In eastern Pennsylvania near the New Jersey border, members of the newly formed Lehigh Valley “Japanese in America, Japanese American, and Japanese Aficionado” (JAJAJA) community organized a successful summit on December 8. This summit was part of the Regional Women in Leadership (RWL) series, in which USJC members and supporters organize and attend events in their respective regions to discuss ways to support women’s leadership. RWL is funded by the Embassy of Japan.

Over 60 people gathered on a Sunday afternoon, and received a warm welcome from keynote speakers Cheryl Matherly (Vice President of International Affairs – Lehigh University) and Deputy Consul General Kenju Murakami of the Consulate in NYC, as well as Merissa Nakamura, Membership Engagement and Regional Coordinator at USJC. Dr. Matherly welcomed the community to Lehigh’s campus and shared the many years of collaboration and exchange between Lehigh and institutions in Japan. DCG Murakami provided historical context to the long-standing relationship between the U.S. and Japan, noting that the alliance between the two countries has been the cornerstone of Japan’s diplomacy and security. He proceeded to provide the latest trends on Womenomics in Japan, sharing examples of how Japan is working towards empowering women to hold decision-making positions in the public sector.

Deputy Consul General of New York Kenju Murakami discusses Japan’s population decrease

A panel called “Portraits of Japan in the Lehigh Valley” featured three members of the JAJAJA community who come from different backgrounds: Miyo Lloyd (Founder of the Lehigh Valley Japanese Ministries), Samina Forbath (a fourth-year undergraduate student at Lehigh University majoring in engineering and Japanese), and Joe Narkevic (Chair of the Bethlehem Tondabayashi Sister City Commission). Moderator Miki Sankary asked several questions that addressed the challenges of building a home away from home. The panelists’ anecdotes represented the common sentiments of people having to balance adapting to a new culture while retaining their cultural heritage. The panelists shared their stories on how that challenge is particularly tough for women when raising a family. Ms. Lloyd shared how her family spoke Japanese at home and celebrated the culture to make learning Japanese fun for her children, one of whom now attends Waseda University. Ms. Forbath, a newly engaged Japanese American about to embark on a career in robotics engineering, recounted how she wants to celebrate and ensure that Japanese culture is alive in her growing family. Mr. Narkevic, a JET alumnus, has been active for the past six years with the Bethlehem Tondabayashi Sister City Commission, which serves as a welcoming space for men and women who wish to celebrate Japanese culture together, build communities and “build a home away from home.”

(L-R) Miki Sankary (ELP ’15) and speakers Miyo Lloyd, Samina Forbath and Joe Narkevic

The summit also featured a workshop by speaker, author and professional development coach Shawn Kent Hayashi. She prompted the audience to think about their aspirations as affirmations, asking them to write down what they are good at, what they can offer to the community (Japanese language lessons, advice on restaurants, etc.) and what they seek from the community. Attendees posted their notes around the hall and walked around to network and connect with people they are seeking support from. The room became an interactive museum of everyone’s talents and aspirations, and embodied the power of community in creating a supportive network.

For more information about the US-Japan Council and other events that they support visit their site here: usjapancouncil.org

Japan is experiencing a decline in its birth rate that is more severe than the U.S., resulting in depopulation over the last decade. This trend is expected to continue for the long-term with adverse effects for the society and the economy. The Japanese government wants to increase the birthrate and marriage rate while at the same time, engage more women in the workplace. However, the traditional Japanese culture that places the obligation of creating homelife on women, necessarily clashes with the commitments and obligations of women in the workplace (time away from home both during the day and evenings). This clash is magnified when Japanese women are located in a different culture. They must balance workplace/home obligations but also the tensions between Japanese and the foreign culture, in this case, American.

Domestically, the Lehigh Valley is home to such Japanese women and their families. They are coping with finding their way in balancing these forces. This summit will help identify these women and their families, will create a forum for discussing the range of challenges they face, will start a support system for them, and finally, begin to articulate some common approaches to address this balance problem that will help inform both Japanese and American employers and communities.

現在日本では出産率の低下が著しく、ここ10年人口減少の道をたどる一方で、この問題が社会や経済に与える影響は大きいものと日本政府は懸念しています。その懸念を解消するためにも出産率や既婚率の上昇は不可欠であると考えると同時に、女性の職場での活躍を政府は大いに期待しています。しかしながら昔から当たり前と考えられてきた女性の役割はいまだ根強く、その役割が義務と考えられている以上その義務を果たしながらビジネスの舞台でも活躍し続けることは難しいのが現状です。加えて日本国外で生活する女性は、文化の違いに対応しつつ、日本の伝統も保ちながらこれを成し遂げることを求められ、さらなる困難があると考えられます。

リーハイバレーにはバランスをうまく取りながらこうした困難に柔軟に対応し生活している日本人女性たちがいます。このサミットが、同じ困難を抱える人や、その困難を乗り越えている人、またはその家族同士が知り合い、話し合うことができ、その後も助け合っていくことのできるようなコミュニティーを作りあげるきっかけを与える場となり、そこからリーハイバレーに住む女性たちがバランスの取れた生活環境を整えることができれば、それは日米の企業やコミュニティーにとっても役に立つことでしょう。