Global Citizen · 9 hours ago

Japanese Politicians Were Disregarding the Youth — Here’s How My Work Changed That

At fourteen, Rena Kawasaki founded Earth Guardians Japan in a culture where "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down," determined to create space for young voices routinely dismissed by politicians and society. What began as monthly meetings with a handful of elementary and middle schoolers grew into her "Let's Talk to a Politician" project-Zoom calls where youth facilitated conversations with leaders across Japan's many political parties, discussing everything from favorite movies to community futures. Politicians who had only campaigned at nursing homes found themselves facing rooms full of young people with "really vibrant and strong opinions," so shocked they admitted they hadn't realized what they were missing. When international recognition brought online backlash accusing her of lacking national pride, Kawasaki discovered something deeper: "I can love my home and I want it to become better"-a truth that transformed her shame into strength.