The BBC’s 2024 list of “100 Women” unveiled Tuesday includes two Japanese — Naomi Watanabe, a comedian known for challenging gender and beauty norms in Japan's male-dominated comedy scene, and Yumi Suzuki, a disability rights advocate.
The annually released list recognizes inspiring and influential individuals who have made a significant global impact. The theme this year was resilience, celebrating women driving change in the face of adversity and who "are pushing for change and improving lives at community or global level."
Watanabe, a prominent Japanese influencer now based in New York, was commended for her transformative role in comedy, creating her own hit shows and holding her own in a predominately male-centric space, as well as her efforts to challenge societal beauty standards.
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