Ms. Momoko NOJO, founder of the organization "No Youth No Japan"
PIPA received its Japanese guest Momoko Nojo in early October.
Who is Ms. Nojo ? |
Amidst declining voter turnout among young people in Japan, Momoko Nojo, at the age of 25, founded the nonprofit organization No Youth No Japan with the goal of encouraging her generation to head to the polls. With a substantial following on social media (over 100,000 followers on Instagram), she regularly shares updates on political issues and current events.
A staunch advocate for sexual minorities, she also launched the Fiftys mentorship program in September 2022 to support electoral candidates under 40 from sexual minority groups during local elections.
Her impactful work made her a standout candidate for the Future Leaders Invitation Program (PIPA), earning her an invitation to participate in a study tour in Paris in October 2024.
Ms. Nojo’s study stay |
Two key themes structured her week-long program in Paris: youth political and civic engagement and gender equality in politics.
Ms. Nojo first visited the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), where she met various representatives, including those from the Center for Analysis, Planning, and Strategy (CAPS), the Directorate-General for Global Affairs (DGP), and the Feminist Diplomacy Mission. She praised the existence and missions of the latter, which align closely with her own goals.
One of the highlights of her trip was a meeting with Anne Muxel, a sociologist and Research Director at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). They discussed youth political engagement and gender equality, two of Ms. Nojo’s primary areas of interest.
(left) Ms. Momoko Nojo and Ms. Anne Muxel at the Science Po political research centre (right) Ms. Momoko Nojo in the presence of Arsène Severine, Asia Mission Officer and Raphaël Droszewski, Officer for Multilateral Affairs and Latin America/Paris Peace Forum, at the CAPS headquarters
Later, Ms. Nojo visited Jean Massiet, a popular political streamer on Twitch, followed by over 250,000 people. The two exchanged ideas about using innovative platforms to foster political engagement among younger generations.
Ms. Nojo and Mr. Massiet during their meeting.
Ms. Nojo at the Ministry of Youth.
Ms. Nojo engaged with several other notable figures, including Ms. Danièle Bouchoule and Ms. Véronique Genelle, Vice Presidents of the association Elles Aussi, Ms. Fiona Texeire, co-founder of the Observatory of Sexist and Sexual Violence in Politics, and Ms. Annah Bikouloulou, National Secretary of the Young Ecologistsmovement.
Ms. Momoko Nojo with Ms. Annah Bikouloulou, National Secretary of the Young Ecologists
Looking Ahead |
At the end of her study tour, Ms. Nojo expressed her gratitude for the enriching experiences and inspiring conversations. She shared her determination to continue raising awareness among Japanese youth and her intention to adapt some of the organizational practices she observed in France to her own environment.
Would you like to connect with Ms. Nojo? Feel free to contact us through the contact form on our website.
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