Less than 1% of top-1,600 Japanese companies led by women
A recent survey has revealed a significant gender imbalance in Japan's corporate leadership. Out of the nation's leading 1,643 firms listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's prime market, only 13 are headed by female CEOs. This figure represents a mere 0.8% of these top-tier companies, according to financial statements from fiscal year 2023, analyzed by Kyodo news agency. The findings highlight Japan's sluggish progress in promoting diversity among its corporate decision-makers.
Struggle to meet gender diversity targets
The low representation of women in CEO positions underscores the challenges faced by the Japanese government, in achieving its goal of having women occupy at least 30% of executive roles by 2030. This disparity persists even when considering a broader definition of "executive" that includes corporate officers, auditors, directors, and executive officers.
Lagging behind in global gender equality rankings
Japan's gender inequality extends beyond its corporate sector, as evidenced by its poor performance in international gender comparisons of politics and business. A 2022 OECD survey revealed that women held just 15.5% of executive positions in Japan, significantly lower than the figures for Britain (40.9%) and France (45.2%). Among the nations surveyed, only China and South Korea had a smaller proportion of female executives.
Japan's 'glass ceiling index' and recent progress
Further highlighting Japan's gender disparity, an Economist survey last year ranked it 27th out of 29 developed economies on its "glass ceiling index." Despite these challenges, there has been some progress. The Kyodo survey found that the number of female board members has surpassed 3,000 - a significant increase from five years ago. Additionally, women have recently been appointed to several high-profile positions in Japan.
Women breaking barriers in Japan's corporate world
In recent years, women have begun to break through Japan's corporate glass ceiling. Mitsuko Tottori, a former flight attendant, became the first Female President of Japan Airlines in January. In July, Naomi Unemoto was appointed as the country's first female prosecutor-general. Additionally, Tomoko Yoshino made history in 2021 by becoming the first woman to lead Rengo - Japan's largest trade union organization.
