Long paid working hours is missing data for the indicator in the How’s Life? database. Yet from other sources, excessive working hours remain a persistent issue, contributing to karoshi (death from overwork), as well as mental health challenges like depression and anxiety. 1 A recent study showed that employees working fifty-five or more hours per week are significantly more likely to develop mental illnesses than those with regular hours. 2 Satisfaction with work-life balance remains low, with only 29.6 percent of women and 27.3 percent of men reporting moderate satisfaction. 3 Gender Inequality and Challenges The data reveals several challenges in the area of gender inequality. According to the Women in Employment in Japan 2024 report by Employment & Labor Laws and Regulations, women account for about 45 percent of the workforce. 4 According to the report, “Over half (53.4 percent) of female workers are so-called non-regular workers, such as part-time or dispatched workers (versus only about 22.2 percent of male workers). 5 Childcare and eldercare disproportionately fall on women. Japan’s super-aged society has created a growing need for elder care, and in 63.5 percent of households in Japan where a person 65 or older is receiving care, the caregiver is also a senior. 6 How’s Life? data shows these gender inequalities lowering perceived and actual wellness for women in “Work-life Balance” (gender gap in hours worked), “Safety” (feeling safe at work), as well as “Work and Job Quality” (gender wage gap). Cultural norms and traditional work structures further exacerbate these challenges. Japan’s labor system—dominated by seniority-based promotions and long working hours—leaves little room for flexibility or balance. 7 Women in Japan perform five times more housework and childcare than men, far exceeding the disparities seen in other developed countries. 8 While policies like parental leave exist, only 17 percent of new fathers take it, averaging just 46 days of leave. 9 This imbalance reflects broader societal attitudes, as Japanese workers are far less likely to prioritize personal needs compared to their global counterparts, according to the 2023 Workmonitor survey. 10 Women in Venture Capital According to a Financial Services Agency (FSA) report, the representation of women in leadership roles remains strikingly low, with only 34 percent of entrepreneurs and 14 percent of CEOs being female. 11 The disparity worsens as firms scale with external funding. Companies led by female CEOs or founded by women account for 1–2 percent of those receiving venture capital (VC) funding or successfully undergoing IPOs. 12 There
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Ten Years in the Making
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