“Resilient Democracy. Young Leaders’ Responsibilities to Protect and Develop Liberal Democratic societies in Turbulent Times.”

Winter School and Young Leaders Alumni Association Conference

February 28 – March 9, 2025 

12 highly qualified German and Japanese Young Leaders from different backgrounds such as from government, business, and civil society organizations, met in Tokyo at the end of February and beginning of March 2025 to participate in the 16th German-Japanese Young Leaders Forum 2024/2025. “Resilient Democracy” was the timely theme discussed during the Winter School, which was conceived, organized and conducted by the JDZB in close cooperation with this year’s academic director, Prof. Dr. Axel Klein (Institute of East Asian Studies and Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Duisburg-Essen).

The Young Leaders engaged with renowned experts from academia, media, politics, business, and civil society to discuss external threats to the Japanese and German democracy, political communication and the media’s role, as well as challenges to democratic systems such as demographic change, artificial intelligence, and climate change. Field trips took them to the National Diet of Japan, the Foreign Correspondents Club Japan, and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Tokyo office to explore political and media landscapes.

As engaged citizens are essential for a resilient democracy, so are political education and socialization.  The Young Leaders discussed how to equip young people with practicable knowledge of democracy, reliable information, and motivation to participate actively. They reflected on what is needed to empower young people to successfully run for public office in order to enhance diversity in political representation. A key highlight was the exchange with Momoko Nojo, Executive Director of No Youth No Japan and the Japan Youth Council representatives.

The Young Leaders also had the honor to meet the Minister in charge of Economic Security, Minoru Kiuchi, who welcomed the delegation in fluent German and facilitated their visit to the National Diet Building. Furthermore, it was of great significance that Professor Dr. Daniela Schwarzer (Member of Executive Board, Bertelsmann Stiftung), the new German Co-Chair of the German-Japanese Forum, accompanied part of the program and shared her expertise.  

The participants discussed their findings in four working groups and summed up their main thoughts in a resolution (please see attached below).  

Honored with a reception at the German Embassy, the intensive week concluded with the Young Leaders Forum Alumni Association (YLFAA) Conference, which explored how design and technology can foster a diverse, inclusive and equitable democratic society.  

We would like to thank the participants and alumni as well as the academic director of this year's program, Professor Dr. Axel Klein. We extend our gratitude to all distinguished speakers, host institutions, and the sponsors. The program was kindly made possible by the generous support of Daido Life Insurance Company, the Mori Manufacturing Research and Technology Foundation, the Yamaoka Memorial Foundation, YANMAR Holdings Co., Ltd., and Yuasa M&B Co., Ltd.