# Shibrava? Exploring the charm of working, playing, and living in Shibuya

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Society to any "change", you expect?
Only one person of the outgoing moves the world "Change.org"

Change.org Japan representativeHarris Emi Suzuki

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高校まで日本で育ち、米イェール大学に留学。卒業後、マッキンゼー&カンパニー勤務を経て、オバマ選挙キャンペーン参加、ソーシャルインキュベーター企業Purposeの立ち上げに参画。2012年帰国し、2013年Change.org日本を設立する。コワーキングスペース・みどり荘のオフィスで、2名のスタッフとともにChange.org日本を運営中。

Signature site "Change.org" that only one person of the outgoing produce a movement of social change, has started a service in Japan in 2013. The serve as a representative, Emi Mr. Harris Suzuki with experience, such as the election campaign staff of President Obama. From the national level policy to be anxious of everyday life, it is Change.org to support the feeling that "I want to change" of people around the world, what works on the consciousness and society of Japan of the Japanese, given any opportunity go to you do? Also at this time of the interview, SHIBUYA109, such as karaoke, for the deep relationship of Emi's and Shibuya and that the playground of the school is "It was Shibuya!", I heard the story slowly and carefully.

Not only discuss the social issues, the Action!

Please tell us about _ signature site "Change.org (Change dot Org)".

Change.org has launched a campaign to resolve social problems, recruited supporters online, on the Web, such as leading to policy recommendations and advocacy platform. 2007, was launched by Ben Rattray in the United States. Opportunity, it was coming out that Ben's younger brother is gay for the family. "So far the most injured of in a, discriminatory words rather than that it has been showered, but that people who are recognized the rights of sexual minorities did not you raise your voice," the words of his brother that a listen, Ben says that it has received a big shock. Daily, myself have discussed the social issues, aware that not one also take action. So a lawyer once and for all quit the law school had been through with the aim of, through the four years of trial and error, it is not launched a web site that specializes in "signature campaign" in 2011. Then, rapid growth and currently there is a great response is deployed in 18 languages, there are 58 million or more users to the world 196 countries. Japanese service was started in 2013.

_ What famous campaign is for you do?

All over the world have stood up campaign of 15,000 per month. It contains material that is reflected in national circumstances. In the racial discrimination and human rights issues are relatively many America, recently LGBT in the United States (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, people of sexual minorities) related conspicuous. To violence against women in India have been close-up, it is a campaign is often related to government issues, such as finances in Spain and Greece. In Japan, recently it has been raised and secret protection law and of history recognition problem. But, campaign of change is not the only big topics, such as those featured in such news. For example, impressive was the is, 17-year-old girl living in New York, filed the action against teenage girl magazine campaign. In fashion magazines, but it has become common for a photo of the model is beautifully image fixed in such as a photo shop. The it is a young woman I've been a big pressure. The girl, to put the message "I can have an ordinary girl," began a campaign called "I want me for a photo that does not is three monthly processing in fashion magazines." This is the signature attracted sympathy of girls up tens of thousands of pen, demand was realized in the actual editor-in-chief with the talks. Narrate the essence of Change.org that can change the society from that familiar, it is one of my favorite campaign.

Please tell me the _ Emi's career.

My father is American, mother is Japanese, I was born and raised in Japan. After graduating from high school, to study in the US Yale University, but had been the work of the consultants and employment as it is to McKinsey, retirement and back injury in about two years. At the time, I was confused also mentally. Half to be disappointed with the business enterprises to pursue only the profits, there is also the reality that should not not earn money. Just around that time, to start Obama's election campaign, to participate are invited to friends. Focusing on young people in urban areas such as New York, referred to as a "never seen such a cool candidate," "trying to absolutely win", was tremendous excitement. Myself had gotten to spend 25 years left of politics in indifference also became an opportunity to face the society and seriously. Until society is what makes a great people and professionals, and myself are living independent of the world, it had been sensuously distinction. However, in fact, society is made by the hand of all the people, to should all become active participants, it would arbitrarily determined the rules to other people if you do not, the reality for the first time noticed that It is tan. It's not just me. I think a lot of young people throughout the Obama campaign, and became active for the society. Since that experience, I do have continue to have the feeling that it can not ignore the movement of society, also friends of the United States resident, has now also actively involved in political activities.

Signature site Emi's will serve as a representative web site of "Change.org Japan"

It began to move the Japanese with the awareness that are in the era of "reform"

It began to move the Japanese with the awareness that are in the era of _ "Change"

After Obama's campaign, he had been involved in the management of the campaign site of participation type called Purpose (purpose) to make movement to take advantage of the net. Change.org to time such lifts the story to advance to Japan, I had been recruiting staff. Deeply sympathetic to the vision of Change.org, applicants and thought, "This is a work that can not be only to me!". But, in Japan to experience who participated in political activities and civic activities were not at all, the Japanese did not adhere is also expected at all how catch the Change.org. I was returning home while feeling great pressure.

_ Do was not the option of continuing to work in the United States?

Much, I I've been poking around to return to Japan (laughs). It parents live in Japan, because I am a half, but is Japanese, after all part of identity, I is Japan's can remain true self. Because you have this kind of face, but you may get hurt without me recognized as 100% Japanese, or met a childhood friend, or entered the Japan of the bath, such as eating Japanese food, and are spent in Japan mind is peace. Return home to you passed about a year and a half, but it was good to have really back. Happiness degree is completely different.

_ After returning home, Have you ever been puzzled in the difference of business with the United States?

There until the good and not have to worry about Japan's rule, what privilege of this face (laughs). Or rather there is a little grace, "Do not Well way", there is allowed to become part. So in light of Japan's rule, I think that the thing lot of rude. That's the seat of the back of the drawing room is the customer, or did not know until recently, Toka. But, for such hard practices change in Japanese, I dare to say that "than a little funny", I there a feeling that I want to change the air.

How was the Japanese of reverberation for _Change.org.

Whether initially net signature accept, it was very uneasy. Although there are signing activities in Japan, because I did things that large organizations such as trade unions and civil society organizations to. Again, at the time of start-up is not increased quite a user, I had a hard time. Anyway if'll let you know the Change.org, lunch and dinner, drinking, etc., and out the face everywhere -. But now appear on the TV program to machine the appearance request to TBS election program, without a little feeling that he or she wants to be famous, if Shirewatare widely my face, which is a representative, of Change.org it is the idea that reliability would increase. While continuing such activities, some of the campaign is widely covered in the media, gradually awareness is increased, the number of users went growth and steadily. One of the trigger is, to airplane movement of men's football is business class, for that Nadeshiko Japan was economy class, was a campaign that appealed the treatment of gender equality. The originator of this campaign, such as receiving a BBC interview, has received international attention as well. Japan's current users in more than 250,000, is the beginning of better-than-expected growth. This is, or there is the Great East Japan Earthquake, and or there is a political big move, we think because they start moving a lot of Japanese people with the awareness that are in the era of reform. However, to the user's is active, is the challenge of not kept pace is the acceptance side literacy. If you try to submit signed and to the government, there is also that it has been referred to as a "net signature will not be accepted." Signed with the United States, but online is common sense, because now is the era of Japan Prime Minister use the Facebook, I think that will gradually change.

_ The Japanese users, will what kind of layer is either more.

High 40 to 60 years old interested in society and politics are many, I have biased a little man. In the questionnaire, the user of more than 60%, do not support a particular political party, also because we answer not to be donated to a specific NPO and NGO, rather than the organization, perhaps the collection consisting mainly of individual . But, still the missing outgoing force of young people and women, it is a little unbalanced. This is, you might say that reflects the social issues that Japan faced. Such a layer is also included, I am going to try to support as many people can feel free to speak.

Move to the co-working space "green Zhuang" from last year. Shooting at the living space which houses the library.

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