Steadfast Commitment: Japan's Endeavor to Fostering an Inclusive & Diverse Corporate Landscape

Although women in Japan have recently made strides in the workplace, they still face many obstacles and difficulties. Japanese culture has always been controlled by men, which has carried over to the workplace.

Women made up 42.9 percent of the labour force in Japan in 2020, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, however, they remain underrepresented in executive roles and several sectors, such as technology and finance. Only 15.9 percent of people in managerial positions are female.

A study conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry found that the proportion of women serving on the boards of publicly traded firms climbed from 3.3 percent in 2019 to 5.5 percent in 2020. Even though these improvements are encouraging, they still only represent a small part of the women who hold leadership positions in Japan's business sector.

Fumio Kishida, Japan's prime minister, wants women to make up around one-third of executive positions in the top companies in the country by the end of the decade. Efforts are being made to this end and there is hope for fostering gender equality in the Japanese corporate landscape.

Celebrating the women leaders from Japan, this edition of GWL introduces readers to prolific women leaders from the Land of the Rising Sun.

In this magazine edition read about Ariel Han, Client Director & Co-Founder, Silkwise. Ariel is a seasoned recruitment professional and entrepreneur, draws from over eight years of industry experience. Co-Founder of Silkwise, she spearheads operations and talent acquisition, while her venture, AHanting, extends recruitment training services beyond Japan. Committed to diversity and innovation, Ariel shapes the future of recruitment with resilience and adaptability.

We also highlight the journey of Shoko Saeki, CEO of DUOLOGY. Through her innovative leadership and commitment, the talented leader is breaking barriers in the business realm. With a background rooted in a diverse educational journey and a profound family influence, Saeki embodies resilience and vision in her career.

From the world of finance, we bring to you the success story of Ju Young, Finance Director, Weave Living. Ju Young began her career at Deloitte in New York, and later transitioned to the hedge fund industry before embarking on an expat journey to Japan in 2016. There, she played a pivotal role in building financial systems and teams, honing her expertise in FP&A and strategic finance. Progressing through leadership roles at Randstad, she eventually found her passion in real estate finance, joining Weave Living as Finance Director for Japan and Korea.

Read more about these women leaders and the secret to their success.

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