Parliamentary Vice-Minister Arfiya Eri Asks at T4IS2026 Closing Keynote: 'Who Feels Represented by Their Politicians?' — Almost No Hands Raised

On April 26, 2026, Arfiya Eri, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, delivered the closing keynote at the Tech for Impact Summit 2026. Discussing 'Democracy and Diversity,' she shared her journey to winning a House of Representatives seat. She emphasized the need for diverse representation in politics and AI governance, identifying three structural barriers for women in Japanese politics: extreme working hours, lack of role models, and funding disparities.