The Gender Equality Promotion Office of Gifu University held the symposium, "Toward Regional Revitalization by Seiryu-no-kuni (Pure Water Country) Gifu Women" on February 14, 2018.

The symposium was co-hosted by Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu Women's University and API CO., Ltd. as part of the Initiative for Implementation of Diversity Research Environment (collaboration type; sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Technology (MEXT)).

At the beginning of the symposium, President Hisataka Moriwaki gave an opening speech, which was followed by a greeting from Ms. Misako Munechika from MEXT and a comment from Ms. Yasuko Yamamura (Japan Science and Technology Agency).

In the first session, Mr. Naoki Atsumi (Cabinet Office) delivered a keynote speech titled, "Women's Success and Roles of Universities and Businesses: Towards new industry-academia alliance from Gifu." A panel discussion ("Results and Hopes of Seiryu-no-kuni Gifu Women Support Project"), and a comic storytelling about women's advancement in society by Katsura Takaji (Rakugo-geijutsu Association) followed. Katsura Takuji is a graduate of the Faculty of Regional Studies of Gifu University. A total of 168 people attended who were from Gifu University, its partner organizations, universities, local governments and enterprises.

In his speech, Mr. Atsumi made the following comment: "Work reform is a basic premise for the promotion of diversity. Rather than a traditional "pyramid-type" workstyle with which a success usually comes from accumulated basic work, "Jenga^*" type of workstyle will become a key to create a robust diversity." The audience listened to his speech with great interest.

At the panel discussion moderated by Ms. Masako Hayashi, Vice President for the Promotion of Gender Equality & Diversity of Gifu University, a summary, achievements and future challenges of the Seiryu-no-kuni Project were introduced first, and the speeches by panelists from Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu Women's University and API CO., Ltd. about the program implementation and their goals at respective institutions were given. At the end of the symposium, the audience was asked to offer continued cooperation for the program.

People roared when Katsura Takuji started to perform his storytelling, the last program of the symposium. Mr. Takahiko Nonogaki, President of API CO., Ltd. made closing remarks and the symposium ended with a huge success.

^*Jenga: A game of physical skill. Players take turns removing one block at a time from a tower constructed of 54 blocks. Each block removed is then placed on top of the tower, creating a progressively taller and more unstable structure.