We are now accepting participants for our six-session seminar!
Hello, my name is Nao. I participated as a model for SOLIT at last year’s Vancouver Fashion Collection, and I am currently working as an intern.
SOLIT is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. Since our founding, we have been working towards the goal of creating an all-inclusive society, collaborating with many companies and supporting their efforts to take on this challenge. Now, more than ever, we believe it is essential to expand our circle of co-creators.
To that end, from April to June 2025, SOLIT will collaborate with the UNIVERSITY of CREATIVITY to host a three-month, six-session program:「Diversity and Inclusion Lab - Exploring and Practicing Meta-Diversification -」
Traditional DE&I training programs often focus more on how to address specific issues rather than fundamentally solving them. This results in a superficial understanding of diversity and inclusion, often reduced to isolated concepts.
In response, we are leveraging our global network and adopting a structured yet critically engaged approach. By bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders—including people with disabilities, sexual minorities, survivors, and young people—we aim to engage in in-depth discussions that explore the root causes of DE&I challenges.
By the end of this six-session program, participants will gain insights that will empower them to take concrete actions.
The Future of DE&I in Japan – A Global Spotlight in 2025
The year 2025 marks a new stage for DE&I (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in Japan. Tokyo will host "SYNC25," the world’s first accountability summit aimed at eliminating the exclusion of people with disabilities, led by Valuable 500 (V500)—a global initiative with 500 member companies, including Apple and Sony, dedicated to promoting disability inclusion.
As professional collaborators, we at SOLIT recognize this historic moment as a unique opportunity to explore and shape the future of DE&I in Japan. Together, we aim to create a space where we can develop tangible actions for change.
At this critical juncture, what kind of message can Japanese companies deliver to the world?
Diversity and Inclusion Lab - Exploring and Practicing Meta-Diversification -
This six-session program aims to explore and evolve Japan’s unique approach to diversity within a broader global context.
Create and practice together with diverse people.
DE&I is not just about integrating inclusive perspectives into HR policies, business operations, or services. What truly matters is the creative collaboration process—how diverse individuals come together to co-create and implement meaningful change. While gaining DE&I insights and applying them to one’s work is important, that is only the beginning. Learning can foster self-affirmation, but without practical application in real-world scenarios, it risks becoming just a "feel-good training memory."
To co-create the future, we must embrace uncertainty, accept detours, and courageously explore unconventional paths—even if they may not seem immediately efficient in a business setting. Through our past experiences, we have witnessed the immense potential of this approach.
Let’s immerse ourselves in this uncertain space, listen to inspiring guest speakers, and share perspectives on Japan’s current standing and future possibilities.
Two Unique Values You Will Gain
1. Breaking Beyond Individual and Organizational Limits
Many companies face the same challenge when advancing DE&I: "There are few precedents, and it often feels like a lonely struggle." Through cross-industry discussions, this program provides a space to share challenges and discover new solutions together. It’s time to move beyond individual efforts and think collectively.
2. Learning Through Deep Dialogue with people with lived-experience
Direct conversations with a diverse range of stakeholders are at the heart of this program. Individuals with disabilities, sexual minorities, and young people will share real-life challenges and solutions, allowing participants to envision and embody a future of true inclusion.
Program Schedule & Contents
Session 1 – April 4 (Fri) 18:30-20:30
Finding Signals: Identifying the Future of D&I
- Share participants’ current perspectives and visualize challenges faced by Japanese companies and stakeholders【SEMINAR】
- Understand key unresolved DE&I themes such as diversity, intersectionality, privilege, and the reproduction of challenges【LECTURE】
- Identify and discuss emerging signals of diversity in Japan and globally.【SEMINAR】
Session 2 – April 25 (Fri) 18:30-20:30
Nothing About Us Without Us: Inclusive Representation
Guest Speaker：
Keiko Ichikawa (UN Women Japan Office)
Valuable 500
- Learn from global initiatives like Valuable 500 and UN Women, and discuss key international trends and concerns【LECTURE】
- Analyze the issue of stereotypical representation and discuss solutions from the perspective of affected stakeholders【SEMINAR】
Session 3 – May 9 (Fri) 18:30-20:30
Explore Social Transformation: A Critical Look at Diversity Promotion
Guest Speaker: Koichi Iwabuchi (Honorary Visiting Professor, University of Technology Sydney)
- Critically examine why diversity promotion is necessary and explore Japan’s underlying challenges regarding race, ethnicity, and immigration【 LECTURE】
- Move beyond surface-level advocacy and explore ways to actively dismantle discriminatory structures【SEMINAR】
Session 4 – May 23 (Fri) 18:30-20:30
What Should I Have Done at That Time? – Inclusive Design in Practice
- Analyze SOLIT’s award-winning case studies and explore the future of design through past challenges where stakeholders were absent【LECTURE】
- Discuss and reflect on past problematic cases to develop more inclusive approaches【SEMINAR】
Session 5 – June 13 (Fri) 18:30-20:30
Japan! Unlock New Possibilities! – Rethinking Diversity from a Global Perspective
Guest Speaker: Ryugen Matsunami (Experimental Temple Hodoji, Buddhist Monk)
- Compare Eastern and Western views on diversity and explore Japan’s unique role in global DE&I【LECTURE】
- Reconstruct Japan’s diversity strategies by leveraging cultural and societal strengths【SEMINAR】
Session 6 – June 27 (Fri) 18:30-20:30
Then, What is the First Step for Our Society?
- Reflect on all previous sessions and develop concrete action plans for implementation within participants' organizations【SEMINAR】
- Share first steps and create pathways for organizational impact【SEMINAR】
Who Should Join?：To the practitioners designing the future.
This program is designed for professionals actively engaged in DE&I or those eager to practice and promote it within their organizations.
It is ideal for individuals who:
- Want to stay updated on the latest DE&I trends
- Seek to take their company’s DE&I initiatives to the next level
- Aim to gain a global perspective to drive organizational change
Cross-industry dialogue can offer new perspectives and possibilities for your company. Let’s deepen the discussion together .
Facilitator / Guest speakers/ Inspirers
Facilitator
Misaki Tanaka
PROJECT SOLIT Founder
Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, she took responsibility for providing information support to evacuees from Fukushima Prefecture. In 2013, she founded the general incorporated association Bousai Girl with the motto "Updating Disaster Prevention," which was transferred to new leadership in 2020. In February 2018, she established morning after cutting my hair, Inc. a company specializing in social issue resolution through planning and design. In 2020, she founded SOLIT, a company that supports domestic and international businesses through an inclusive design-based fashion service. She is a serial social entrepreneur and social designer engaged in research and practice on natural disasters, climate change, human rights, and DE&I.
Guest speakers
Koichi Iwabuchi
Honorary Visiting Professor, University of Technology Sydney
After graduating from Waseda University, he joined Nippon Television. Later, he moved to Australia and obtained a Ph.D. from Western Sydney University. He has held positions such as Associate Professor at International Christian University, Professor at Waseda University’s School of International Liberal Studies, and Director of the Asia Research Institute at Monash University in Melbourne. He is currently an Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of Technology Sydney and is involved in writing, lecturing, and educational activities from his base in Japan. His primary research interests include coexistence with diversity, cultural citizenship, globalization, and cross-border dialogue. He has published numerous books and papers in English and Japanese, and was selected as one of the world’s top 2% scientists in a public database created by Stanford University. Notable books: "Dialogue with Diversity" (Editor, Seikyusha), "Transnational Japan: Popular Culture Opens Up Asia" (Iwanami Modern Library).
Keiko Ichikawa
UN Women Japan Office, Communication & Advocacy Lead
After working in the international news division of a major television network, she handled media relations, PR, and communications at international organizations such as the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), and the World Bank’s Tokyo Disaster Risk Management Hub. She assumed her current position in February 2023. At UN Women, she leads initiatives such as HeForShe, which encourages male participation in gender equality efforts, and the Unstereotype Alliance Japan chapter, promoting inclusive advertising with the private sector from a DE&I perspective.
Valuable 500
We are the global organisation of over 500 partners and companies working together to end disability exclusion. Unified in our purpose to accelerate inclusion for the one in five people living with a disability. We transform business systems to transform society. We drive change through Synchronised Collective Action. Channelling the power of 500 partners working in harmony – moving in the same direction, at the same time, against the same system barriers. We hold each other to account. Working towards SYNC25 the Valuable 500 Accountability Summit, Tokyo 2025 - where 500 companies will report on their actions. We won’t stop until everyone is seen and valued equally.
Ryugen Matsunami
Head Monk, Experimental Temple Hodoji; Monk & Thinker
Graduated from Osaka University of Foreign Studies (now Osaka University) and completed a Master’s degree in Regional Language and Society Studies. While researching Buddhist rituals in Myanmar, he felt drawn more to practice than research and chose to become a monk. In Kyoto, he established an “experimental temple” to explore how Buddhism can be relevant in modern society. He collaborates with students, researchers, entrepreneurs, doctors, and nurses to test the hypothesis that "updating human society means integrating Buddhism into social systems."
He also serves as an advisor to executives of major corporations and entrepreneurs.
Notable books: "Buddhist Thinking", "Perspectives as a Form of Knowledge" (co-author).
Inspirers (Participant & Catalyst for New Perspectives)
Kensuke Ishii
Blind Communicator / Bridging the Visible and Invisible Worlds
After working in the apparel and interior industries, he became a freelance sales and PR consultant. In April 2016, he woke up one morning to find he had lost his sight. After a resilient return to society, he worked at Dialogue in the Dark before launching his career as a Blind Communicator in 2021. He conducts workshops and lectures to connect the seen and unseen worlds in a lighthearted, engaging way. His TBS Radio-produced podcast "Invisible Me: A Radio You Can See by Listening" was nominated for the 5th Japan Podcast Awards’ Media Creativity Category.
Yuu Oshima
Gender Specialist / Mutant Wave. / CEO, Suiten Ippeki Inc.
A former Nadeshiko League professional soccer player, he retired at 27. In June 2017, after medical treatment, he legally changed his gender to male. However, he faced job offer cancellations and a broken engagement due to being transgender, leading to emotional and physical distress. At 30, he moved to Australia, where he experienced DE&I firsthand, transforming his worldview. In 2018, he joined Job Rainbow, supporting companies’ LGBTQ+ initiatives as a sales and training consultant. In 2022, he founded Mutant Wave., a unit of three transgender men aiming to create a world where everyone can love themselves. In 2025, he will establish Suiten Ippeki Inc., embarking on a new challenge. He is dedicated to sharing key learnings from his experiences and fostering discussions that lead to new perspectives.
Nao Tanazawa
18-year-old High School Dropout & DE&I Advocate
At 18, he participated in Vancouver Fashion Week as a model for SOLIT! in April last year. This experience made him realize his own narrow perspective on inclusion. Feeling constrained by the rigid structure of traditional high school education, he chose to drop out. Currently, he organizes and runs a workshop series on DE&I called "A Little Diversity & Inclusion", while interning at SOLIT!. He loves hiking, running, and saunas and dreams of building an inclusive mountain lodge in the future.
Yukiko Matsumura
Cancer Survivor & Nurse
After graduating from Meiji University, she was inspired by volunteer work in disaster recovery following the Great East Japan Earthquake and became a nurse, working in a university hospital for seven years. At 32, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent three surgeries and treatments. She later transitioned to a career in digital marketing and developed a deep interest in Femtech. Through her learning journey, she recognized the importance of DE&I and is now actively working to broaden perspectives using her experiences.
Program Overview & Application
Number of Participants:
Approx. 20 (Minimum 8 to proceed)
Venue
UNIVERSITY of CREATIVITY TOKYO Campus
Akasaka 5-3-1 Akasaka Biz Tower 23F
https://uoc.world/access/
Participation Fee
¥60,000 (incl. tax)
Accessibility Information
- Barrier-free venue (some steps present)
- Multi-purpose restroom available
- Staff who speak both Japanese & English
- Lockers with keys for storage
- Live captioning and interpretation services planned
※Accessibility information for the venue and access routes can be found in this document! (If you are unable to access it, we can also send it via email. Please feel free to contact us through the inquiry page.)
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- Current organization and role
- DE&I-related work currently undertaken
- A DE&I initiative they are proud of and why it is important
- DE&I challenges faced and their approach to resolving them
- Expectations for participating in the program
Application Deadline
March 14, 2025 (Fri) 23:59
※By Friday, March 21, we will notify you of your participation status and provide payment details.
※We apologize for any inconvenience, but due to participant capacity adjustments, selection will be based on the content of the application assignments.
Apply Here:
Visit the UNIVERSITY of CREATIVITY program page and click the “Apply” button:
https://uoc.world/mandala/details/?id=QCiADyMvPAH
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Lastly...
Finally, as a representative of young people and a current high school senior, I would be grateful if you could read my message.
When people hear "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)," some may think, "It takes time and effort but offers little return," or "Only those with extra resources can afford to engage in it—I don’t have that luxury." However, at SOLIT, we have collaborated with a diverse range of people to co-create the future. And through these collaborations, we have experienced undeniable joy.
I believe that joy came from the process of discovering our true selves through collaboration.
In April 2024, at Vancouver Fashion Week 2024 (VFW), SOLIT worked with members from various backgrounds and abilities to express an all-inclusive world. Our goal was to make "our way of being" a new global norm. During our discussions leading up to VFW, we faced challenges stemming from differences in physical conditions and ways of thinking. At times, these challenges felt like detours.
At first, I (Nao) hesitated when addressing disability, subconsciously overcompensating with excessive consideration rather than engaging in open dialogue. However, I realized that such overcompensation not only hindered my understanding of others but also suppressed my own individuality—sometimes even leading to division. In other words, I was overly conscious of behaving according to my own social attributes.
But as I engaged in more conversations and encountered diverse perspectives, I gradually learned to see people for who they are, rather than defining them by their attributes. That was when I realized: I, too, am a part of diversity.
From that moment on, I freed myself from labels—whether as a non-disabled person, an ordinary public high school student, or a member of the majority—and began listening to my own honest voice. When I became aware of how I had unconsciously categorized both myself and others, my perspective expanded, and I felt a sense of liberation. Perhaps this was because I awakened to something truly important to me.
This kind of experience is impossible in a homogeneous group. In a diverse group, previous assumptions often no longer apply. At those moments, when we return to our own beliefs and values, we naturally gain clarity about what truly matters to us. By sharing these values through dialogue, we embark on new, creative, and stimulating journeys.
Promoting DE&I is not just a responsibility for corporations or individuals in specific roles—it is something that transforms how we exist as individuals. And when our way of being changes, so does everything we create. Those outputs, in turn, influence society, setting new trends and expanding the reach of DE&I across Japan and the world.
Would you like to join us in creating such a world together?
We invite you to participate in Diversity and Inclusion Lab – Exploring and Practicing Meta-Diversification.