Researcher: Raymond Andaya

The 11th of March 2025 marked the 14th year since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami that devastated the Tōhoku region. On the same day, I spoke with Megumi Ishimoto, co-founder and director at Women’s Eye (WE) - a women’s support non-profit organization (NPO) founded in May 2011, just two months after disaster struck in the coastal areas of the Tōhoku region. WE started as a small group of volunteers responding to the needs of earthquake- and tsunami-hit communities, women, and children. Now, it has grown into a women’s empowerment organization facilitating various community-based activities, collaborating with municipal and national government agencies, conducting impactful research on women’s issues, and advocating for gender equality and disaster preparedness both in Japan and abroad.

As we approach the conclusion of the Toyota Foundation International Grant Program project on Research, Mutual Learning and Network Formation on Human Rights Best Practices by Non-State Actors in COVID Responses, I took this opportunity to learn from Megumi and reflect on potential lessons which could also be indispensable for our network of partners from various civic spaces.

Here is the Report: Megumi Ishimoto (Women's Eye) interview piece for Hub and RCSP websites.pdf