Ms Karen Makishima was in Auckland as part of the NZ Prime Ministerial Fellow Programme. This is a programme that aims to establish links with up and coming politicians in various countries.
She studied overseas at Columbia University, so has a keen interest in other Japanese studying at overseas universities and took the opportunity to meet with Japanese university students at AUT University in Auckland. Mr Mark Pearson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) accompanied her on the visit. Karen Makishima (39) represents a constituency on the outskirts of Tokyo in the Lower House of the Diet.
She is a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and is currently serving as Vice-Minister in the Cabinet Office responsible for the Financial Services Agency. Makishima has a master’s degree in political management from George Washington University and a PhD from her alma mater, International Christian University in Tokyo.
She worked as a university lecturer before entering politics in 2012. Makishima has particular interests in regional revitalisation, ageing society, promotion of agriculture and Japanese food, tourism and improving work conditions for women. She is Secretary-General of the parliamentary league supporting hot-spring operators. She is also interested in issues associated with Japan’s hosting of upcoming international sports events, including the 2020 Olympics.
Makishima’s constituency includes a hot spring town which has a sister-city relationship with Taupo. Her short visit to New Zealand included visits to Wellington, Taupo and Auckland. Staff, Japanese students studying at AUT, and Taylor Marston, recent recipient of a Prime Ministers scholarship, welcomed the chance to ask questions and chat with Ms Makishima about a range of topics including the fact that many young Japanese women are studying outside of Japan and deciding not to return to Japan after their studies causing a ‘brain drain’ of well-qualified females.