Commentary / Japan Jan 2, 2019
Preventing issue fatigue on womenomics
by Yumiko Murakami
The most critical message that needs to be heard in Japan is that gender equality is an economic issue that helps both men and women live better lives.
National / Social Issues Oct 10, 2018
Japan's female sailors serve on front line of gender equality
Women serving on Japan's biggest warship, the Kaga, are a tight-knit group on the front line of a push to transform the Japanese navy into a mixed-gender fighting force, where men outnumber them more than 10 to one. The Maritime Self Defense Force needs more ...
National / Politics | ANALYSIS Oct 3, 2018
Abe's latest Cabinet reshuffle casts doubt on 'womenomics' policy
by Tomohiro Osaki
While the prime minister has declared boosting the profile of professional women a top policy priority, Tuesday’s reshuffle reduced the number of female ministers to just one.
National Jul 3, 2018
Women's university in Tokyo to accept transgender students from 2020
A national women's university in Tokyo will start accepting students in April 2020 who were assigned male at birth but identify as female. The education ministry said it believes Ochanomizu University will become Japan's first women's university to accept transgender students. Ochanomizu, founded in 1875, ...
Commentary / Japan May 8, 2018
Finance Ministry 'sisters' needed
by Yumiko Murakami
Japan's male-centric workplace culture is a breeding ground for scandals.
National / Social Issues Apr 30, 2018
by Reiji Yoshida
In a life-threatening moment, Maizuru Mayor Ryozo Tatami suddenly collapsed while delivering a speech during a sumo exhibition in Kyoto. He was having a stroke. Several men rushed to the dohyō (ring) to help, but they appeared at a loss over what to do. Seconds later, ...
National Apr 23, 2018
The Japan Sumo Association will hold an extraordinary meeting of its board of directors on Saturday to discuss its long-standing policy of excluding women from the sumo ring, the governing body said Monday. The meeting comes after the association faced heavy criticism following an incident ...
Business Apr 13, 2018
The Bank of Japan looks to empower women with new ETF index pick
by Tom Redmond and Shintaro Inkyo
In Japan’s latest attempt to change corporate behavior, the Bank of Japan decides to put money into an index of firms selected for the way they treat women.
National / Social Issues Mar 8, 2018
by Chisato Tanaka
The past five years of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's much-touted "womenomics" measures, aimed at advancing female economic empowerment, have shown clear-cut progress, with about 70 percent of Japanese women and girls aged between 15 to 64 now being employed or seeking jobs. Efforts to further ...
Business / Corporate Feb 16, 2018
Toyota's only female executive says her mission has always been to 'speak her mind'
by Kevin Buckland and Nao Sano
Chika Kako is a rarity in Toyota Motor Corp.'s upper echelons. Last month, the 50-year-old was promoted to the No. 2 job at the luxury Lexus division, becoming the only woman among the automaker's top 53 managers. President Akio Toyoda has made diversifying his executive ...
Entertainment News Jan 15, 2018
Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne calls for more Hollywood change on gender equality
Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne said on Sunday that Hollywood's campaign for gender equality had been "a long time coming" and that a "huge amount of change" was still needed. Speaking on the red carpet at the world premiere of his new animated film "Early Man," ...