Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows Summit 2022

Asia Society organized the 2022 Asia 21 Next Generation Leaders’ Summit (formerly known as the Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit) under the theme of “Asia 21 Reunited: Leading the World of Competing Vales” in Tokyo, Japan, from November 30th through December 4, 2022.   It was the first in-person gathering post-2019 Summit in San Francisco due to the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. The Summit welcomed  35 fellows of the Class of 2022 from 25 countries, and they were joined by 60 Asia 21 alumni representing all class years, 15 Asia Society Global Center Staff representing six centers, and distinguished speakers representing government, business, civil society, and arts & culture. The Summit marks one of the biggest in-person Asia Society global events since coming out of the pandemic.

The summit programs were designed in two folds—the first part served as a new class orientation and the second Asia 21 network reunion. During the first two days, the 35 members of the 2022 Class, featuring journalists, human rights advocates, entrepreneurs, writers, and politicians from 25 countries, explored the fundamentals of leadership and values; examined the states of social issues such as ‘Me Too’ and LGBTQ/diversity issues, public health challenges, and climate change in Japan and the region through the experience of the fellow Asia 21 leaders; and bonded over an Ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement) workshop designed to nurture the mindfulness practice.  Subsequently, 60 alumni from previous classes dating back to the inaugural class of 2006 joined the summit. They shared their insights on leadership lessons and challenges, explored ideas for potential collaborations,  and discussed ways the expertise within Asia 21 Network can be beneficial to the alumni.  Special guest speakers included Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo; Arfiya Eri, LDP politician promoting gender equality in Japan; Akihisa Shiozaki, Member of Parliament, House of Representatives; KONO Taro, Digital Minister and Minister for Administrative Affairs and Minister for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety, Greg Dvorak, Professor of Waseda University, and Ken & Julie Yonetani, artists.