TOMODACHI Alumni Highlight: Hikari Igarashi, from TOMODACHI Next Generation Summit 2024
For December’s alumni highlights, we highlighted Hikari Igarashi, who is an alumna of the 2014-2015 TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program, and works at Women’s Eye as Executive Director. Launching the Single Mother Research Project, she has contributed to researching the impact of COVID-19 among single-mother households in Japan and communicating the situation in society. Gender equality and inclusive community development are at the core of her work, and she has also worked for other non-profit organizations, including Amelias, Single Mothers Forum, and Human Security Forum. She is launching a P-to-P sharing application using blockchain technology, envisioning a society where all people can access the resources they need and take a step forward believing in themselves.
Let me ask you one question. Have you ever felt “I might not be enough” in your life doubting your ability or potential? About ten years ago, I was a student. I almost didn’t apply to the TOMODACHI women’s leadership program I participated in. When my best friend shared about the program, my immediate reaction was “nah”, thinking someone like her would get in but not me. At that time, my dreams were constantly shattered, facing the difficulty of covering all the expenses to study in Tokyo. As a child from a lower-income single-mother household, I was continually facing the mental block of “maybe I can’t.”
However, the TOMODACHI community gave the power of human connection. My mentor from the program provided me safe space for vulnerability. My peers always encouraged me to make bold decisions in life even after the program. Such relationships inspired me to pay it forward, reinforcing my belief in driving meaningful change. That’s exactly why I dedicated myself to a research project on single-mother households in the middle of the pandemic where we realized financial support for over 40,000 lower-income families in Japan.
Through my work at nonprofits, I’ve seen how social and economic systems can fail those in need. Yet, I’ve noticed a shift towards more equitable solutions using technology. In recent years, in Taiwan, for example, blockchain technology has been used to enhance transparency in public services. Platforms like Gitcoin provide a more transparent mechanism for communities to fund public goods.
Imagine a system where sharing isn’t just an act of kindness but a sustainable way to support each other—where profit is decentralized, and everyone benefits. Our application, KashiKally, is an on-chain sharing platform utilizing blockchain technology to make resource sharing easier and more secure.
As technology advances it must advance with us. We must continuously evolve our solution to meet new challenges and opportunities — and we have the resources to make it happen. We can realize a world where no one is in need and everyone is reaching their potential.
Sometimes I still have doubts, but the communities I’ve touched over the past decade continue to inspire me, and I know they will remain a guiding force as we move forward.
Thank you for listening.
This interview was conducted by Mizuki Sakai on November 27, 2024. Mizuki is currently an intern with the TOMODACHI Alumni Leadership Program and an alumni of the TOMODACHI – U.S. Embassy Go For Gold Sports Leadership Program 2024-25.
