Our university held its first TEDx Events, "TEDx JFOU" — the theme was "Transition."

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On Saturday, November 7th, the university's first-ever TEDx Events, "TEDx JFOU," was held at J. F. Oberlin University Shinjuku Campus.
TEDx is a global community Events where live speakers present "ideas that change society," sparking new perspectives and dialogues.

The theme this time was "Transition." Focusing on the "messages that create new dialogues in society" hidden behind various life milestones and change stories, speakers shared their own life stories and the "ideas for changing society" that emerged from them. By incorporating the "Personal Narrative Performance" method practiced in the United States, the speakers deeply shared their raw experiences and struggles with the audience, creating a presentation that brought the entire venue into a unified audience.

On the day, a total of eight speakers took the stage, including two faculty members and one student from our university. The 50 attendees gathered at the venue listened attentively to the "turning points" and "ideas" discussed from diverse perspectives.

Mio Narui, who planned this Events, was deeply impressed by the power of deep messages spreading across the world and generations through entertainment when she was in charge of 'Star Wars' during her previous stint at Walt Disney Japan. To touch on the origins of this concept, she came across 'Personal History Speech' in San Francisco, where she went to the United States. Through her experience at a local NPO, she witnessed firsthand how self-esteem is fostered by sharing and accepting her own experiences, and with the desire to 'create a culture in Japan where people listen to and accept each other's stories,' she entered our university's graduate school (Degree Program in International Academic Research Business Administration Studies Area). This led to the launch of this Events.

Comment from Mio Narui

The venue was able to unite with an atmosphere warmer than I had imagined, thanks to the speakers who repeatedly rewrote their scripts over several months, sincerely faced themselves, and practiced together. We were also blessed with wonderful staff, making it a truly immersive experience where we felt the "Force."
Going forward, based on the data obtained from 'TEDx JFOU,' I plan to write my doctoral dissertation and establish a general incorporated association to spread my personal history speeches throughout Japan. While optimizing content for regions and target audiences, I aim for diverse initiatives such as creating inbound tourism resources that leverage local stories, supporting social reintegration in local communities, and holding joint Events speeches between Japanese and Japanese people overseas. By building habits of listening to and accepting each other, I hope to make the world a better place.

[Speakers and Presentation Topics]

Sumire Fujimiya (J. F. Oberlin University College of Performing and Visual Arts Theater & Dance Major 3rd year)
"All Humanity Idolization Project"
Takeshi Kondo (Head of International Baccalaureate Education, Kaichi Nihonbashi Gakuen)
"You'll understand what a teacher's job is like in 15 years."
Kiyoshi Hori (J. F. Oberlin University Vice President / Professor College of Arts and Sciences)
"The Courage to Take the 'Back Road'—The Future of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Foreign Talent Woven by Differences and Encounters"
Fumiyuki Miyamoto (Professor J. F. Oberlin University College of Business Management)
"Appearance Concerns Lead to Career Changes: The Science of Appearance Strategy"
Manami Shimakage (Director, Baba Planning Co., Ltd.; Senior Editor / J. F. Oberlin University Graduate Doctoral Student [Gerontology])
"The one and only way not to put yourself off"
Madoka Nogita (General Incorporated Association Cancer and Work Support Group)
"My Life Shift: What I Saw After Getting Off the Express Train"
Shujiro Mizuno (Director, Life Design Counseling Institute)
"From victim to victor: We are given an opportunity to give it a try."
Hirokazu Murohashi (Journalist)
"My life has been guided by travel."

Sumire Fujimiya gives a speech on "The Plan to Idolize All of Humanity"

At this TEDx JFOU, eight speakers each shared their own stories, generating new questions and dialogues. J. F. Oberlin University will continue to create learning opportunities where diverse knowledge and challenges intersect.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended and to everyone who cooperated in organizing this Events.

Student Speaker Comment: Sumire Fujimiya (College of Performing and Visual Arts Theater & Dance Major)

I took the stage with the desire to convey to my generation the culture of "idols"—a culture that helped me through difficult times in my life—of pursuing and fulfilling dreams together. I myself had once given up on a dream, and I thought I had no story to tell. However, as I wrote my speech, I realized that setbacks and failures are never wasted, but become fuel for new challenges, and I was able to accept my past.

After my speech, I was able to clearly answer questions from others facing the same worries based on my own experience, saying, 'It's fine to be the most knowledgeable about that field,' which was also a major takeaway. I hope that the basic messages conveyed by 20 years of life experience can give even a little support to someone struggling. I am truly grateful to this Events for giving me the opportunity to view my own experiences positively.

Our university held its first TEDx Events, "TEDx JFOU" — the theme was "Transition."

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