Report June 2026 – Japan

1) Japan Women Physicians' Day – April 5, 2026

On April 5, 2026, a commemorative event for the 3rd "Japan Women Physicians' Day" was held. Dr. Nobuko Kurosaki—who serves as the Nagasaki Branch Chair of the Japan Medical Women's Association, Vice President of the Nagasaki Women Physicians' Association, and former President of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) Japan—delivered a lecture titled "Lessons from the Life of Ine Kusumoto, a Female Physician of the Late Edo Period: Living in the Shadow of Her Father, Siebold."

"Japan Women Physicians' Day" was established by the Japan Medical Women's Association to support the professional activities of women physicians; the date was chosen to coincide with April 4—the Western calendar birthday of Ginko Ogino, the first woman in Japan to obtain a national medical license—and this lecture was held in alignment with that purpose.

2) 71st Annual General Meeting of the Japan Medical Women's Association (May 17, 2026).

This meeting was held in Hamamatsucho, Tokyo. Elections for officers took place, and Yoshiko Maeda was selected as President through a mutual vote among the board members. Hiroko Fujitani and Yumi Kimura assumed the roles of Vice President.

A public lecture was held following the conclusion of the general meeting. Ms. Mariko Bando—author of the book *Women's Dignity* (Josei no Hinkaku), which garnered significant attention around 2007—delivered a lecture titled "Has the Glass Ceiling Been Broken?" Drawing on her extensive experience with policies concerning women, she offered keen insights into the progress made in elevating the status of women in Japanese society, the current situation facing female physicians, and the expectations placed on women in professional roles, illustrating her points with numerous real-life examples.

3) Regional Meeting (Okayama) – July 5, 2026

The 28th Regional Meeting was held at the Okayama Medical Association Hall. A total of 27 people attended, including nine board members from the headquarters, 17 participants from Okayama Prefecture (including medical students and residents), and Dr. Seiko Shinohara, the Ehime Branch Chair. Following an overview of the activities of the Japan Medical Women's Association (JMWA), a presentation was given on initiatives to support female physicians in Okayama Prefecture. It was also reported that member Dr. Emiko Kaneshige had launched the "Women's Health Consortium" on March 30, with the JMWA serving as an Advisory Board.