In Japan's labor market, the environment for women to build careers has significantly advanced in recent years. Traditionally, the domestic-centered lifestyle known as the "full-time housewife model" and traditional gender roles were emphasized within the country. However, as societal values diversify, understanding and support for working women are steadily increasing. According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the labor force participation rate of Japanese women reached approximately 73.7% in 2024*1. This is a considerable increase from about 50% in the 1980s, presenting a very interesting trend.
Currently, many domestic companies are actively pursuing initiatives to promote women's success and strive to create diverse and inclusive workplace environments. Additionally, the government is enhancing support for women to fully utilize their capabilities at work, including expanding childcare support systems and enacting the Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement in the Workplace.
Despite these efforts, challenges in career formation for women still remain in Japan. Issues such as the "glass ceiling" in managerial promotions and gender-based wage disparities are not yet fully resolved. Nonetheless, efforts to overcome these challenges are progressing steadily, and gender disparities in career opportunities have significantly improved in recent years.
This article provides information relevant to international students, considering the current situation surrounding women's career formation in the Japanese labor market.
1. Corporate and Government Initiatives: Overcoming Challenges
Japanese corporations and the government are advancing diverse initiatives to create an environment where women can more easily build careers. Below, we introduce these policies with specific corporate examples.
1.1 Promotion of Diversity and Inclusion
Instill the Diversity and Inclusiveness (D&I) philosophy:
Japanese companies are actively promoting diversity and inclusion (D&I) principles, aiming to increase the number of women in managerial positions. By setting numerical targets and regularly disclosing their progress, companies are enhancing transparency.
Example: Shiseido Co., Ltd.
Shiseido has set a goal to increase the proportion of female managers to 50% by 2030. As of January 2024, this ratio has reached 40.0%*2. The company has created a conducive working environment through the introduction of on-site daycare and flexible working hours, and is also implementing programs to develop female leaders, aiming to nurture future board members.
Example: Shionogi Pharma Co., Ltd.
Recognizing that innovation is closely linked to DE&I (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), Shionogi Pharma is focusing on nurturing diverse talent. The proportion of female managers reached 14% in 2022, with ongoing efforts for continuous improvement*3. These efforts were recognized when the company was certified as a "Three-Star Leading Company for Women's Active Participation" by the city of Osaka in 2023.
Promoting Flexible Work Arrangements:
To facilitate the balance of work and family life, there is a growing trend towards implementing parental leave, reduced working hours, and telework. Especially, efforts are focused on supporting the return to work after childbirth or childcare.
Example: Calbee Inc.
Since July 2020, Calbee has introduced the "Calbee New Workstyle," promoting a flexible approach to work where mobile work is standard. This allows employees to autonomously choose their working location and time, which has been highly rated by employees with children*4. Additionally, the proportion of female managers is 22.6%, showcasing advanced initiatives in the food industry.
Example: Fujifilm Holdings Corporation
Fujifilm is promoting a work style that does not depend on location, supporting this with systems and environments that facilitate work-life balance. The company focuses on creating a culture where it is easy to take parental leave, regardless of gender. As a result, in the fiscal year 2021, the acquisition rate of parental leave for women reached 100%, and for men, it significantly exceeded the national average (12.6% acquisition rate, of which 28.3% took less than 5 days) with 47.3% of eligible male employees taking parental leave, averaging 102 days*5.
Introduction of Women's Career Support Programs in Japan:
Many companies are introducing training programs and mentoring systems for female employees to support career formation. These initiatives provide women with an environment where they can concretely envision their career paths.
Example: Pola Chemical Industries Inc.
Pola Chemical Industries is actively conducting internal training to support women's career formation. The company aims to increase female role models in management positions, and in 2023, it received the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Award for the Promotion of Women's Participation*6.
Example: Uniqlo (Fast Retailing)
Uniqlo has set a target to increase the ratio of female managers to 30%. Through leadership training, the company is nurturing female employees for managerial positions, making promotions more accessible. Additionally, the company supports flexible working hours and overseas assignments, focusing on developing globally active female talent.
1.2 Government Support Measures and Policies
Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement Act and Its Impact:
In 2016, the government enacted the "Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement in the Workplace," which obligates companies to formulate specific action plans and disclose their outcomes. This law has intensified competition among companies regarding female employment, promoting improvements in workplace environments.
Promotion of Parental and Caregiving Leave:
The government aims to improve the return-to-work rate after childbirth by enhancing income compensation during parental leave and expanding childcare facilities. It is also promoting the use of caregiving leave systems to reduce the risk of resignation due to family circumstances.
These initiatives are steadily establishing a foundation in the Japanese labor market where women can thrive. Leveraging the diverse talents of women is expected to contribute to overall societal growth.
2. Career Paths by Industry and Examples of Female Leaders
In various industries across Japan, more women are building careers and succeeding as leaders. These examples show that women are recognized as leaders who bring change and innovation, regardless of the industry. The increase in such role models is expanding the circle of women's active participation, creating new career opportunities. Below, we introduce career paths and specific success stories by industry.
2.1 Consulting Industry
In the consulting industry and among its alumni, women leaders with diverse perspectives and flexible thinking are thriving. Not only analytical and problem-solving skills but also a unique female perspective are crucial strengths that bring new approaches to client issues.
Example: Tomoko Namba
Before founding DeNA, Tomoko Namba built her career at McKinsey, establishing a foundation as a leader. She has become a symbolic presence among female leaders in Japan's business world, demonstrating "fearless leadership" as she transitioned from consulting to the IT industry. Additionally, Miki Tsuzaka has led numerous successful projects as a partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Currently, she serves as the president of Microsoft Japan, driving the industry with a global perspective and innovative approach.
2.2 Financial Industry
In the financial industry, women are increasingly leveraging their advanced expertise to thrive. The ability to analyze data and form agreements smoothly with counterparts from different countries and cultural backgrounds is key to career formation, providing the industry with opportunities for challenge and growth.
Example: Chie Toriumi
As the first female president of a Japanese bank, Chie Toriumi is leading Japan's financial industry with a management style that combines innovation and reliability. Additionally, Keiko Honda has played a crucial role at the World Bank Group's MIGA, recognized as a global leader in the financial field.
2.3 Trading Industry
In the trading industry and among its alumni, women are achieving many results, particularly in international business, where negotiation skills and strategic thinking are required. The increase in female leaders involved in international business is notable.
Example: Chika Watanabe
As the CEO of Blueshift Global Partners, Chika Watanabe demonstrates leadership in the global market. Additionally, Rie Yano, co-founder of Material World, continues to create new business models. These examples not only show that the trading industry provides stages for challenge and growth for women but also enhance their presence as role models for the younger generation.
2.4 Manufacturing Industry
In the manufacturing industry, women leaders are emerging through research and development and technological innovation. The industry, where expertise is highly valued regardless of gender, is aligning itself to provide equal growth opportunities for women.
Example: Takako Ebata
Takako Ebata leverages her research experience at Astellas Pharma to contribute to innovation in the medical field. Additionally, Izumi Kobayashi, former head of Merrill Lynch Japan, has been involved in the management of the manufacturing industry, achieving results across a broad range of fields. These examples indicate that the manufacturing industry offers equal growth opportunities for women.
3. Reasons to Choose a Career in Japan
Career formation in Japan provides many attractive elements, especially for women. In addition to the quality of work and life, cultural appeal, and the availability of support for education and career development stand out. This section explains how working in Japan can benefit women from multiple perspectives.
3.1 Education and Career Development Opportunities
Japanese companies are actively providing education programs and career development opportunities to support the growth of women. In-house training and mentoring systems are in place, providing an environment where women can grow in the long term. Especially, the increase in career support programs and leadership training for women in recent years makes it easier for them to pursue management and specialist roles.
Examples of Support Focused on Women
As mentioned earlier, Shiseido is implementing programs aimed at developing female leaders, with a goal of increasing the ratio of female managers to 50%. Additionally, Toyota is making it easier for female employees to participate in international projects by providing flexible working arrangements and training systems. These initiatives provide a foundation for women to build their careers while enhancing their expertise.
3.2 Cultural Appeal and Quality of Life
Japan is renowned for its safe and orderly social environment and is globally recognized for its high quality of life. For women, these factors contribute significantly to an environment that makes balancing work and personal life more manageable. The convenience of public transportation and a well-established healthcare system further ease the burdens of childcare and family responsibilities, enabling women to pursue their careers with confidence.
Benefits of Life for Women
Additionally, Japanese corporate culture emphasizes teamwork and mutual respect, fostering a collaborative environment where women can thrive. In recent years, more companies have adopted flexible work schedules and remote work options, providing women with the flexibility to choose working styles that align with their life stages. For instance, Recruit Holdings actively promotes diverse working arrangements to ensure that women with young children can continue advancing their careers.
3.3 A Global Career Foundation for Women
Japanese companies are increasingly becoming ideal platforms for women to establish international careers. With a growing number of firms prioritizing diversity, female leaders are gaining recognition both within their organizations and on a global scale. This evolving environment not only broadens career options for women but also inspires them to take on new challenges.
Support for Women Aspiring to Build Global Careers
For example, Uniqlo (Fast Retailing) has implemented a merit-based system, offering women opportunities to excel in top management roles. Similarly, Mitsubishi Corporation has seen a rise in cases where women accumulate career experience as overseas employees, providing them with opportunities to expand their international perspectives. These companies foster an environment that empowers women to grow as leaders through participation in multicultural projects and global initiatives.
4. Conclusion
This article has explored the current state and challenges of women's career development in Japan, along with specific success stories across various industries. The environment for women to build careers has made significant strides, thanks to initiatives from both corporations and the government, resulting in the increasing visibility of female leaders across numerous sectors. However, challenges such as the "glass ceiling" and gender-based wage gaps remain, and overcoming these barriers requires ongoing effort.
Notably, industries such as consulting, finance, trading, and manufacturing are seeing a rise in women who leverage their expertise and skills to succeed with a global perspective. These examples serve as valuable models for international students, highlighting that Japan's labor market is embracing diversity and evolving to support career success.
Jelper Club provides a platform to assist those aiming to build careers in Japan. By offering industry-specific company profiles, exclusive job opportunities, and networking events like "Soirée Tokyo," the platform helps international students gain a deeper understanding of the Japanese labor market and connect this knowledge to their career decisions.
Moving forward, Jelper Club is committed to strengthening its support for individuals from diverse backgrounds who aspire to build careers in Japan. We encourage members to actively utilize Jelper Club as they take their first steps toward shaping their careers in Japan.
(Editor: Jelper Club Editorial Team)
Sources and Notes
１.「OECD 雇用見通し 2024 国別報告書: 日本」（OECD）：
２.「ダイバーシティ・エクイティ&インクルージョン」（資生堂）：
３.「ダイバーシティ＆インクルージョン」（塩野義製薬）：
４.「働き方の多様性への対応」（カルビー）：
５.「多様な従業員の『能力の最大限の発揮』を促す取り組み」（富士フィルム）：
６.「女性活躍企業としての取り組み」（POLA）：
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