TOMODACHI Alumni Highlight: Kaho Arima, from USJC Annual Conference 2025
Kaho Arima joined the 2021 TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program while studying in Tokyo, where the experience inspired her to found a student organization supporting nonprofit initiatives. After winning a national English speech competition and interning at a startup working to revitalize her hometown, she joined a large IT company to strengthen her business development skills.
Aloha, my name is Kaho Arima. It is an honor to stand here tonight.
Thank you for your support.
I was born and raised on Amami Island, a small community in southern Japan.
Until high school, my world was limited.
There was a culture of derukui “The nails that stick out gets hammered down”, where standing out was not welcomed.
But TOMODACHI broke me free from that shell and empowered me.
After graduation, I joined a large IT company, but soon realized a gap between the work I aspired to do and the reality of my entry-level position.
I kept thinking, “I want to change,” but I couldn’t take action.
One day I joined TOMO-KIN, a networking event hosted by USJC for alumni of TOMODACHI programs.
There were professionals from diverse backgrounds.
They were all people who lived authentically and I saw the possibility to change myself. They became my lighthouse and gave me the clarity and courage to move forward.
Earlier this year, I won the chance to share my story at the TOMODACHI Next Generation Summit where the theme was the “derukui network”.
After my speech, two new graduates came up to me and said they were motivated to take action because of my speech.
At that moment, I was so glad that I could also serve as a lighthouse to others.
This is why this TOMODACHI network is crucial for younger generations.
Many young people, especially women, enter the workforce with ambition, only to have it dimmed by rigid corporate culture.
This community inspires us to reclaim our dreams, to take that first step, and to keep the spark alive.
So tonight, to our generous sponsors, I want to say this:
Because of you, I am no longer afraid.
Because of you, I gained confidence.
And because of you, young people are finding the courage to dream again. Thank you.
This article was transformed from her speech script by Kazuhiro Osawa on October 22, 2025. Kaz is currently an intern with the TOMODACHI Alumni Leadership program.
