gender equality

Commentary / Japan Nov 15, 2017

It takes more than words to raise gender equality

by Yumiko Murakami

Japan's gender gaps in income and leadership remain stubbornly entrenched.

Commentary / Japan Nov 6, 2017

Japan is at the center of Asia's women problem

by William Pesek

It's high time that Japan, and Asia generally, turned today's embarrassing gender dynamics into an economic opportunity for tomorrow.

National Nov 1, 2017

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 ...

National May 31, 2017

Passport rules on maiden names to ease for married women

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.

National / Social Issues Mar 4, 2017

Learning to stand up to domestic violence in Japan

by Rob Gilhooly

Satoru Tanaka tentatively pulls from his briefcase a well-thumbed sheet of plain paper, onto which has been sketched three smiling faces along with a simple but astute message: "Daddy's promise," it begins. "Always smile, and if you feel the urge to fight, take a ...

National Mar 2, 2017

Private country club must equalize membership rules to host Olympic golf competition: IOC

by Andrew McKirdy

Kasumigaseki Country Club will be stripped of hosting the Tokyo 2020 Olympic golf tournament if it does not allow women to become full members, the International Olympic Committee warned on Thursday. "At some point there has to be a cut-off," IOC Vice President John Coates ...

National / Social Issues Feb 8, 2017

JOC chief questioned in Olympic bid probe on France’s behalf

At France’s request, Tokyo prosecutors have questioned Japan’s Olympic committee president and others over allegations that dubious payments were made to win the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

National / Media | MEDIA MIX Jan 7, 2017

Are female scholars taken seriously in Japan?

by Philip Brasor

There is a small group of female TV personalities whose claim to fame is that they graduated from the University of Tokyo, the most prestigious institute of higher learning in Japan. Like most TV personalities, these women have no demonstrable talent, and in almost ...

Business | YEN FOR LIVING Jan 7, 2017

Can the financial roadblock to marriage ever be dismantled?

by Philip Brasor and Masako Tsubuku

On Dec. 20, an advisory panel assembled by the Prime Minister's Office drafted a final proposal for a bill that has a long-term goal of increasing the country's sagging birthrate. The bill's short-term goal is to promote "marriage activities" among employees of companies and other ...

National / Social Issues Oct 26, 2016

Japan slides to 111th in WEF gender equality rankings

by Beatrice Thomas and Ayako Mie

Japan's efforts to bridge the gender divide have failed to translate into substantial change, with the nation sliding to 111th in a global inequality ranking report released Wednesday. The Global Gender Gap Report 2016, an annual benchmarking exercise by the World Economic Forum (WEF), found ...