Happy New Year.

I am Chizuko Ueno, Chief Director of the Women’s Action Network (WAN).

Reflecting on the past year, we journeyed through a landscape brimming with formidable challenges. We found ourselves caught in the Trump wave. In Japan, the House of Representatives election and the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race culminated in the historic arrival of Japan’s first female prime minister. Yet, like many of you, I cannot help but feel that this milestone brought not pure celebration, but a persistent sense of frustration. We delve into these complex emotions in a special feature on the WAN website, “What ‘Takaichi-like Politics’ Means for Us.” I warmly invite you to explore it.

In the lead-up to the House of Representatives election, we sprang into action on multiple fronts. One is that we conducted the online gender policy survey again, which WAN initiated for the first time in Japan. This time, we threw open our survey methods to anyone eager to join the cause. In partnership with the Hiroshima Citizens’ Group, Thinking about Gender, we hosted a three-part workshop. The seminar sparked enthusiasm, and women from all corners of Japan stepped forward, launching surveys in more than ten prefectures. Watching these grassroots efforts weave connections across regions has been truly uplifting.

Last year marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Amid the many commemorations, we were heartened to see finally a focus on preserving testimonies as living history. Against this backdrop, we welcomed Ms. Toshiko Fujinuma, a passionate oral history archivist, to share the wisdom she has gathered over the years. Though not an academic by title, her lecture celebrated a trailblazing career. We honored her talk as a scholar’s retirement lecture and, with her blessing, added it to WAN’s rapidly expanding Retirement Lecture Archive. I encourage you to discover the many inspiring talks within.

Another major focus during the election season was our steadfast commitment to safeguarding the long-term care insurance system. The Care Society Network, created by WAN with the Women’s Association for Improving the Aging Society, led by Keiko Higuchi, involving professional caregivers, has taken continuous action to prevent negative reforms that would undermine the safety and security of our later years. All records and outcomes of these actions are available on the WAN website. Because of these united efforts, the government once again postponed its problematic reform. Yet, we cannot afford to lower our guard. With the 2027 revision period on the horizon, I urge everyone to remain vigilant and involved.

Meanwhile, our greatest treasure, the Minikomi (independent publications) Library, continues to grow with new materials. The Doctoral Dissertation Database, Dissertation Report Meetings, FemiLab, the Feminism Introductory School, and its Advanced Course are updated regularly. We continue to enrich our collection with fresh essays, articles, and updates on feminist events. We are deeply grateful for the many messages of thanks we receive for sharing feminist news and events.

Looking ahead to 2026, I am excited to share a glimpse of the events on our horizon.

In 2024, WAN’s Minikomi Library added an archive of New Feminism Review. Marking this occasion sparked a lively discussion: Does print media still matter in our digital age? As many of you know, there is currently a renewed interest in ZINE culture. This led us to wonder: why not invite people to create the feminist ZINE they have always dreamed of reading? With this spark, we launched the Dream Feminist ZINE project. Thanks to the full cooperation of Professor Toko Tanaka’s seminar at the University of Tokyo, we opened a call for submissions. To our delight, nearly fifty proposals poured in. After careful review, four projects were chosen and have now come to life. On January 6, we will host an event where the creators will unveil and share their completed ZINES.

On February 11, we will co-host a screening of a documentary on the artist Niki de Saint Phalle, in collaboration with an organization supporting people with psychosocial disabilities. As a survivor of sexual abuse by her father, Niki channeled her trauma into powerful works of art. Director Matsumoto has crafted a profoundly moving film that traces her remarkable journey. We warmly invite you to join us.

A momentous event awaits us in 2026. Japan still lags on the Global Gender Gap Index. Meanwhile, Iceland has topped the rankings for 16 consecutive years. Yet fifty years ago, Iceland was also a deeply traditional society. The turning point arrived on October 24, 1975, with the historic Women’s Day Off, when women across the country went on strike. A documentary film marking its 50th anniversary is now playing in various localities across Japan. If you have not seen it yet, I encourage you to watch. The film inspired many women, who began to ask: “Should we do it? Can we do this in Japan, too?” The answer is clear: Yes, we can—and we will. A Japanese version of Women’s Day Off is being planned for March 6, 2026. Preparations are already underway nationwide, with updates posted on the WAN website and the project homepage. For more information, please Google “Women’s Day Off.”

This year marks a pivotal turning point for WAN. As I said last year, half of our board has transitioned from founding members to new leadership. We are also preparing for a complete renewal of the WAN website. This renewal is a major undertaking, with costs expected to exceed 20 million yen. Though WAN may appear financially secure, the reality is far more precarious. We cannot afford even a single full-time staff member; our board and volunteers keep WAN running through their dedication and unpaid work. Given our financial situation, we have launched a legacy and donation initiative. We ask for your understanding and support, so WAN can thrive for another decade as it has for the past sixteen, remaining an organization you are glad to have. We are determined to continue our feminist portal for those who have valued WAN over the past 16 years, and for the next 10 years to come. Your support and cooperation are vital to making this possible. I would be deeply grateful if you could watch over WAN’s journey of renewal in the year ahead.

Lastly, I am pleased to announce that our annual General Assembly will be held on May 24. Please save the date. We look forward to welcoming you.

I wish each of you a year brimming with hope and good fortune. I also sincerely hope that rays of hope and good news find their way to the people of Gaza and Ukraine.

With heartfelt wishes,
Chizuko Ueno

Text translated by Keiko Ikeda

Japanese version