Leading with Character: A Conversation with Yukihisa Fujita

Overview:

Amid significant uncertainty, with major economic, social, and environmental challenges affecting the world, the need for responsible leaders has never been more urgent. Opportunities to cultivate good leadership are greater than ever. In this special event, students will have the unique chance to engage with Yukihisa Fujita—a distinguished statesman, humanitarian, and peacebuilder — who brings decades of experience at the frontlines of global leadership, conflict resolution, and humanitarian assistance.

Fujita has spent a lifetime addressing some of the world’s most complex challenges—from delivering aid to Cambodian refugees and launching grassroots projects across Africa, to working alongside global icons like Nelson Mandela. His journey serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of leadership rooted in courage and a deep commitment to peace.

We invite students to reflect on the kind of leadership our world needs today. Together, we will explore essential questions facing emerging leaders: How can leaders ensure their role in peacebuilding is grounded in trust, rather than personal gain? What should today’s leaders do to develop the values and relationships needed to navigate conflicts and create lasting peace, especially in an increasingly divided world?

This is your chance to learn directly from a leader who has lived the values he speaks of and to begin shaping your own vision for good leadership in a complex world. The event will be conversational in nature, beginning with a photo presentation by Mr. Futita reflecting on his personal leadership journey. This will be followed by plenty of time for discussion and questions, offering participants the chance to engage meaningfully with his experiences and insights.

About the Speaker:

Yukihisa Fujita is a distinguished Japanese statesman, humanitarian, and advocate for international peacebuilding. Recently, he joined the Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR) at the University of Oxford as a Visiting Research Fellow for a two-year term. His current research focuses on “Reviving Vanishing Democracy, Particularly in Japan.” In recognition of his lifelong dedication to peace, diplomacy, and public service, Fujita was awarded The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star by the Emperor of Japan.

A veteran parliamentarian, Fujita served in both chambers of Japan’s National Diet—twice elected to the House of Representatives and twice to the House of Councillors. From 2011 to 2012, he served as Vice Minister of Finance, where he played a pivotal role in Japan’s recovery following the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. Throughout his parliamentary career, Fujita held several senior positions, including Shadow Foreign Minister (2017) and Director General of the Democratic Party’s International Department on five occasions. In 2014, he established a parliamentary group in support of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, promoting interfaith reconciliation in conflict areas such as southern Thailand, the Middle East, and Myanmar. More recently, he convened high-level Peace Round Table talks in Tokyo in 2022 and 2024, which brought together religious leaders from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Palestine, and Israel.

Fujita has led reconciliation and humanitarian missions in some of the world’s most challenging regions. He participated in disaster relief operations in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Haiti, and was instrumental in establishing refugee support offices in Macedonia (1999) for those displaced by the Kosovo crisis, and in Kabul (2002) for Afghan refugees. He has led Japanese government initiatives to promote reconciliation with former American prisoners of war, while supporting a wide range of victim communities—including atomic bomb survivors, Korean war detainees, and families affected by acts of terrorism.

Fujita’s commitment to humanitarian work extends deeply into the NGO sector. In 1975, he joined Moral Re-Armament—now known as Initiatives of Change (IC)—where he contributed to peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts across Asia and Europe. Since 2022, he has served as Chairman of the International IC Association of Japan. He has also been a key figure in the Association for Aid and Relief, Japan’s pioneering NGO for refugee assistance, helping launch operations in Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia—contributing to the organisation’s reach across more than 60 countries.

With decades of experience spanning government, international diplomacy, and grassroots humanitarianism, Yukihisa Fujita remains a prominent voice for ethical leadership, democratic peacebuilding, and global humanitarianism.

Further details about his work and ongoing initiatives can be found at https://www.y-fujita.com/.

About the Moderator

Daniel Tate is a South African Rhodes Scholar, Allan Gray Fellow, and a DPhil candidate in International Relations at the Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR). He brings with him four years of award-winning experience in student leadership at the highest level.

Prior to beginning his doctoral studies, Daniel worked with the One South Africa Movement (now Build One South Africa), where he served directly under Mmusi Maimane MP, former Leader of the Opposition in South Africa.

Driven by a commitment to sustainable and inclusive development across the African continent, Daniel’s research explores the politics of international energy cooperation, with a particular focus on cross-border electricity trade in Southern and Eastern Africa. His work aims to inform and support policy efforts that advance regional integration and promote equitable access to energy.

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