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Starting with an introduction to the STEAM Girls Award, which celebrates young women leading exploration in STEAM fields, this session will delve into the theme: “The Thrill of STEM and the Power of Diversity.”
Joined by former OECD Japan Representative Yumiko Murakami, roboticist Emi Tamaki, and Mizuki Hashimoto from Clé de Peau Beauté at Shiseido, the session will be moderated by Sachiko Nakajima, producer of the Osaka-Kansai Expo’s thematic project “Elevating Life” and recipient of the 2025 Power of Radiance Award.
Together, they will explore how the creativity and diversity at the heart of STEAM influence individuals and society. The discussion will also address a critical question: Why are there still so few women in STEM fields in Japan? Through candid conversation, the speakers will consider how we can create a society where people of all genders can freely express their passions—even in science and technology.
The session will conclude with a networking opportunity, encouraging participants to connect and collectively carry this theme forward into society.

【Reflection】
STEAM × Gender Talk Part 1: “The Essence of STEAM and the Value of Diversity” – Event Report

At the Women’s Pavilion “WA” of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, the third session, STEAM × Gender Talk Part 1: “The Essence of STEAM and the Value of Diversity,” brought together women who are breaking boundaries across science, technology, the arts, and education to explore the true meaning of creativity and diversity. The discussion was moderated by Sachiko Nakajima, Producer of the Expo’s Thematic Project “Invigorating Lives,” known for her interdisciplinary work bridging music, mathematics, and education. The speakers included Yumiko Murakami, former Head of the OECD Tokyo Centre; Emi Tamaki, roboticist and entrepreneur; and Mizuki Hashimoto from Shiseido’s Clé de Peau Beauté. Together, they engaged in a candid and spirited dialogue from the perspectives of academia, international organizations, and business.

The session began with Ms. Hashimoto introducing the concept and purpose of the STEAM Girls Award, which honors women pursuing creative exploration in STEAM fields. Following her introduction, Ms. Nakajima announced the award recipients and summarized their achievements. The initiative resonated deeply with the audience as a meaningful effort to empower the next generation—particularly young women—to embrace curiosity and creative challenges.

The panel then turned to the question: “Why are there still so few women in STEM fields in Japan?” The speakers revisited the cultural, educational, and structural factors underlying this issue and reflected on how to build a society where women can freely express their interests and passions.

Drawing on her OECD experience, Ms. Murakami pointed out that Japan’s gender gap remains a systemic challenge even by global standards, emphasizing the need to transform not only policies but also unconscious bias. Ms. Hashimoto shared Shiseido’s ongoing initiatives to advance women’s leadership and emphasized that “diversity enhances a team’s creativity.” Ms. Tamaki spoke with humor and insight about her research motivation—“I’m not good at communication and don’t like being around people, but I still want to feel the air of the outside world”—revealing how technology can bridge human connection.

Ms. Nakajima concluded by defining the essence of STEAM as “a creative process that moves between logic and sensibility,” highlighting the importance of learning and play that transcend disciplinary boundaries. Through the intersection of each speaker’s practices and perspectives, the transformative and empowering potential of STEAM—for individuals and for society—became vividly clear.

After Part 2 of the event, a networking session was held, allowing participants to exchange ideas and form new connections for future collaboration. The discussion embodied the Expo’s vision—advancing gender equality, women’s empowerment, human security, and cultural exchange—through the dynamic lens of STEAM.

【Post EXPO Initiatives】
Building on the dialogues shared during STEAM × Gender Talk Part 1: “The Essence of STEAM and the Value of Diversity,” the Jellyfish Pavilion team and its partner organizations will continue to support women’s engagement in STEAM and expand creative spaces for dialogue in society beyond the Expo.

First, we will continue hosting STEM Girls+ Café every two months, both in person and online. This café serves as a cross-disciplinary gathering where women and young people interested in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics can exchange ideas and inspire one another. Our aim is to nurture a society where, especially for women, it is natural to say “I love what I love” — where curiosity and individuality can be freely expressed and celebrated.

We are also developing STEAM Cards, featuring profiles of women scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and artists from around the world. Using cards modeled on real researchers and innovators, participants engage in a workshop-style game to explore how everyday social issues can be addressed through a STEAM perspective. These sessions, already being introduced in classrooms and corporate trainings, offer an experiential way to understand that STEAM is not only a tool for problem-solving, but also a creative dialogue that connects people.

To address the lack of opportunities for women to meet role models in STEM—such as leading researchers or executives—we are collaborating with Shiseido and The Asia Foundation to organize international dialogue events and mentoring programs. Through these initiatives, we will carry forward the Expo’s guiding principles of “Invigorating Lives” and “Harmony in Diversity” from a STEAM perspective, creating new platforms that bridge education, business, and the arts.

In addition, we are committed to fostering a global STE(A)M Female Community—a network where women, young researchers, and educators from around the world can share openly, embrace vulnerability, and support one another. Centered not on competition but on co-creation, this community will nurture a cycle of learning, dialogue, and creative challenge across borders, passing on the essence of STEAM and the value of diversity to the next generation.

From the seeds of dialogue born at the Expo, we will continue to grow these connections across the world—toward a future where women, guided by curiosity, can freely imagine and create the world they wish to live in.