August 2026 Updates and Activity Report
Thank you as always for supporting Waffle’s activities.
July was a month of major news for Waffle. Waffle’s policy proposals were reflected for the sixth consecutive year in both the “Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2026” (the “Honebuto Policy”) and the “Japan Growth Strategy,” and Waffle’s work was also featured in the Cabinet Office’s White Paper on Gender Equality. In addition, a record three teams from Japan were selected for the Technovation Girls 2026 World Summit. And our new program, “Waffle AI Changemaker,” launched in five cities nationwide.
Waffle’s Proposals Reflected in the “Basic Policy 2026” and “Japan Growth Strategy” — For the Sixth Consecutive Year Since 2021
In the “Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2026” (commonly known as “Honebuto Policy 2026”) and the “Japan Growth Strategy,” both approved by the Cabinet on July 21st, measures based on Waffle’s proposal for “structurally strengthening women’s participation in the technology sector in the age of AI” were explicitly included. This marks the sixth consecutive year since 2021 that Waffle’s policy proposals have been reflected in the Basic Policy.
The fact that this was included in both documents this year means that closing the gender gap has now been positioned as a challenge central to Japan’s growth strategy. In particular, the “Japan Growth Strategy” explicitly includes “doubling the number of women in science and engineering (STEM) fields” as a cross-ministerial plan, with a numerical target (KPI) to double the proportion of female students in university engineering departments from 18% in 2025 to 36% by 2040.
Following this policy inclusion, Waffle will further strengthen its collaboration with government bodies, local governments, educational institutions, and companies, and continue to intensify its efforts to help more female and non-binary middle/high school and university students take their first step into the technology field.
Waffle’s Work Featured in the Cabinet Office’s “Fiscal Year 2026 White Paper on Gender Equality”
Waffle’s efforts to develop female IT talent were featured in the “Fiscal Year 2026 White Paper on Gender Equality” (published by the Cabinet Office’s Gender Equality Bureau), which was approved by the Cabinet on July 10th.
This year’s white paper features a special section on “learning and relearning (reskilling),” pointing out the structural mismatch of too few women in technical roles in the age of AI. Within that special section, Waffle’s work was introduced as a leading example, as one of six featured columns. Through this inclusion in a statutory government white paper, efforts to close the gender gap in the technology field have gained wide public recognition. We encourage you to take a look at the details.
The Fiscal Year 2026 White Paper on Gender Equality is available here.
3,600 Entries from 130 Countries and Regions Worldwide! A Record Three Teams from Japan Advance to the World Summit
A record three teams from Japan have been selected for the Technovation Girls 2026 World Summit — a remarkable achievement among 3,600 entries submitted from 130 countries and regions around the world.
“infiniti girls” was selected as an Elementary Division Finalist. The team developed “VegePatch,” an app that connects users with their local community while enjoying growing, recording, and cooking vegetables. They will compete at the “World Summit” in Bengaluru, India, this October.Two teams were named Regional Honorees (Asia): “FKA,” winner of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award, and “Little Care,” developer of “Star Connect,” an app that eases the loneliness of children undergoing long-term medical care.
This marks the third consecutive year a Japanese team has been selected as a finalist, and the second consecutive year for “infiniti girls.” Having three teams recognized at the World Summit is also the highest number in the ten years since Japan began supporting participation in the competition. Please join us in cheering on our teams at the World Summit this October!
New Program Nurturing Women Who Drive Regional Economies with AI — “Waffle AI Changemaker” Launches in Five Cities Nationwide
Waffle’s new program, “Waffle AI Changemaker,” launched in five cities nationwide starting on August 2. It is a major renewal of “Waffle Camp,” which has been held nationwide for four years, now incorporating new perspectives on regional economic creation and the social implementation of AI.
In Obihiro City (Hokkaido), Yonezawa City (Yamagata Prefecture), Fukui Prefecture, the Kami-Ina region (Nagano Prefecture), and Nagasaki City (Nagasaki Prefecture), female and non-binary middle and high school students will take on the challenge of developing AI-powered products themed around each region’s local industries. Rather than being simple experiential learning, the program aims to cultivate “agents of change” from the ground up in each region — leaders who will drive the local economy into the next era.
Registration is currently open for the sessions in Yonezawa (September 6th) and Obihiro (September 12th–13th). If you know middle or high school students living or attending school in these areas, please encourage them to apply!
Registration and program details are available here.
A Record 35 Participants! Waffle Club July Report — “Hear from a QA Engineer and Build a Diagnostic App”
The 14th Waffle Club, held on Sunday, July 26th, welcomed a record 35 middle and high school students from across the country. The theme was “Hear from an engineer working at Cybozu, and take on the challenge of creating your own diagnostic app!”
In the first half, a career talk featured Nanaho Mizuno, a QA Engineer in the Development Division at Cybozu, who spoke about her current work, the challenges she faced as a middle and high school student, and her mindset for tackling new things. In the second half, participants created diagnostic apps themed around “What home appliance am I?” Working through trial and error together with mentors, each participant brought their own idea to life.
Participants shared comments such as, “The experience of finding bugs was fun,” and “I learned that I can pursue what I enjoy as a career without being limited by choosing between humanities and sciences.” About 90% of participants reported a deeper understanding of programming and AI, and many more participants said they felt “I could do this too.”
Waffle Club will continue to deliver experiences that turn “I want to try this” into “I did it!”
Announcements
Waffle Club “BOSE × Waffle: Experience the World of Sound Through Technology and Creativity” — Event Confirmed!
Following last year’s popular collaboration with BOSE, the event returns again this year. Set at BOSE, globally known for its headphones and speakers, this one-day event lets participants enjoy a sound experience and create their own original game.
This event is a great fit if you: Love music or games / Want to try creating something new / Would like to visit BOSE’s office / Are curious about what it’s like to work as an engineer
Event Details
- Date & Time: Sunday, September 27, 2026, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Format: Bose Japan Office (Roppongi, Tokyo)
- Eligible participants: Female and non-binary middle and high school students
- Fee: Free Application
- deadline: Sunday, September 6
Details and registration available here.
Request for Donations and Support Toward Certified NPO Status
Waffle is currently working toward obtaining “Certified NPO” status. Achieving this certification will make future donations tax-deductible, making it easier for supporters to contribute to our activities.
To obtain certification, we need to meet the requirement of receiving donations of 3,000 yen or more from at least 100 people per year. To continue delivering our activities widely and for the long term, we kindly ask for your continued warm support.
Details on donations and support available here.
Introducing the Volunteers Who Support Waffle
Waffle’s activities are made possible through the support of many people.
In July, we held a Technovation Girls Mentor Appreciation Party. Over 50 volunteer mentors, who had supported participants for four to five months, gathered together to look back on the 2026 season.
The struggles our mentors face are immeasurable — wondering “how could I have helped more,” or grappling with the challenges of online communication. And yet, everyone agreed that it all felt worthwhile the moment they watched their team refuse to give up and see their pitch through to the end. What was shared at this party wasn’t just success stories, but also things that didn’t go well, moments of struggle, and lessons that will carry forward. We were reminded once again that being able to speak honestly with one another is the true strength of this community.
More and more mentors are returning year after year, and voices saying “I want to be involved again next year” are what keep pushing Waffle forward. To all our mentors: thank you so much for your love and time given to our participants!
Recruitment for business mentors and technical mentors for the next season is scheduled to begin in October. If you’re interested, please feel free to reach out.
Message from a Waffle Member
Kumiko Morita, Director of Waffle
Recently, we held the first session of our new program, “Waffle AI Changemaker,” in Kami-Ina, Nagano Prefecture. Students from a wide range of grades, from first-year middle schoolers to third-year high schoolers, took part.
Three ideas were born from the session: “BOND,” which delivers easy Japanese for foreign workers; “Oideyo Alps,” an information site for climbing the Japan Alps; and “Work Palette,” which gathers the voices of women working in manufacturing. It was fascinating to watch the process of middle and high schoolers’ interests, local resources, and AI come together to take shape. During breaks, I even saw high schoolers teaching middle schoolers about their high school — the participants were far more proactive than I had imagined, and I was truly impressed.
Before the session, not a single student answered positively when asked, “Have you thought about going into the technology field in the future?” But afterward, every single one said they had become interested.
Starting with Kami-Ina, we will also be holding sessions in Fukui, Nagasaki, Yonezawa, and Obihiro. Registration is currently open for Yonezawa and Obihiro, so please let any middle or high school students near you know about it!
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