Today's session, facilitated by Minori Takao, NHK World News Anchor, was insightful with its dynamic conversation on Japan's strengths and weaknesses, and how Japan should proceed into the high-speed future. Ms. Balbo, a wine entrepreneur and the chair of W20 Argentina, took the floor first to say what makes Japan strong. She referenced both Japan's strengths and weaknesses, and discussed what opportunities, such as the W20, are available to facilitate an environment in which people can begin discussions that will lead to progress. She shared some concerning statistics around women's domestic violence and sexual harassment in Argentina, pressing the dire need for immediate change.

Ms. Takao brought the conversation to Kyoko Hokugo, the Director of the Gender Mainstreaming Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan, asking her why Japan is ranked so low in gender and equality. Ms. Hokugo answered by sharing her struggles, balances, and compromises of rising her position in a governmental organization. As a female diplomat, she mainly relies on strategy and technique to reach her objectives and gave many valuable tips to the participants.

Sayuri Daimon, Executive Operating Officer and Managing Editor of Japan Times, shared her views on gender in the media world, a topic that resonated deeply with Ms. Takao. Ms. Daimon said,“ Half the population is women, but women's voices are not reflected in the media,
which is a shame.” She shared the troubles of covering the #MeToo movement in Japan within the industry, and how there is a definite need for some change in Japan. As to how the media industry can go about making these changes, Ms. Daimon imparted great advice on what needs to be done.

Ms. Balbo reminded us all that this problem extends beyond Japan's borders, and is in fact a global dilemma. She provides statistics on Argentina's gender laws, crime reports, and how minorities of all types are not given the chance to speak up. Diversity is much broader than just gender, and she sees the next W20 summit as a unique

opportunity to tackle these problems head-on. With the conversation steered towards diversity as a broader spectrum, Ms. Hokugo shared encouraging news; the youth are accepting diversity, but it is a process that can only be sped up if strategies are implemented and seen through. Ms. Daimon’s thoughts on this matter:“ Japanese people need to step out of their comfort zone.”

The Q&A panel brought forth an interesting and diverse range of questions. Ms. Daimon gave us some secrets on how to set up the right conditions for female leadership both individually and as an organization. Ms. Hokugo mentioned about the issue of quotas and targets, shedding light on the Japanese structure of labor discrimination and the future of the quota and target systems in Japan, which has not yet taken that next step in the journey of labor equality. She shared the successes of the quota system in various other countries around the world. Ms. Hokugo also shared some insight from a politician's perspective, and what qualities a company should have in the face of equality and diversity. Ms. Balbo effectively concluded the panel, saying“ We cannot think about Japan, or any part of the world, being strong while women are behind men. So Japan, or the world, will get strong when women are on the same path as men.”