The Defense Ministry on Tuesday unveiled a batch of initiatives aimed at doubling the number of female personnel in the male-dominated Self-Defense Forces.
The announcement dovetails with what is dubbed the "womenomics" drive spearheaded by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose administration has billed female empowerment in workplaces as a crucial part of its growth strategy meant to galvanize the nation's long-stalled economy.
"The number of SDF servicewomen is far from enough. The biggest obstacle is the deeply ingrained male-oriented working culture," Abe was quoted by the ministry as saying in a meeting of senior officials in September last year.