[International NGO Plan International] Featuring a talk show with a variety of guests, including Mizuki Yamamoto and Tomoko Chris, and a special live performance by Akko Gorilla: “I’m on the side of all women who feel frustrated!” Image
URL: International NGO Plan International Press Release: October 9, 2025 Featured will be a talk show featuring a variety of guests, including Mizuki Yamamoto and Tomoko Chris, as well as a special live performance by Akko Gorilla: “I’m on the side of all women who are feeling frustrated!” International Girls’ Day Event “PLAN GIRLS MOVEMENT 2025 ~Words that will empower the future~”
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12939/281/12939-281-5d7229e6562bb0680e949b105f827d85-3900×2600.jpg International NGO Plan International (Location: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo) In the run-up to International Day of the Girl Child on October 11th, PLAN Girls Movement (President: Kiyoko Ikegami; hereafter referred to as “PLAN”) held an event on Wednesday, October 8th, called “PLAN Girls Movement 2025 – Words that will empower the future,” to promote girls’ leadership and work to resolve gender issues. The event was attended by many stakeholders, including women under the age of 25 who will lead the next generation. In the first part of the event, actor and model Mizuki Yamamoto, artist Akko Gorilla, and radio personality Tomoko Chris were invited as guests for a talk show themed on “Words that will empower the future,” and in the second part, Akko Gorilla performed a special live performance. ■Guests active in various fields will share stories that will help you think about your future. At the beginning of the event, Plan’s CMO Mirei Koizumi and members of the Plan Youth Group introduced Plan’s efforts both domestically and internationally to realize a world where everyone is equal, as well as the significance and purpose of “International Day of the Girl.” Additionally, a survey conducted by Plan in August 2025 found that two-thirds of women aged 18 to 25 felt “vague feelings of anxiety, impatience, and depression.” The potential for the power of words to alleviate these feelings was revealed, leading to the decision to hold the event with the theme of “Words that will power the future.” The background to the event was explained as follows: Then, a talk show began, featuring special guests who supported the purpose of the event: actor and model Mizuki Yamamoto, artist Akko Gorilla, and radio personality Tomoko Chris. The talk show also featured Seiko Epson Corporation and Uniqlo Co., Ltd., both of which are committed to promoting women’s participation in society. Based on the results of the aforementioned survey, the guests spoke about the event’s theme, “Words that will empower the future,” drawing on their own
experiences. When asked about the worries of people aged 18 to 25, the target age for this event, Yamamoto recalled that when she was a student, she struggled with whether to get a job or continue working in the entertainment industry. “At the time, I was an exclusive model for a magazine, and I decided that if I could land a solo cover, I would continue working in this field,” she confessed. In response to the question, “Have you ever had an experience where someone helped you feel less anxious or impatient, or gave you courage, or made you more positive?” she shared her own experience, saying, “When I was in my twenties and working all the time, I was always surrounded by staff, and suddenly I became worried about whether I could survive on my own. I wanted to go somewhere where no one knew me, so I took a month off and went to Boston. There, I stopped off at a church to take shelter from the rain, and I cried and confided in a friend I had just met about my troubles. It made me realize that sometimes it’s important to “get away from everyday life.” Based on his experience as a radio personality, Chris commented on the importance of the “power of words,” saying, “I’ve been able to overcome my frustrations by embracing the kind words that people close to me have said to me.” Akko Gorilla also shared how she deals with frustrations, saying, “I try to enjoy facing them as an opportunity to get to know my core. As a result, I feel like I can see what kind of life I want to live.” At the end of the talk session, the guests delivered messages to the audience. Chris offered some advice as a veteran who has been working with words for many years, saying, “I think it’s important to become someone who can give words that would make you happy to receive them.” Akko Gorilla also offered words of encouragement, saying, “I feel embarrassed when I fail, but I think it’s even more embarrassing when I go against myself. I think failure is cute! Don’t be afraid, let’s enjoy life together.” Yamamoto also offered words of encouragement, saying, “I think it’s good to relax and live life at a relaxed pace. I’m on the side of all women who are feeling frustrated! Instead of 100%, relax 30% and go for 70%!”
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12939/281/12939-281-f33a5bc7aa78a49d1504fd212af2e8e3-750×500.jpg ■Akko Gorilla empowers young women with lyrics and music through live performances In the second part of the event, artist Akko Gorilla gave a special live performance to further empower the girls in attendance with her lyrics and music. She performed a total of nine songs, including “Power Spot” and “The Eve of War.” The venue was filled with a sense of unity, creating a huge excitement.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12939/281/12939-281-ea57f24fd675f5bca51bf1821c78cc3c-3900×2600.jpg ■Contents and programs to promote International Day of the Girl were also held at the venue. In addition, a variety of content and programs were developed at the venue to promote International Day of the Girl. Visitors were given the opportunity to have fun while thinking about their future plans, including their vision and career development, girls’ leadership, and solutions to gender issues. Content 1: A message board created jointly by event guests and all attendees On a message board set up in the venue, event guests posted handwritten “words of strength for the future” for attendees. Attendees were also encouraged to write their impressions of the event or messages they wanted to share, creating a collaborative piece that connected everyone who participated through words.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12939/281/12939-281-021a729f813d2566af10f6b4c704a427-3900×2600.jpg Content 2.: Capsule toys with stickers featuring “words that will empower the future” Capsule toys will be on sale, with stickers featuring “words that will empower the future” submitted by event guests. Participants enjoyed “encountering words” that provided hints for the future and helped them to feel more positive. All proceeds from the capsule toy sales will be used to support activities supporting girls and children through the plan.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12939/281/12939-281-f5567ba45be60e68b33a776326641aa2-2979×2289.jpg Content 3: Charity bazaar hosted by influencers who support the event’s purpose Influencers who supported the event’s purpose held a charity bazaar exclusively for this day. In some cases, the
influencers themselves appeared and even served customers. All sales will be used to support the plan’s activities, and through the acquisition of items related to the influencers, girls and children will be supported.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12939/281/12939-281-0ebaaa2a81b13646a275c635b2e37e25-3538×2056.jpg Content 4: Various thematic exhibits to inspire thoughts about future plans and girls’ leadership A panel exhibit will introduce the activities of the Plan and the initiatives of companies that support the Plan and are sponsoring the event. This provided an opportunity for participants to think about their own future plans, career development, and girls’ leadership.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12939/281/12939-281-6ec51429252815b7c6320eb2982728f2-3900×2600.jpg [Event Overview] Date and Time: Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 3:00 PM – 7:30 PM Location: Spiral Hall (Spiral 3F, 5-6-23 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo) Contents: 1. Stage Content Part 1 (4:00 PM – 5:30 PM) “Talk Show” on the theme of “Words that will empower the future” Cast: Mizuki Yamamoto (actor, model) Akko Gorilla (rapper, artist) Tomoko Chris (Radio personality, Owner of Atelier “Cafune”) Emiko Nemura (Seiko Epson Corporation, Human Capital & Health Management Division, Theme Specialist, Head of Sustainability & Corporate Communications Promotion Office) Eiko Sherba (Uniqlo Co., Ltd., Sustainability Marketing) Manager) MC: Risa Ozaki (Freelance Announcer) Part 2 (18:00-18:30) “Special Live Performance” by Akko Gorilla Performer: Akko Gorilla (rapper, artist) 2. Venue Content (15:00-19:30) – Message board created jointly by event guests and all attendees ・Capsule toys with stickers featuring “Words that will empower the future” ・Charity bazaar featuring influencers who support the cause ・Exhibitions on various themes to inspire thoughts about future plans and girls’ leadership Organizer: International NGO Plan International Sponsors:
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12939/281/12939-281-a086f79af3f53808beb822ecab4bddf7-797×335.jpg [About “International Girls Day”] “International Day of the Girl” is a day to call on the international community to promote “girls’ rights” and “girls’ empowerment*.” It was established by the United Nations in response to the efforts of Plan International. On “International Day of the Girl,” girls around the world raise their voices and hold events and actions to support them. *: Empowering women to make their own choices in life and to participate in decision-making at home and in society on an equal footing with men. [About “PLAN MOVEMENT”] With the aim of realizing a gender-equal society, Plan is working with its partner company, PLAN MOVEMENT PARTNER, to develop a new type of participatory event to raise awareness among not only girls, but also many people regardless of gender or age.
https://www.plan-international.jp/planmovement/