IZUMI YAMASHITA
Birth : 1964
Place : Fuji Shizuoka JAPAN
EDUCATION
Master of Science, May 2003
Major: Community Services
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, U.S.A
Bachelor of Science, May 2001
Major: Child Development and Family Life,
Major: Early Childhood Education
Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.A
Mass Communication, March 1984
Tokyo Technological Art Vocational School
Yoyogi, Tokyo, Japan
Yoshiwara High School, March 1982
Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan
EDWORK
EXPERIENCE
Home Economist, Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan
2003-present
Fuji City Councilor, Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan
May 2007- April 2011, May 2015-present
Graduate Assistant, MSU Child Development Laboratories, East Lansing, MI
August 2002 – April 2003
English Instructor for Children, Yamaha Kid’s English School, Numazu Shizuoka, Japan, January 1991 – December 1996
Swimming Instructor, A-1 Swimming School, Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan,
January 1990 – December 1990, April 1985 – November 1988
INTERESTS
Travel, Art, Ballroom Dance, and Haiku (stage name:Izumi Sayaka)
VGIF
Izumi Yamashita is a home economist by trade and a city councilor in Fuji, Japan. She strives to establish family-life programs to educate women and their families on various topics, such as communication skills, healthy interpersonal relationships, and self-esteem, to encourage healthy lifestyle choices. Izumi says, "As a city councilor, I faced up against patriarchal politics. I now strongly believe that empowering women is urgent."
Izumi learned about VGIF during the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2012. She says, "I thought VGIF was really good for citizens and grassroots activities because the foundation offers small amounts of money to people who long to accomplish their projects". Izumi's friend, and former development committee member, Reiko Aoki convinced her to become a VGIF member. One day she told me, "Izumi, you always said you want to build international relations. VGIF will be very good for you."
Izumi supports VGIF's international liaison efforts in Japan. And just like VGIF is good for her, Izumi is very good for VGIF.
Izumi Yamashita
VGIF member, Japan
GWI
Japan
GWI congratulates JAUW Coordinator of International Relations (CIR), Izumi Yamashita, on her re-election to the
Fuji City Council, Japan. This marks Izumi’s second term on the Council, having previously held the position of city
councillor in 2007-2011. Her professional background in home economics, especially family support services, will
inspire her work on the Council work to promote political commitments for children and their families. The
empowerment of women is a priority issue for Izumi, especially combatting patriarchal norms.
http://www.graduatewomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/2015-05-20-GWI-Update.pdf