n Thirteen out of the 1,643 firms listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) are led by women. 17 n Women hold 13 percent of managerial roles in the private sector—well below the OECD average of 34 percent and the target of 18 percent set by the government. 18 n Fifteen percent of all firms in Japan are owned by women. 19 n Women perform nearly five times more unpaid work and caregiving than men, while men do about twice as much paid work. 20 n The pay gap between men and women is reported between 25 and 30 percent. 21 n Japan has the third-highest gender wage gap in the OECD. 22 n One in five women experience some form of maternity harassment at work. 23 n One in four women have experienced domestic violence from a spouse. 24 n At the current rate of progress, it will take 189 years for Japan to reach gender parity. 25 At a time when Japan’s economy faces stagnation and its aging population poses a demographic time bomb, women represent an untapped resource that could drive innovation, resilience, and inclusive growth. Women Can Fill the Gap and Lead the Path Forward Gender equity demands a systems-based approach to change—a need well-articulated by leadership expert Keith Grint. 26 Grint’s research underscores that addressing intractable societal challenges requires empathy, collaboration, and teamwork—leadership qualities consistently demonstrated by women. 27 Studies show that women in leadership score higher than men in relational attributes like self-awareness, authenticity, and systems awareness. 28 These skills foster environments that encourage collaboration and innovation—traits increasingly necessary for organizations navigating complexity. Key features of women leaders include: 29 n Women excel in their ability to connect to others, allowing them to build more authentic relationships built on trust. n Women lead creatively and with the mindset of “play for all to win” as opposed to a “play not to lose.” n Women build and cultivate stronger, more caring connections with higher levels of mentoring and community development than men in leadership roles.
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Ten Years in the Making
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