Embracing Roots and Routes: A Powerful Talk by Miho Kitagawa Pedroso

The Department of Global Studies was pleased to welcome Miho Kitagawa Pedroso, Founder and Director of immi lab, for an inspiring lecture on April 28, 2026.

Titled “Embracing Your Roots & Routes: Design Your Unique Perspective to Change Society,” the talk invited students to reflect deeply on their experiences and future paths. Drawing from her own journey across disciplines—from chemistry and engineering to design research and ethnography—Miho encouraged students to embrace uncertainty and see value in diverse experiences. Her message was clear: our personal histories (“roots”) and the paths we choose (“routes”) can become powerful tools for meaningful social impact.

Beyond her personal story, the lecture shed light on an important issue: the experiences of youth with immigrant backgrounds. Many of these young people, despite being born and raised in Japan, feel social isolation and challenges in shaping their identities.

Through the work of immi lab, Miho and her team are actively addressing this gap. Initiatives such as Projeto Ponte create spaces for dialogue between immigrant youth and Japanese society, fostering mutual understanding and empowering young people to build resilience and envision their futures.

The lecture was very important for our students, not only helping raising their awareness of structural social challenges but also encouraging them to think critically about their own roles in society.
We extend our gratitude to Miho for her inspiring talk.

https://www.immilab.org

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