2023
In summer 2023, Guardian Girls International (GGI), in partnership with UNFPA Japan and the World Karate Federation (WKF), and in collaboration with Guardian Girls Japan, the Japan Karate Federation (JKF) and American Embassy Tokyo, launched the Guardian Girls Karate (GGK) project at the American Center in Fukuoka. The event was covered by regional and local Japanese media. The following day, a GGK Seminar empowered a group of Japanese women participants through practical self-protection training. GGK was also featured during the finals of the WKF Premier League 1, an international karate tournament held in Fukuoka.
2024
In May 2024, Guardian Girls Japan and TELL Japan co-hosted a special event titled “Changing Focus from Myth to Reality: Addressing the Issue of Sexual Violence in Japan,” featuring distinguished Japanese speakers. This was followed by a Guardian Girls Aikido (GGA) seminar at Seisen International School in Tokyo, marking the first GGA seminar in Japan. In December 2024, GGI signed a global Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with United Nations University (UNU) Rector Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala to co-host a series of dialogue events on gender equality and women’s empowerment at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
2025
In February 2025, Guardian Girls Japan and UNU co-hosted their first partnership event titled “Women in Peace: Strengthening Economies to Address Violence Against Women.” The panel featured distinguished women leaders, including the Ambassador of Mexico to Japan, the Chargé d’affaires ad interim of South Africa to Japan, and the UNU Vice-Rector, with moderation by GGI President Nia Lyte. The event attracted over 200 attendees.
2026
In March 2026, Guardian Girls Japan and UNU co-hosted the inaugural Tokyo Women Citizen Dialogue (WCD), a new forum series addressing global and regional women’s issues. The session, titled “Women, Peace and Security in Southeast Asia: From Global Commitments to Local Action,” brought together over 150 participants at UNU. Speakers included the Ambassador of the Philippines to Japan, the UNFPA Japan Chief, the UNU Vice-Rector, and a representative from Human Rights Now.
In the same month, GGI and the World Karate Federation, hosted by the Embassy of Spain in Japan and in collaboration with Guardian Girls Japan, the Japan Karate Federation, and rYojbaba, organized the GGK Reception at the Spanish Embassy in Tokyo. Distinguished attendees included H.E. Ambassador Íñigo de Palacio España, GGI Secretary-General Shin Koyamada, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Iwao Horii, JOC President Seiko Hashimoto, Member of the House of Representatives Ichiro Aisawa, and WKF Secretary-General Toshihisa Nagura, among others.As part of this initiative, the GGK Instructor Course for Asia was conducted, certifying female instructors from 10 countries across the region. In addition, a GGK seminar was held in Tokyo, safeguarding over 30 women participants, including university students, through practical self-protection training.
Karate
Aikido
Vovinam
