[W Osaka] Hosting the 'WHAT SHE SAID AWARD 2026' to Celebrate Women's Challenges and Co-creation

Luxury lifestyle hotel W Osaka (Location: 4-1-3 Minamisemba, Chuo-ku, Osaka; General Manager: Peter Lucas) held the global community event "WHAT SHE SAID AWARD 2026" on Friday, March 13, 2026, as part of its 5th-anniversary celebrations, aimed at promoting women's empowerment and respect for diverse values.

Held in conjunction with International Women's Day, this event marked the fourth iteration at W Osaka under the theme "Give To Gain." Embodying the spirit of diversity and empowerment cherished by W Hotels, the event brought together over 100 participants to share a vision of a society where those who take on challenges and those who support them empower each other to move forward.

Unleashing Individual Potential: Empowerment for the Next Generation

The W brand, operating in over 60 countries and regions worldwide, lists "Show Heart" (embracing diversity) as a core service pillar. The "WHAT SHE SAID" global community event, which embodies this spirit, has evolved beyond a simple talk event into a "space" where people connect and new actions are born. The theme "Give To Gain" signifies a "cycle" of receiving diverse experiences and perspectives and applying them to the next challenge.

Based on these values, the event resonated deeply with the stance of Canon Marketing Japan Inc., which aims for a society where all humanity can live, work, and thrive together regardless of differences in culture, customs, language, or ethnicity. This initiative was realized through co-hosting with the company, based on this shared philosophy.

Bringing Japanese Culture to the World: 'Challenges' Discussed by Young Female Calligraphy Artists and Daruma Entrepreneurs

In the first part, a talk session was held under the theme "Give to Gain: The Baton of Circulation." Sixteen selected entrepreneurs took the stage across four themes: "New Work & Career Design," "Social Impact & Fairness," "Technology for Good," and "Creative & Expression," discussing their business journeys, initiatives, passions, and future challenges.

The session powerfully demonstrated through the speakers' authentic words how they identify social issues from their own experiences—even while navigating diverse life stages such as child-rearing—and flexibly overcome them to build a better future. The persuasive and heartfelt stories of each speaker deepened the audience's empathy and interest, leaving a lasting impact on many participants.