PRESS CONFERENCE
Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize 2006, Olympic Laurel 2020 (via zoom)
Hitoshi Suzuki, General Incorporated Foundation Japan Network for Public Interest Activities (via zoom)
Masaharu Okada, General Incorporated Association Yunus Japan
Hiroshi Osaki, Representative Director, Yunus‐Yoshimoto Social Action Co, Ltd.
Kana Izumi, Representative Director - Yoshimoto Laugh & Peace Co. Ltd.
15:00-16:00 Thursday, October 21, 2021
The speech and Q & A will be in English and Japanese with English interpretation
*Muhammad Yunus and Hitoshi Suzuki are joining this event online.
Transforming Okinawa to a Social Business Island
Social entrepreneur, economist, civil society leader and Nobel Peace Prize (2006) laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was the second recipient of the Olympic Laurel introduced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to honor outstanding individuals for their achievements in education, culture, development and peace through sports.
In 2018 Yoshimoto Kogyo established Yunus-Yoshimoto Social Action Co., Ltd. a joint venture with Professor Muhammad Yunus. The company was established to promote the Yunus social business model in Japan and has so far launched more than 40 small social business projects through the comedians living around Japan. These projects are tackling issues such as declining population in rural towns and vanishing folk crafts; and also supporting farming population of the localities.
The main purpose of such projects is to expand social businesses in Japan through promoting the concept of laughter. Led by the collaboration of Yoshimoto comedians and local companies, the social business joint ventures are focusing on developing new products for sale in big cities with the purpose of revitalizing depressed local economies and Yoshimoto has selected Okinawa as the target territory for implementation of such projects. Speakers will focus on progress made since launching the initiative in 2018 and the launch of Social Incubation Program that would pave the way to transform Okinawa to a Social Business Island.
How to attend:
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions attendance will be limited to 20 people. Doors open 30 minutes before the event. Please sign in, giving your name and contact details at the reception, and have your temperature taken before proceeding.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel.
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/TGm6KZAfBP6QdimJ8
Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form.
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 45 minutes before the event. There will be five positions available for livestreaming.
Professional Activities Committee