Lisa Morikawa

Lisa is a laid-back and enthusiastic emerging activist with a keen interest in the intricacies of the world while actively seeking solutions to address societal challenges, particularly those related to poverty and public health. 

Spending three years of her childhood in the United States posed challenges for Lisa upon returning to Japan, where she grappled with the disparities between American and Japanese values. Navigating this cultural divide was tough as she tried to decide which values to adopt. Despite the initial struggle, this experience catalyzed Lisa's self-reflection, helping her define her personal values and understand the importance of embracing diverse perspectives for effective problem-solving. A pivotal moment in Lisa’s journey was her participation in the WHO Kobe Centre Summer School, leaving a lasting impact. Researching mental health education deepened her understanding of communication and collaboration's critical role and intensified her passion for public health.

In academics, Lisa consistently earns high achievement awards each semester and pursues a dual diploma in both WACE (Western Australian Certificate of Education) and the Japanese national curriculum. Her extracurricular involvement includes active participation in debates, achieving 1st place in the HEnDA Japanese national competition in Tokyo in 2022, and engagement in the World Scholar’s Cup at both national and international levels. Lisa initiated an independent project to facilitate clinic translations, enhancing healthcare accessibility for foreigners in Japan. Serving as an online tutor for a Tanzanian orphanage, she teaches health to raise awareness about individual well-being. Lisa has also been researching the pressing issue of foreigners’ access to healthcare in Japan and holds a leadership position at TEDxYouth@Tokyo. Additionally, she founded a student organization focused on a food bank, organizing food drives and workshops. On a personal level, her deep passion for photography drives her to explore new color grading techniques.

Looking forward, Lisa asprires to deepen her commitment to health by pursing public health studies at university. During her university years and beyond, she plans to delve into research on healthcare systems outside Japan and explore strategies to address international health challenges.