"Let's talk! in TOKYO #0 Kick-off Talk Event" to be held

The new project "Let's Talk! in TOKYO," aimed at improving women's quality of life and co-hosted by Sanrio Entertainment Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Aya Komaki), fermata, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Tokyo Office, and the MOTHERS editorial department, was launched on Sunday, February 14, 2021.

As a launch event, the "Let's Talk! in TOKYO #0 Kickoff Talk Event" was held online on Sunday, February 14. The four initiators – Aya Komaki, President and CEO of Sanrio Entertainment; Hiroko Nakamura, CCO/co-founder of fermata Inc.; Mariko Sato, Director of the UNFPA Tokyo Office; and Misato Kowaki, Editor-in-Chief of the MOTHERS editorial department – spoke about the background, their aspirations, and the project's content.

Aya Komaki, the project organizer, commented, "Japan ranks 121st in the gender gap index, indicating much room for improvement. I felt that as someone in Tokyo, I should speak up now." In response, Hiroko Nakamura of fermata Inc. expressed positive support for the project, saying, "While working in the new industry of Femtech, I immediately agreed when President Komaki invited me. I hope this activity will provide an opportunity to recognize taboos and stereotypes that I hadn't noticed before."

Furthermore, Mariko Sato, Director of the UNFPA Tokyo Office, mentioned the talk theme, stating, "Menstruation is very personal, yet it has existed since ancient times and is naturally occurring. We want to improve issues that are considered taboo by first having a 'dialogue'." Misato Kowaki, Editor-in-Chief of the MOTHERS editorial department, also shared her thoughts, saying, "I believe that thinking and talking about taboos can be an opportunity to realize your own importance. As a result, I feel it can lead to self-acceptance and increased self-esteem."

At this "Let's Talk! #0 Kickoff Talk Event," plans were announced to promote dialogue by releasing themes every two weeks on Twitter and the official website. The project's details (regarding sponsors, collaborators, and co-organizers, as well as crowdfunding for a book on menstruation and the content of a real event planned for Sanrio Puroland in May), schedule, and overview were also announced for International Women's Day in March.

During the Q&A session with participants, the speakers freely exchanged opinions on how to communicate about taboos and biases to younger generations and on sex education for adults.

Finally, Aya Komaki closed the talk event by expressing her enthusiasm: "Not just women, but every individual is like the sun. I want to create a movement where everyone feels glad to have been born by participating."
 

• Thoughts on Let's talk! in TOKYO

■Comment from Aya Komaki, President and CEO of Sanrio Entertainment (Organizer):

Having experienced breast cancer and a total hysterectomy myself, I have a deep personal connection to topics concerning women's bodies such as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
Rather than carrying out this project quietly, we aim to create an atmosphere where many women, as well as younger generations and men, are widely aware of it. By actively disseminating information, we hope to increase the number of people involved. We want to make this a movement that sparks self-care by encouraging conversations about the taboos we hold within ourselves.

■Comment from Hiroko Nakamura, CCO/co-founder of fermata Inc. (Co-organizer):

The Femtech (a portmanteau of Female and Technology) we deal with refers to products and services that address women's specific health issues. While each person's physical and mental concerns are different, new solutions can break down stereotypes and broaden choices. We aim for "Let's Talk!" to be a project where participants, by listening to others' concerns and frustrations, can discover their own unacknowledged taboos.

■Comment from Mariko Sato, Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Tokyo Office (Co-organizer):

 

In developing countries, some individuals cannot afford sanitary products due to poverty, and in refugee camps, for example, there are issues like the absence of sanitary products in shelters. Furthermore, in Nepal, women on their periods are still forced to stay in "isolation huts," which reflects a negative perception. We believe that "dialogue" is the most crucial element in resolving such problems. Through "Let's Talk!", we hope to overcome taboos and foster conversation, and from "Let's talk! in TOKYO," expand this circle of dialogue to the world.


■Comment from Misato Kowaki, Editor-in-Chief of the MOTHERS editorial department (Co-organizer):

Parents need to understand that sex education and education about menstruation for children are essential "education" and "knowledge" for their future lives, and communicate this. It is also very important for parents to show their children that they take care of their own bodies and are healthy and well, so I hope to share ways to do that. Sex education in Japan is still lagging, and many people tend to view it passively as something embarrassing or difficult to talk about. I am actually one of them. Therefore, I want to empathize with such people and, instead of imposing opinions, involve participants in a gentle and soft way, suggesting, "It might be good to know this as an option."
 

• About the new project "Let's talk! in TOKYO"

"Let's talk!" is a movement that aims to improve women's quality of life and empower them by collecting voices from Japan and abroad, both online and offline, and expanding dialogue on issues related to women that are often considered "taboo." As a dialogue-based platform to overcome various taboos and prejudices related to women's health, foster open discussion, and lead to concrete action, this movement is being rolled out globally in cooperation with supermodel Natalia Vodianova and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

 "Let's talk! in TOKYO" will focus on "menstruation" as a "taboo subject" among topics related to women, such as menarche, menstrual pain, menstrual products, cervical cancer, and Femtech. By expanding dialogue, it aims to contribute to improving women's quality of life and empowerment.

In addition to online talk events, we will disseminate and gather information on various issues through Twitter and podcasts, and in cooperation with various companies, we will conduct diverse activities that provide women with opportunities to confront their own bodies.

Event website: https://letstalk.tokyo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/letstalktokyo21
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIQLNL6y4cs


Organizer: Sanrio Entertainment Co., Ltd. Hellosmile
Co-organizers: fermata Inc. / United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Tokyo Office / MOTHERS editorial department


2018: UNFPA and Natalia Vodianova launch in Antalya, Turkey
2019: Held in Nairobi
2021: Let's Talk! in TOKYO held, Theme: "Menstruation"


Menarche, menstrual pain, menstrual products, hormonal effects, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, perimenopause, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, menstrual harassment/abuse, menstrual (body) education, Femtech


©1976, 2009 SANRIO CO., LTD. ©2021 SANRIO CO., LTD.