Women, Peace and Security Provides Japan Opportunity for Global Leadership Role

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The U.S.-Japan alliance has entered a golden age, characterized by mutual support and strategic regional partnerships. While it affords us trust and friendship, it necessitates continual engagement to deepen understanding and collaboratively address global challenges. One such challenge that acutely impacts every corner of the globe is natural disasters. Be it earthquakes, or extreme weather events, no nation is spared.

Japan is all too familiar with natural disasters and thus has extensive experience preparing for and responding to such crises. The Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 was a significant incident which galvanized greater emphasis in Japan on improving and expanding disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts to account for the unique risks and needs of women and girls. The Japanese government has made strides in this area, notably by integrating DRR into its Women, Peace and Security (WPS) National Action Plan (NAP), a step not taken by many other nations with similar frameworks. As the U.S. Women, Peace and Security NAP also incorporates DRR, this presents an opportunity for further collaboration between the two allies to strengthen the alliance.

In July 2024, through the Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation (SEED), I led a cohort of DRR experts from U.S. federal and local agencies and civil society organizations on a weeklong research trip to Japan. The objective was to engage with Japanese counterparts across various sectors and collectively identify areas of opportunity to enhance DRR policies and practices that foster equitable resilience.

Our time in Tohoku and Noto was emotionally impactful; we listened to stories of suffering and resilience. One woman spoke about the heavy damage the earthquake caused her farm. Though unsure how to do it, she was determined to find a way to rebuild. She felt responsible for providing work for her employees and supporting the local economy as her farm once did. There were also moments of shared laughter with those we met, such as when we visited a local evacuation center and chatted with an elderly woman, laughing together as we wiped down tables together in preparation for dinner. There were many such examples that showcased the strength and resilience that Japan is known for in the face of disasters.

When many Americans think of Japan during a disaster, they recall images of Japanese citizens calmly waiting in line for resources. One delegate pondered what aspect of Japanese culture it was that allowed for such orderly patience and respect for one another at a time of utter chaos. A key takeaway from her engagements with the local communities was that a societal mindset of shared accountability exists among Japanese disaster survivors, which is critical in disaster recovery and building long-term resilience. In contrast, in the U.S. the focus is largely on individual accountability which inherently undermines collective resilience for vulnerable populations, such as single mothers and the elderly.

During our conversations in Noto and Tohoku, we met women from all walks of life—a farm owner, a single mother with a disabled daughter, women hoteliers, a researcher working on social infrastructures in disasters, a community organizer managing a local evacuation center, an employee from the local reconstruction office, and elderly residents. Their determination to rebuild and address challenges was evident. They were resilient and resourceful despite past traumas and ongoing challenges.

Research indicates that disasters disproportionately affect and amplify risks for women and girls due to existing gender inequalities and social vulnerabilities. They face higher mortality rates, increased rates of violence, greater socioeconomic hardship, and increased reproductive health vulnerabilities. For these reasons, it is imperative to provide women and girls mental health support that addresses these specific hardships.

Japan has established mechanisms such as the Disaster Mental Health Care Center and Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Team to support disaster survivors. However, factors in Japan such as cultural stigma to mental health care, and the importance placed on the Japanese virtue of gaman, utilization of mental health care services have shown to be much lower in Japan than in Europe and the U.S. Therefore, it is essential to find culturally appropriate ways to address the mental health needs of disaster survivors in Japan.

Women, Peace and Security Correlates to Peace and Safety for All

The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000 and emphasized two critical factors that all WPS work continues to be grounded in: 1) women are uniquely and disproportionately affected by crises and conflict, and 2) women play a vital role in peace-building. These principles underscore that ensuring women’s safety from the unique harms they face and securing their meaningful participation in decision-making leads to greater peace and security for all. Initially focused on armed conflict, the agenda has expanded over the past 24 years to encompass issues such as disaster risk reduction, climate change, technology, and political participation.

The WPS agenda is comprised of four pillars that provide a framework for understanding and addressing challenges faced by women and girls: 1) Participation, 2) Protection, 3) Prevention, and 4) Relief and Recovery. Since its inception, 110 UN member states and territories have adopted at least one iteration of a WPS National Action Plan (NAP). This voluntary commitment allows countries to incorporate the WPS framework into self-identified issues like disaster risk reduction, ensuring the safety of women and girls while amplifying their voices. Countries also leverage their WPS initiatives as diplomatic tools. Following Prime Minister Kishida’s April 2024 visit to Washington, DC, the U.S. and Japan officially indicated their collaboration on WPS for the first time. At the subsequent U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral dialogue, WPS was again highlighted as an area of cooperation. By leveraging each nation’s strengths on various issues, we can support one another in creating more equitable societies domestically and globally.

A Call to Leadership for Japan

Japan has played a role in expanding the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda by integrating disaster risk reduction (DRR) into every iteration of its WPS National Action Plan (NAP) since 2015. The national government has introduced policies and initiatives to help ensure that all citizens—women and girls, men and boys—are adequately supported during disasters. Realistically however, it often takes years, if not decades, for well-intentioned national level initiatives and policies to reach the local level. This is, of course, not unique to Japan.

While Japan has important work ahead in building equitable resilience among its citizens facing future disasters, it has acknowledged its shortcomings and is actively working to improve. For this commitment, Japan deserves recognition.

No country is immune to natural disasters. With global warming and the increase in extreme weather events, even regions historically less prone to earthquakes are now affected by natural disasters. Japan’s extensive experience in disaster preparedness and response, combined with its integration of the WPS framework into DRR, positions the country as a potential global leader. By leveraging these synergies, Japan can globally promote peace, safety, and equitable communities, which are valuable lessons applicable to a wide range of hardships that countries face, including rebuilding post-conflict. The principles of inclusive community engagement and risk-informed planning that underpin Japan’s DRR approach can be adapted to address the unique needs of conflict-affected nations, such as Ukraine. This message of inclusivity has the potential to foster collaboration among nations, even those with existing tensions, creating a more resilient and harmonious future for all.

Ms. Shanti Shoji wrote in her personal capacity. The views and interpretations expressed by the author are solely her own.

Ms. Shanti Shoji serves as the director of programs at Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA (Sasakawa USA), overseeing the development and management of grants and programs. Shanti has spent her entire career in U.S.-Japan relations, which includes six years in Japan and 17 years in Washington, DC, covering issues ranging from grassroots diplomacy to foreign policy. Most recently in her work at Sasakawa USA, she launched the Sasakawa USA Women’s Advancement Network (SWAN), as well as activities that focus on integrating Women, Peace and Security (WPS) into the U.S.-Japan alliance. Prior to joining Sasakawa USA, Shanti taught English in Japan on the JET Program and co-founded the educational non-profit Kizuna Across Cultures. She earned her master’s degree in international communication from American University’s School of International Service and received bachelor’s degrees in Japanese language and international studies from the University of Oregon.

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