JDZB’s German-Japanese Young Leaders Forum

12 highly qualified German and Japanese Young Leaders from government, business and civil society organizations met in Tokyo in early 2025 to participate in the 16th German-Japanese Young Leaders Forum 2024/25 on “Resilient Democracy. Young Leaders’ Responsibilities to Protect and Develop Liberal Democratic Societies in Turbulent Times.” The Winter School was conceived, organized, and conducted by the Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB) in close cooperation with this year’s academic director, Prof. Dr. Axel Klein (Institute of East Asian Studies, University of Duisburg-Essen).

The Young Leaders engaged with experts from various sectors to discuss external threats to the Japanese and German democracies the role of political communication and media, as well as challenges such as demographic change, artificial intelligence, and climate change. A key focus of the program was how to empower young people to run for office and enhance political diversity. Field trips took them to the National Diet of Japan (with the honor to meet the Minister in charge of Economic Security, Minoru Kiuchi), the Foreign Correspondents Club Japan, and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Tokyo office to explore political and media landscapes. Also, Professor Dr. Daniela Schwarzer (Member of Executive Board, Bertelsmann Stiftung), the new German Co-Chair of the German-Japanese Forum, accompanied part of the program and shared her expertise with the participants. Another key highlight was the exchange with Momoko Nojo, Executive Director of No Youth No Japan and the Japan Youth Council representatives. Honored with a reception at the German Embassy, the intensive week concluded with the Young Leaders Forum Alumni Association (YLFAA) Conference, which explored how design and technology can foster a diverse, inclusive and equitable democratic society.  

The program was funded by Daido Life Insurance Company, the Mori Manufacturing Research and Technology Foundation, the Yamaoka Memorial Foundation, YANMAR Holdings Co., Ltd., and Yuasa M&B Co., Ltd.

Source: JDZB