Blogs and Articles from Third Way Forum Membrs

・We started our discussion by referring to a comment made by Chairman of Japan’s Olympics Committee chairman, Mr. Mori, who said women talk too much and meetings with women always take longer time.

・In the Western countries, if leaders make quick apology with sincerity after making mistakes, they could be still forgiven. But in case of Mori, he seemed not sincere. Most likely he said what he really believed in.

・Such a remark that is lacking respect and also generalizing a certain people with bias is unacceptable. But probably there are still many Japanese old male leaders out there who are the same as Mori.

・Unclarity from the top management is one of the major causes of not promoting gender equality. How serious are they? What are they trying to achieve? By when and how?

・Purchasing power of women is undeniably a very important business reality yet many Japanese companies still don’t have enough female leaders who could represent the female mind.

・In Japan, the power of societal expectations for women is still so strong based on long years of traditions and also because it was also beneficial for women for a long time when a single income by husband could make the entire family survive.

・Successful Japanese women such as famous astronauts are very independent just like western women. Why can’t other Japanese women also be independent?

・Many Japanese women have しかたがない mentality and get used to putting up with what they have got instead of striving to have what they want.

・Also a lack of female role models and a lack of recognition of women in the Japanese corporate world are discouraging them.

・There is also the issue of low self-esteem. Many Japanese women were brought up without developing enough self-esteem and self-confidence. Even if they are chosen for something, they wonder “Why me?” because they think they are not good enough. If that is still the case, the overall upbringing of Japanese women should be examined and changed in the early education.

・What can corporate leaders do then? In order to significantly increase female leaders, male leaders should nominate high performing women as their successors as much as possible and develop them over the next few years by giving enough self-esteem and confidence in a master-apprentice relationship. Male managers should be evaluated by the successful development of their female successors. Then in two years, many management positions should be filled by women.