The Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW) was established in October of 1990 with a special government fund for revitalization project. In 1993, the Forum was recognized as a Foundation by the Ministry of Labour (the present the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The purpose of our Foundation, through various projects, is to promote the improvement of women's status as well as their mutual understanding and cooperation in Asia.
Grassroots Participation
KFAW fosters citizens' participation through grassroots activities related to Asia.
Comprehensive Coverage of Women's Issues
KFAW studies and researches broadly, deeply and comprehensively women's issues.
Creation of a New Identity for the City of Kitakyushu
KFAW, by promoting international exchange and cooperation, is creating a new identity for Kitakyushu City
Global Outlook
KFAW is contributing to "Gender Equality, Development and Peace" while respecting the diversity of Asian cultures.
The official name of Asia Josei Kooryuu Kenkyuu Forum in English is Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW). Below is this organization's symbol mark.
Our new symbol represents a combination of “A” and “a”. The “A” is for Asia and the “a” is for advancement. Their combination symbolizes cooperative growth in the advancement of Asian women.
Its image is infinite potential.
Orange refers to the sun, women and Asia.
Green refers to nature, intelligence and delightfulness.
| 1989 | August 23 | The Asia women's Forum (provisional name), as a "System for research on and training of Asian women," was chosen from 101 entries as the City of Kitakyushu's "Project for community conceived and led regional development (Project for revitalizing local Communities)." |
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| November 1 | The "Committee for Formulating a Basic Plan for the Asia Women's Forum" was establised. | |
| 1990 | March 30 | The "Committee for Formulating a Basic Plan for the Asia Women's Forum" proposed a revision of the provisional name to "Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women" which was approved. |
| June | The 1st Asian Seminar was held. (This seminar has been held annually ever since.) | |
| October 20 | The Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW) was officially established. (1 st President - Ms. Hisako Takahashi) | |
| October | The Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW) was officially established. (1 st President - Ms. Hisako Takahashi) | |
| 1991 | March | Opened "The 1st Kitakyushu Conference on Asian Women (theme : Asian Women Now) was held. (This conference has been held annually ever since.) |
| The 1st edition of the information magazine Asian Breeze was publised. | ||
| April | Research projects began. | |
| May | Opened "The 1st Seminar for Government Officers on the Improvement of the Status of Women (commisiored by JICA)". (This seminar has been held annually ever since.) | |
| 1992 | March | Opened "The 1st Seminar for Government Officers on the Improvement of the Status of Women (commisiored by JICA)". (This seminar has been held annually ever since.) |
| 1993 | March | Publication of the 1st Volume of Asian Women Series. |
| May | Started production of Educational Videotapes for International Understanding. | |
| October 1 | KFAW became a Foundation (President - Ms. Hisako Takahashi) | |
| 1994 | February 8 | Ms. Hisako Takahashi, President, was appointed High Court Judge and resigned from office. Ms. Yoshiko Misumi, Managing Director, became the Acting President. |
| April | Started a joint Research project "Working Women in Asia Series." | |
| 1995 | June 22 | Mr. Hachiji Okuda took office as the 2nd President of KFAW. |
| 1996 | February | Opened "The 1st Seminar on Women in Environment and Development (Commissioned by JICA)." (It has been held annually ever since.) |
| 1997 | September | A "Visiting Research Program" was introduced. |
| 1998 | March 24 | Ms. Hisako Takahashi took office as 3rd President of KFAW. |
| June | The "International Cooperation Seminar" was started. | |
| October 10 | Celebrated the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the foundation. | |
| 1999 | April | Initiated the Japan Society Local Government and Public Policy Fellowship Project. |
| 2000 | January | Organized a Study Tour for Women Entrepreneurs to San Francisco, USA. |
| June | Participated in the United SNations Special General Assembly "Women 2000: Gender Equality Developmentand and Peace for the Twenty-first Century" as an accredited NGO. | |
| Participation in "Women 2000" related NGO's conference, "Beijing+5 Global Feminist Symposium" in New York, USA and held a workshop. | ||
| September | Held "The Women's Environment Congress for Asia and Pacific" to coincide with the Environment Congress for Asia and the Pacific. | |
| 2001 | February | Organized the 1st Environmental Study Tour (Malaysia) |
| April | Ms. Hiroko Hara took office as the 1st Chair, Ms. Yoshiko Misumi as the 4th President and Ms. Hisako Takahashi, Former President, as Advisor. | |
| July-September | Operated projects related to the Japan EXPO 2001 Kitakyushu. | |
| November- December | Held the photo exhibition "Afghan Women and Children" and Afghanistan Seminar : Part 1. | |
| 2002 | January | Held the "Environmental Series Seminar on "Rio+10": Worldwide Preparations for the Johannesburg Summit that is the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).“ |
| February | Held roundtable discussion on "the WSSD in Kitakyushu and Tokyo. | |
| March | Participated in "The 46th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)" in New York, USA.(Since then, we have been participating in the CSW annually.) Participated in "The 3rd Preparatory Committee Meeting for WSSD (PreoCom 3)" in New York, USA |
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| July | Accredited with NGO Special Consultative Status to the UN Economic and Social Council. KFAW is the first NGO in Kyushu to gain sunch status. | |
| August-September | Participated in the WSSD (the Senior Researcher of KFAW worked as an advisor to Japanese Government Delegation), and held workshops | |
| October | Women environmental activists gather from Japan, China, Korea and Mongolia to hold the 2nd North-East Asian Women's Conference on the Environment in Kitakyushu and Tokyo | |
| 2003 | March | Participated in "The 3rd World Water Forum" in Kyoto, Shiga and Osaka |
| May | Held the KFAW Seminar formerly refered to as the International Cooperation Semminar | |
| October | Executed Projects to mark the 10th Annniversary of KFAW's establishment as a Foundation | |
| 2007 | April | Ms. Yoshiko Misumi took office as the 2nd Chair and Ms. Kuniko Yoshizaki as 5th President. |
| 2009 | March | Ms. Yoshiko Misumi resigned her position as Chair |