On November 2nd, actress Mitsuki Takahata appeared at the "TIFF Special Talk Session: Kering Women In Motion Talk," one of the official programs of the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) being held in Tokyo. Takahata, who is currently pregnant with her first child with her husband, actor Masaki Okada, was asked about creating an environment that is easy for women to work in. As someone who has experienced it herself, she expressed her determination to "be a part of creating an environment that is easy for women who will be giving birth and raising children in the future to work in."
At the beginning of the talk session, Takahata smiled and said, "I'm here on stage while pregnant," and revealed her feelings, "Until now, I haven't really felt that it was difficult to work at work because I'm a woman. However, I'm sure that various challenges will arise in the future, such as pregnancy and child-rearing, and I think that problems that I will have to try and error and face will come up in the workplace. I'm happy to have been invited to this event at a good time for me."
Takahata said, "As I am about to reach a turning point as a person involved and as a woman, I think that as I gain more experience, I will start to think, 'I wish it were a little more like this,' or 'It would be easier to work if this was taken care of a little more.'" She continued, "Instead of thinking that I have to 'put up with' such things, I want to speak up and say, 'What do you think about this suggestion?' By doing so, I believe we can create an environment where it is easier for women to work." She spoke from a woman's perspective.
Women In Motion is a program launched in 2015 at the Cannes Film Festival, of which global luxury group Kering is an official partner, and this year marks its 10th anniversary.
In addition to Takahata, the talk session was also attended by Kento Nakajima, casting director Debra Zane, and producer Fukuma Miyuki. Film director Koreeda Hirokazu gave the opening talk.
