Public Leaders Academy
Now Accepting Applications for the Fourth Program
Application period: April 20 (Mon) – May 20 (Wed), 2026
The Murakami Family Foundation Public Leader Academy will support 10–20 women in their teens, 20s, and 30s who aspire to become politicians as fourth-term students.
Our Mission
According to the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index 2025, Japan ranks 118th out of 146 countries, the lowest level among developed nations.Diverse societies require diverse leaders. For Japan, which lags significantly behind in gender equality, there is an urgent need for female public leaders now more than ever.
The Murakami Family Foundation aims to cultivate the next generation of women public leaders by providing aspiring women who tackle Japan's social issues head-on with financial support, practical educational opportunities, and a community of like-minded participants. Through this initiative, we seek to address social issues and close the gender gap.
Key Features of the Public Leader Academy
COMMUNITY
Join a network of women pursuing political careers, transcending party lines and ideologies
CAREER
Learn from various politicians' (local/national, ruling/opposition parties, independents) real-world experiences
LEARN
Engage in discussions about various policies (children/women's empowerment, economic/financial policy, digital transformation, etc.)
PRACTICE
Optional support for policy development
Program Overview
Lecture Schedule (Tentative)
Tokyo
2026: Oct. 3 (Sat), Oct. 4 (Sun), Nov. 7 (Sat), Nov. 8 (Sun), Dec. 5 (Sat)
2027: Jan. 16 (Sat), Jan. 17 (Sun), Jan. 23 (Sat), Jan. 24 (Sun)
Online
2026: Oct. 10 (Sat), Nov. 21 (Sat)
Residential Workshop Schedule (Tentative)
Regional City
Oct. 24 (Sat) – 25 (Sun), 2026
*To be held in a location 2-3 hours from Tokyo
Student Support
In addition to lectures, students receive:
Challenge Support Grant of 1 million yen
*Conditions apply. Please check application guidelines for details
Travel expenses for in-person classes (for those living far away)
Childcare services at lecture venues (for those with children)
*alphabetical order, honorifics omitted
Main Instructors
Shinji ISHIMARU
Former Mayor of Akitakata
Takae ITO
Member of the House of Councillors
Shun OTOKITA
Former Member of the House of Councillors
Hiroko KADO
Member of the House of Representatives
Kentaro KAWABE
Chairperson, LY Corporation
Akihisa SHIOZAKI
Member of the House of Representatives
Wataru SUZUKI
Professor, Faculty of Economics, Gakushuin University
Ryosuke TAKASHIMA
Mayor of Ashiya
Yuichiro TAMAKI
Member of the House of Representatives / Leader of the Democratic Party for the People
Jiro TAMURA
Professor Emeritus, Keio University
Kiyomi TSUJIMOTO
Member of the House of Councillors
Seiko NODA
Member of the House of Representatives
Yoshimasa HAYASHI
Member of the House of Representatives
Ruri MIURA
President, Yamaneko Research Institute / Visiting Professor, Tokyo International University
Yoshiaki MURAKAMI
Investor
Kyoko MORISAWA
Mayor of Shinagawa City
Selection Committee
Shihoko URUSHI
Chairperson, Shinagawa Joshi Gakuin
Kathy MATSUI
General Partner, MPower Partners Fund L.P.
Tomoko SHIRAI
Social Entrepreneur / CEO, Children's Policy Think Tank
Tomoko NAGANO
Freelance Announcer
Yoshie KOMURO / Makiko OTSUKA
Work-Life Balance Co., Ltd.<br>President and CEO / Director and Partner Consultant
Voice from First-Term Student
1st Cohort
Toshima City Assembly member
Maho Yuri
1st Cohort
Saku City Assembly member
Natsuki Shito
2nd Cohort
Maebashi City Assembly member
Moe Akuzawa
3rd Cohort
Superintendent of Minoh City Board of Education
Sayaka Watabe