#futuregen on tour in Japan: Five Weeks of Conversations, Connections and Hope

With speakers at the Kinouniya Bookstore event. (Ms. Yoko Kobori, Ms. Izumi Morita, Mr. Michimasa Oe President of Akashi Shoten, Jane, Kira, Prof. Jusen Asuka)

Lecture at the Welsh Government Office, British Embassy in Tokyo

In October 2025, Jane Davidson was excited to travel to Japan to celebrate the Japanese publication of #futuregen, a project led by the extraordinary Fumie Kawai (Kira), the coordinator of the CCFG, with translation led by the delightful and ever patient Sayo Kato. The visit marked an important moment for the book, as its ideas on embedding sustainability and responsibility to future generations in legislation reached new audiences.

At Himeji castle (twinned with Conwy Castle), with Himeji City officials

The trip included a book tour and opportunities to meet readers, academics, politicians and policymakers in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto and their environs, reflecting the growing international interest in how small nations can lead global change through bold, future-focused legislation. Jane spent 5 weeks undertaking speaking engagements across Japan, and was delighted at the positive reception to the ideas wherever she went, including at the Osaka Expo and the British Embassy in Tokyo.

Lecture at Kyoto University coordinated by Prof. Shimamura Takeshi and Prof. Masako Ichihara, The Environment and Law Unit, The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Law and Policy, the University of Kyoto Graduate School of Law

With Mr. Toma Yamazoe, mayor of Yosano Town, Kyoto Prefecture

She was also particularly pleased to follow up on a couple of existing Welsh connections - a longstanding partnership between Aberystwyth and Yosano town where she met students in Yosano Town who she then met again on her return to Wales when they came as part of a regular exchange to Aberystwyth. Also, she was delighted to witness the very special nature restoration work done by the CW Nicol Afan Woodland Trust in the Nagano prefecture, in partnership with the Afan Forest team in Wales.

With students selected for an exchange programme in Aberystwyth.

Jane would like to thank everybody involved in making her visit so memorable - her Home Exchange hosts for their friendship and support, the amazing team behind the book, her Japanese publisher at Akashi Shoten, all the young people who told her their hopes for the future, the parliamentarians and others who gave time to discuss the ideas and a very special thank you to Yoko Kobori who arranged everything!