Fumiko Hayashi, Mayor of Yokohama City, will give a lecture entitled “Challenges as the Seeds of Growth: Fruitful Life through Learning” on June 8 in the chapel.

In addition to being the mayor, Ms. Hayashi is a Professor by Special Appointment in J. F. Oberlin University’s Graduate Division. She became the mayor of Yokohama, a city of 3.7 million people, in 2009. She is a powerful leader who is working on revitalizing the city’s economy, enhancing education, and supporting active participation by women. This lecture provides a good opportunity to hear the thoughts of a female political leader, still a relative rarity in Japan.