March 13 - One of the things I most enjoy about my job is getting the chance to meet interesting people who make a difference in the lives of others.

Recently my wife Ann and I hosted a reception at our home in Tokyo for scores of Japanese women in celebration of UN International Women's Day. We were impressed by their accomplishments in fields such as politics, journalism, science and public service. I was especially pleased to present a citation to our Embassy's nominee for the State Department's "Woman of Courage" award that night to Nami Takenaka, the chairperson of Prop Station, a nonprofit social welfare organization supporting people with disabilities. Nami, who is an advocate for the disabled, told me about her efforts to improve medical care, welfare and education for children with disabilities. Hearing her story, I could feel that it was Nami's love for her daughter, who was born with serious mental and physical disabilities, that encouraged her to improve the lives of other children with disabilities.

My wife Ann and I were impressed by the commitment shown by all the women we met that night. Some have a long career while others have just begun to emerge as leaders in their fields. Ann told me that they truly represent "the power of one," a concept that one person can make a difference in this world. I certainly agreed that there was a lot of energy and talent in the room that night, and this event made me optimistic about Japan's future.

I would be interested to hear what others feel about the contributions women are making to Japanese society. Feel free to share your thoughts with me.

Until next time,

Jim