When women lead, the conversation shifts, priorities align with progress, and new perspectives come to the forefront. This was evident during the first meeting between Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano and Mayor Ai Seike of Minato City, held on Aug.
19, 2024, at Minato City Hall. Both women are trailblazers in their own right—Ambassador Garcia-Albano, the first female Philippine Ambassador to Japan, and Mayor Seike, the first woman to hold the mayoral office in Minato City. Minato is one Tokyo’s 23 wards.
Founded in 1947, the ward’s name literally means ‘harbor’. Most people who visit Tokyo for tourism would most likely make a stop in Minato as it is home to the iconic Tokyo Tower, several beautiful shrines and temples, the National Art Center, and the nightlife and shopping destination that is Roppongi. Minato is also known for being one of the most foreigner-friendly wards in the Japanese capital which is why it’s no surprise that nine percent of the ward’s 267,250 residents are foreigners.
Of that number, 1,200 are Filipinos. The Philippine Embassy, along with over 80 other foreign missions from different countries, is also located in this particular ward which made the meeting more than just the usual courtesy call. Having been newly elected in June, the ambassador congratulated Mayor Seike on her electoral victory and expressed her enthusiasm for a strengthened partnership between the Philippine Embassy and Minato City under the mayor�.