NEWSWORTHY
Put more women in office, former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark tells Japan
When Helen Clark was first elected to New Zealand's parliament in 1981, she was one of only eight female lawmakers among the 92 representatives. Now, women account for nearly 38 percent of the parliament, including a new prime minister who is expected to deliver ...
Diet passes nonbinding legislation aimed at increasing women in politics
The Diet passed a bill Wednesday seeking to boost the number of female lawmakers and assembly members in a nation where women have long been underrepresented in politics.
Women need greater role in Third World industries to cut poverty: U.N. exec
Women need to be given a greater role in industries in poorer nations to meet the global goal of cutting poverty by 2030, the head of the United Nations industrial development agency said on Monday after being voted in for a second term. Li Yong ...
At women's empowerment event, Japan urged to step up reforms
Japan could lead the global drive for greater gender equality but the country needs to step up its reforms, according to female world leaders who gathered at a symposium on women's empowerment in Tokyo Wednesday. "It would not be the first time in history when ...
Calbee sees granola boom by pitching to Japanese working women
Calbee Inc.'s granola snack had been around for 20 years, with no real change to its recipe or sales. Then a female marketing executive turned things around by pitching the cereal as a time-saver for a growing class of consumers just like her: working ...
The government plans to ease passport regulations to allow married women to have both their maiden name and family name included on their passports in fiscal 2019.
Japan Times and Managing Editor Sayuri Daimon win Forbes female-empowerment award
The Japan Times and Sayuri Daimon, managing editor and executive operating officer of the newspaper, were among the winners Monday of the Japan Women Award 2016 sponsored by business magazine Forbes Japan. The award, given to individuals and companies working to empower women and create ...
Japan's government handed 28,000 signatures after anonymous blog inspires mothers
A group of mothers and their advocates submitted to the government Wednesday about 28,000 signatures from people seeking a better child care system after they were inspired by an anonymous blog post written by a frustrated mother. The group visited the Diet building and handed ...
BOJ no closer to reaching target for more women in management
The Bank of Japan has made no progress in increasing the proportion of women in management positions in the past two years. Women held 4 percent of management posts in 2015, which was unchanged from 2013, according to a comparison of a statement released Tuesday ...
Angry blog post sparks movement for improved day care
What started out as a mother's online rant about Japan's notorious day care center shortage has evolved into a national movement, galvanizing angry mothers into staging a demonstration and online campaign blasting the government.
Confidence key to female success, say panelists at Tokyo forum
Women's advances in society are now a "must" in Japan, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration pledging to make every woman shine. But many still find it difficult to break the glass ceiling in a male-dominated society —mainly due to their lack of self-confidence, ...
Plans adopted to import foreign housekeepers in name of female empowerment
The government on Friday adopted a set of proposals to lure more foreign housekeeping professionals and establish a new system for regional nursery staff as part of efforts to promote women's participation in the economy. The Cabinet plans to submit a bill to the extraordinary ...
