Forum Profile

What's KFAW

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.

KFAW's Goals

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.

KFAW’s Symbol

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.

Forum History

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)."
1989	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.)
	March	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.
1994	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.
	June	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
	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