Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Japan’s Womenomics

Last fall, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a significant move by appointing five women to his cabinet, notably including the first female foreign minister in over two decades. Demonstrating a commitment to gender diversity, Kishida has also set an ambitious target of achieving a 30% representation of women in executive positions within prime-listed companies by 2030. While these initiatives are welcome, persistent challenges and untapped opportunities remain for Japanese women in the workplace. They continue to face issues such as unequal pay, being hired for “temporary” jobs with fewer benefits, and enduring long hours, which make child-rearing more difficult, among other obstacles.

How can Japan effectively address these challenges, maximize the role of women, and harness their crucial contributions to the nation’s economic revitalization? Additionally, what insights and lessons can the U.S. or other societies offer Japan in this pursuit? What further steps could be taken by the government or in the workplace to promote gender diversity? To explore these critical questions, the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) invites you to join an engaging discussion featuring distinguished speakers, including Wendy Cutler, ASPI Vice President; Joshua Walker, President and CEO at the Japan Society; and Akiko Yamahara, General Counsel at Citi Global Wealth. The discussion will be moderated by Rorry Daniels, ASPI Managing Director.