The Japan Women Foundation is a General Incorporated Foundation dedicated to achieving women's lifelong well-being. They reach out to women who are facing various challenges, including those who struggle to even express their concerns. By linking various forms of support throughout society, the foundation aims to create a world where all women can thrive in mental, social and physical health.
This time, we interviewed Ms. Ruriko Tsushima, the foundation’s CEO.

Interview scene
- CEO Tsushima (left) and FIT 2025 Organizing Committee members (right)

First, could you share what inspired you to start thinking deeply about women’s physical and mental health?

I grew up in a household of only daughters and people around us would often say things like, “It’s a pity you only have girls, your poor father.” No one expected me to take over our family run hospital; instead, they simply suggested that I marry a doctor. My mother however, who had to give up many dreams simply because she was a woman, strongly recommended my sisters and me to acquire a doctor or a pharmacist degree. In a way, she wanted us to fulfill the opportunities she never had.

Those experiences inspired me to become a doctor who supports and empowers women, and to commit myself to work toward changing the society that narrows women’s opportunities. That’s how I began pursuing my career in obstetrics and gynecology. Every day, I’m reminded of how important it is for women to believe in their own potential, and to have someone who believes in them as well.

Please tell us what motivated you to initiate this Japan Women Foundation.

It all started with the COVID-19 pandemic. As the streets of Ginza emptied out, I sat alone in my clinic waiting for patients who never came, I asked myself, “What can I do (for the society)?”. That’s when I thought of people who were suffering from abuse or violence with no one to confide in and mothers with newborns who had no one to turn to for help. That is the moment I figured out that reaching out to those who were physically and mentally cornered, and helping them in any way I could is what I could do during the pandemic. That very night, I posted a message on social media: “If you’re in trouble, my clinic is a safe place. Please feel free to contact us anytime.” Within just one night, the post was shared 1,700 times. The Women’s clinic network, a nonprofit organization that had existed only in name, began to truly function as a collaborative network system. Through social media many connections started to form and many healthcare professionals started to speak up, saying, “Let me help too.” In that one night, everything began to move forward.

Through that experience, I realized that not only those who are isolated, but also those who want to help, are often facing hardships themselves. To truly make a difference, I felt the need to build a foundation that could provide comprehensive support — and that led to the establishment of the Japan Women’s Foundation.

Interview scene - CEO Tsushima

Could you tell us how the foundation’s activities have expanded so far?

Our foundation’s activities are driven by the urgent needs we witness on the ground. One experience left a strong impression on me which made me realise the importance of “connection.” One night, I received a call from the police. A young girl who had been rescued from violence was brought to my clinic. She escaped with the only information of my phone number, which she had found on social media. The first thing she asked for was not food or shelter, but a phone charger. For her, that connection to the outside world was her lifeline. That experience inspired us to launch “Femship Doctors”, a network of healthcare professionals across Japan, and to establish “Regional Platforms,” a community based support system which connects supporters and those in need directly. These “connections” have now expanded to 13 regions nationwide, where doctors, local governments, and citizens who wish to help are coming together hand in hand to extend this network of support.

Please tell us how the donations from FIT are used.

All of the donations will be allocated to cover medical expenses across Japan. Specifically, they help fund treatment of sexually transmitted infections resulting from pregnancy or sexual violence, cancer screenings, and mental health care.

What is your final message to those reading this article?

Unfortunately, Japan still lags far behind other developed countries when it comes to education and care related to human rights regardless of gender — both in terms of knowledge and understanding. Many barriers still stand in the way of progress. For example, in France, every teenage girl has her own gynecologist, and can enjoy free services regarding birth control, infertility treatment, sexual education, and care for victims of sexual violence. Moreover, sex education is legally mandated. This reflects the country’s commitment to viewing women’s health and rights as an investment for the next generation, as evidenced by government funding. In Japan, however, both the government and private sector are often hesitant to provide support for SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights). I want to keep speaking up as an advocate for those who cannot speak out, in order to address these ongoing issues. Building on the path my generation has paved toward a society that values every individual, I hope to make it easier to walk for those who come after our generation. Until a true system is in place to support that vision, I could not rest in peace. The foundation’s activities are built on creating connections among women who have long felt they had no choice but to accept things as they were. It exists to help them support one another and raise their voices in society. That’s why I earnestly hope that women will never give up.

CEO Tsushima (third from the left)
[Others from the left] FIT 2025 Organizing Committee members Joko-san, Kida-san, Hayashi-san and Tanabe-san

General Incorporated Foundation Japan Women Foundation
https://japan-women-foundation.org/