 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Japanese
NPOs/NGOs and the Japanese government jointly
proposed the idea of establishing a Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development (DESD, 2005 2014). This proposal was adopted at the UN General
Assembly, held in the same year. The objectives of
ESD are to promote full awareness of each individual
concerning his or her relations with other people in theworld; future generations; and the naturalenvironment. ESD also fosters each individual’s ability
to participate in creating a better and moresustainable society.

audience of ESD is not only school children, but all
people living on the earth. At the Kitakyushu ESD
Council, we place the utmost priority on fostering
people who can learn, take action, and build
partnerships with others. To develop ideal humanresources for realizing sustainable development, ESD
emphasizes the vital importance of partnerships
between people as well as between groups of various
different areas. With this view, we have adopted ourslogan: Experiencing and Understanding; Learning
and Thinking; Taking Action, Networking, Expansionof ESD; and Sharing our Vision.
Since the founding of the Kitakyushu ESD Council, its
members have been studying about ESD. We havebeen discussing the many ways we can incorporate
ESD perspectives in activities of individual member
organizations. To fulfill the common goal of realizing asustainable society, we are expanding the scope of ouractivities through augmented partnerships with local
communities in addition to partnerships among
member organizations (between environment
education and welfare education groups, for instance).
At the same time, some member organizations arechanging their conventional programs from theviewpoint of sustainable development. To promote
public awareness of the term and concept of ESD,
which is still unfamiliar to most residents, we willcontinue organizing various related programs.

To promote ESD in the Kitakyushu region, in
September 2006 the Kitakyushu ESD Council wasformed, comprising among others representatives ofschools, universities/research institutes, othereducational institutions, NPOs/NGOs, local groups,
enterprises/industrial organizations, and governmental
bodies. In December 2006, Kitakyushu was accredited
as the fourth Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) in
Japan by the United Nations University. To fulfill therole of RCE, that is, to promote ESD, the Kitakyushu
ESD Council is building partnerships with various
other RCEs in and outside Japan.
While adhering to the same goal of realizing asustainable society, member organizations of theKitakyushu ESD Council are active in various
different areas ranging from environmental protection
to international cooperation, international exchange
and education. Raising women’s social status andpromoting gender equality, the primary goals of theKitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW), are alsoessential for realizing a sustainable society. In
carrying out ESD, it is essential to address ourneighbors and communities. In other words, we must
initiate a campaign to create a sustainable society byaddressing those who are closest to us. Althoughschools are important for promoting ESD, the target▲An activity of the Kitakyushu ESD Council

KFAW has been serving as the Secretariat for the Kitakyushu ESD Council since September 2006.

No.51 October 2007

7

Educational Video Promotion for International Understanding

Vietnamvarious kinds of Vietnamese food and beverages. Although many participants were surprised at thestrong fishy odor of Nuoc Mam-a Vietnamese fishsauce introduced in the video, they all seemed to enjoy Vietnamese tea with the floral fragrance of lotussweets containing lotus nuts, and chips of dried jackfruit (Artocarpas heterophyllus Lam)- a tropical fruit
unfamiliar to many Japanese.

Production of Educational Material for International Understanding
The Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women(KFAW) produces aseries of educational
videos on various countries with the aim of
fostering global perspectives among Japanese elementary andjunior high school students who will be responsible for future society. As the 7th production in the series,
the KFAW has now completed a video on Vietnam.
(only Japanese is available.)

The party ended with a Q&A session in which the audience asked questions of the teachers and a Vietnamese student studying in Japan. This same student had cooperated with our video production. Excited to learn about actual conditions in Vietnam,
which are not written about in guidebooks, the audience continued asking many questions.
Although no elementary or junior high school students attended the meeting, the organizers werepleased to welcome many teachers and others who
have keen interests in Vietnam. After the meeting
ended, many participants eagerly viewed exhibits
from Vietnam and talked with the Vietnamese student. The video promotion of the film was effective indeepening the audience’s understanding of Vietnam
and her people.

Since the video series is designed to promote children’s international understanding through its use atschools and other facilities, the production projects
involve full-time elementary and junior high schools
teachers. The project team of the video on Vietnam,
for instance, includes four elementary school teachers, who were selected by an open application procedure. The four teachers played leading roles in writing a scenario, as well as on-the-spot coverage.
Video Promotion▲“Linh”, the navigator of the video▲At the video promotion meetingVideo Contents
The video introduces the average daily life of Vietnamese people, particularly children’s life, in aneasy-to-understand manner. To stimulate children’sinterest, an animation character, for the first time inthe series, is used as a navigator for this video on
Vietnam.
“Xin chào, Hello Vietnam” introduces Vietnam topromote international understanding (approx. 15
min).
“Vietnamese Children - What’s Your Greatest
Treasure ?” introduces daily activities of a Vietnamese child (approx. 15 min).

th

To celebrate the completion of the 7 program, Vietnam in the series a video promotion meeting washeld on Friday, August 3, 2007 at “Move” (the Kitakyushu Municipal Gender Equality Center). Despite
the unfavorable weather due to an approaching typhoon, the KFAW was able to hold the meeting asscheduled.
At the meeting, teachers who participated in the video production served as facilitators. In addition to thevideo show, participants enjoyed a quiz pertaining toitems introduced in the video as well as a tasting of

8

No.51 October 2007

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS REPORTS(access other foreign correspondents’ reports : http://www.kfaw. or. jp/english/17th_report. html)

Women and Community Activities
Government, Community and Womenfor Positive Change

Vietnamese Women for the Eliminationof Hunger and Poverty

Jocelyne Vokouma (Burkina Faso)

Le Thi (Vietnam)

Before the creation of the Women Promotion Ministryin Burkina Faso, women and girls had to face many problems in their daily life. In the past, men in Burkina Faso
did not like their wives working far from the house. Consequently, women developed community activities tofight against poverty. They also developed many NGOs
and women/girls organizations to address domestic violence and discrimination. Most women and girls understand increasingly that only community activities canreally help free them from their subhuman conditions.
After the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing (China), Burkina Faso women leaders, who participated, are fighting more for national political commitment to the promotion of women including the improvement of their conditions. Through different organizations, women can show the community their capacity to
do useful things for the development of their country,
such as participation in decision making. Along theselines, the Women Promotion Ministry created on June
10, 1997, also coordinates women organizations’ activities and helps these entities to become more operational.
Due to women’s work capacities, the government soon accepted to strengthen these organizations by sustaining
their different initiatives. This is needed especially when
the government does not work well to satisfy women andgirls’ needs.
Government support for women’s AIDS related organizations exemplifies the above kind of support. The government can not face the AIDS situation without theseorganizations assistance. Presently, due to polygamy,
more women are infected. Many husbands die, leaving
behind many children with infected wives who are physically, financially and morally limited by their health situation. Generally AIDS victims are left by all family
members except the women who are ready to take care ofthem. Some ill women have created organizations to takecare of AIDS victims-women, men and children. Some ofthese organizations also take care of healthy children
whose parents died of AIDS. Recognizing their efforts,
the government distinguishes some of them officially per
year.
Because of women organizations’ actions, many women have accepted training. In addition, many parents are
increasingly agreeing to send their girls to school. Women’s changing mentalities are also changing society.
Moreover, socially and politically, women represent 52%of the national population. As they become more organized, the government has to consider their power. At thesame time, women have to show their communities thatthey are able to do many jobs reserved to men in thepast, such as textile production, electronics, mathematics, sciences, politics and the national armed forces. Beyond the current work of the Ministry of Women Promotion, and present women organizations’ efforts, women
also need to further improve their leadership capacities.
A new strategy is to list, collect and publish about Burkinabe women’s potential
in different fields ofcompetency at national
and international levels.

Vietnam is one of the developing countries. People experience daily a lot of difficulties. Local women engage inmany practical activities in the community to help one toanother develop the family economy; eliminate hunger andpoverty as well as carry out charity work. In addition, they
assist the disadvantaged including the poor; nursing lonely
mothers; homeless children; HIV/AIDS as well as agent orange infected children and orphans. They hold classes for
women and disabled children to raise their educational levels and learn skills. They fight against the male-dominated
way of thinking, demanding equality between men andwomen in the family and society. Especially they areagainst the abortion of the female fetus that adds to a gender imbalance. They fight violence against women andchildren. They support the application of the Law of Gender
Equality, which was approved by the Vietnamese National
Congress in 2006.
First, I wish to discuss the movement of women who
help one to another to develop agriculture production as
well as hunger and poverty reduction in many localities, especially in rural areas. In such areas, 70% of the agricultural and sideline-work laborers are women.
Some cases which exemplify the above trend are as follows : An Dong, an agricultural commune in Hai Phongcity, was once characterized by hunger and poverty. Ms.
Nguyen Thi My, Chairperson of the People’s Committee,
encouraged people there to change their farming habits toraise productivity. Since then, the commune has been recognized not only as a rich commune but also as the bestcommune of the city for 15 years. The percentage of nearlyrich and rich households is 80%. The poor households account for 1%. Mrs. Nguyen Thi My was given a Heroic Laborer Award in July of 2004.1
Another example involves Ms. Dinh Thi Nam, a 49 year
old member of a Co Tu ethnic minority, living in Hoa Phu
commune, Da Nang city. She was the first woman selectedto the People’s Council (1999-2005). She encouraged other
women to loan money to one another without interest. The
whole credit fund which is VND 7 million (approx.US$ 430)
and 25 pieces of gold was given to 26 households to re-cultivate gardens and grow new trees in the forest. Those women also gathered 600 kg of rice and labored 100 days to help
war invalids and the families of dead soldiers. She is very
active in persuading people not only against backward weddings and funerals but also towards building up a new cultural life in the commune.2
In Phong Khe village, Bac Ninh province, a businesswomen’s club was established in November 2003 to encourage women to keep the traditional work of paper making
away from bankruptcy. The club at first included 10 women
who gave loans to one another to produce paper with newtechniques. They became wealthier. Now the club includes
70 women, famous for their good business and solidarity.
The villages call those women “Women Heroes of Traditional Job Preservation”.3
In conclusion, the movements of women have helped
women in various rural areas of Vietnam eliminate hunger
and poverty through joint financial cooperation and economic activities. These activities in turn contribute to thedevelopment of Vietnam’s economy.

▲

1 Phu nu thanh pho Hochiminh (newspaper), May 14, 2006.
2 Cong an Nhan dan (newspaper), January 6, 2007.
3 Tuoi tre online (online newspaper), October 17, 2006.

Soap making by local
Burkina Faso organization
members who are mainly
women

No.51 October 2007

9

Women’s Committees and Educationof Children in the Mahallas

THE FORUM WINDOWAsuka Kawano (Uzbekistan)Japan’s Upper House Election and Quota System“The mahalla is a father and a mother” is a proverb
symbolic of mahallas, which are regional traditional
communities in Uzbekistan. The proverb implies that theentire mahalla works to raise the children born in themahalla. In each of Uzbekistan’s mahallas, there areprojects being undertaken to raise the status of womenand promote the education of children. These measures
are in addition to economic aid given to families withchildren, which was promulgated by Presidential decree
in 1996.
A women’s committee is set up within each mahalla.
The activities of these women’s committees are notconfined to their respective mahallas, but also involve
coordination and a variety of collaborative activities withmahalla schools. The women’s committee includes
women who are in charge of education. These women
work together with the school to provide youth guidance
to children in the mahalla who show problematic
behavior, such as smoking in the mahalla or shopliftingat bazaars. The school teachers also write letters to thewomen in charge of education to keep them updated onthese children in their mahalla. In the past, there havebeen cases where the children themselves corrected theirown problematic behavior because they were ashamed tohave mahalla residents learn about their bad deeds.
Members of the women’s committee participate inmeetings held by schools and kindergartens parents’associations in the mahalla to discuss with parents andteachers about present educational problems and futurechallenges.
The role of women’s committees goes beyond
providing youth guidance for the children in themahalla. Another major role is to hand down traditional
culture and history to the children. Every year, on March
21, the school celebrates the Navruz Festival for the New
Year in Uzbekistan. On May 9, which is their Memorial
Day, war heroes are invited from the mahalla toparticipate in ceremonies at the school. After the event,
the students visit elderly people’s homes in the mahalla
to hear war stories. All of these events are carried out
together with the mahalla and the mahalla women’scommittee.
In present-day Uzbekistan, there are still heavy
demands and expectations on women to do houseworkand child rearing. In this context, there are increasingly
more cases of women being chosen as mahalla
representatives. The mahalla representatives andwomen’s committee members must tackle many
problems related to collaboration with schools and aid towomen in the mahalla, while balancing these duties with
their housework and child rearing responsibilities. The
activities of the mahalla women in Uzbekistan
encompass the problems faced by the women themselves.
The activities carried out by these women are not only
for the children’s sake but also for the bright future ofthese women themselves.

In Japan, as a result of the Upper House election of July29, 2007, 121 new members were elected, 26 of themwere originally women. This later became 27 in
September of 2007 when a male councilor resigned andwas replaced by a woman. This brought the total of New
Upper House women members to 27 for an overall totalof 43 of 242 members (17.8%). This ratio is the highest
in the history of Japan’s National Diet, which comprises
the Upper and Lower Houses. Compared with national
assemblies in other countries, however, the ratio of
women lawmakers in Japan is by no means high.
In the Republic of Korea, for example, they haveadopted a quota system for both national and local
assemblies in order to increase the number of womenlawmakers. In the Republic of Korea system, specificpercentages have been set for women candidates to belisted on the party list in elections to maintain genderbalance among lawmakers.
Regarding the election of national assembly members,in 2000, the Republic of Korea decided that womenshould comprise at least 30% of candidates to be listed
for the proportional representation election. In 2004, thePolitical Party Law was revised to increase thepercentage of women candidates to 50%. As a result of
this revision, the percentage of women members electedin the general election in 2004 reached 13%. In 2006,
the country also introduced a quota system fornationwide local elections, demanding that womenshould comprise at least 50% of the candidates to belisted on the party list for the proportional representationelection.
In the Republic of Korea, such a quota system has
stimulated active debate regarding the system’s pros
and cons. Some argue that the system constitutes
reverse discrimination against men. Others suggest thatsuch manipulation violates the Constitution of the
Republic of Korea. Still others maintain that the quota
system augments the power of influential politicians.
These people are concerned that in each political party
influential politicians are likely to have even greater
power over decision making as to who will be on thecandidate lists. This concern is worth noting, since it is
crucial for any politician whether or not he or she will be
included in the proportional representation election. If thequota system results in the emergence of the so-called
boss-rule, this can possibly interfere with the realizationof true democratic elections and policymaking.
Although it is pressing to promote women’s participationin policy making, and realize gender equality in thepolitical world, it is equally essential to ensure thatgender equality be realized without diminishing overall
fairness, equality and freedom. Accordingly, we should
analyze both merits and demerits of the quota systembefore deciding whether or not to introduce such asystem in Japan.
Harumichi Yuasa
Associate Professor, Kyushu International University
KFAW Visiting Researcher

The Navruz Festival in the school courtyard▲

10

No.51 October 2007

ISSN 0918-8266

COVER PROFILE

QA
Q A
&

&

Question

Ms. Mizue Harada
Managing Director of Kitakyushu Kyudo Federation

The basis of Kyudo, Japanese archery, isto acquire basic operations called“hassetsu” and pull the bow toward a target that does not move. Kyudo is not as
simple as it looks. Kyudo requires emotional, intellectual as well as physicalcommitment. Appropriate etiquette isalso required. Subsequently, the more
the archer practices, the more his or her
technique will improve. The archers will be able to carry out eight kindsof basic aims without wasting energy and hit the target. Ms. Harada
maintains that one attraction of Kyudo is that the archer only faces thetarget. She teaches Kyudo to many different generations including highschool students to elderly persons. 20 years ago as a housewife, she began
to learn Kyudo because she was attracted to the Kyudo range’s expanseof green grass. She enjoys meetings with various people who come topractice Kyudo after school or work. Thanks to the establishment of theInternational Kyudo Federation, which 17 countries joined, Kyudo has
spread internationally. Harada’s goal is to expand the attractiveness of
Kyudo in Asia where there are still very few Kyudo competitors.

CornerQ

Compulsory education in Japan is 9 years - 6 years inelementary school and 3 years in junior high school. The
new school year starts in April. How about in your country?

Naomi Sasaki, Kitakyushu, JapanAnswerAsian Lifestyles
Satoko Chaterjee,
India〜Photos from KFAW Readers〜

Swapna Majumdar,
India

Cambodian Children carry out Fund Raising Activities

A

Under the Constitution of India, free and compulsory education for children from 6-14 years of age
is a fundamental right. However, unfortunately
many children living in rural areas, especiallygirls, stop attending school.
There are public and private schools. Which schoola child attends depends on his/her family’s income
not the household’s school district like in Japan.
Children from poor to very poor households attend
public schools because the school fees are free. But
the educational environment of these publicschools is lacking. Consequently, the children fromthe middle and upper classes attend private
schools which charge tuition and textbook fees.
Students in grades 1st-12th usually study at private
schools. The beginning of a new school year differs
by state. Many schools start their new school year
in April.

Location of
Kitakyushu

Momoe Kikuzaki, Kitakyushu, Japan

Beijing Pyongyang

ShanghaiSeoul Osaka Tokyo
Kitakyushu
Fukuoka

KITAKYUSHU OTEMACHI BUILDING 3F
OTEMACHI 11-4, KOKURAKITA, KITAKYUSHU, 803-0814 JAPAN
PHONE＋81-93-583-3434 FAX＋81-93-583-5195

Hong Kong Taipei
Hanoi
Vientiane

Dhaka

Yangon Bangkok

E-mail: kfaw@kfaw.or.jp URL: http://www.kfaw.or.jp/english/index.html

KFAW

ManilaPhnom Penh
Kuala Lumpur
Singapore

Jakarta

The Roluos ruins are located southeast of the
Angkor ruins, a world heritage site in Cambodia. The royal capital of the Angkor Empire wasestablished in Roluos in the 9th century. When I
visited Roluos, I joined the children in fund raising activities. I raised the money for them andpointed my camera toward them. Then, theystood in line with smile. I heard that this fundraising money was used for the operation of a
training center for the poor, homeless and orphaned children.

Port Moresby

The Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW) was established in
October of 1990 with a special government fund for revitalization projects.
Subsequently, in 1993, the KFAW was recognized as a foundation by the
Ministry of Labor. The purpose of the KFAW, through various projects, is topromote the improvement of women's status as well as their mutual
understanding and cooperation in Asia.

11

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