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Japan's 'womenomics' pioneer says mindsets must change

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By Etienne BALMER

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The Japanese-American was at Goldman Sachs in 1999 when she began publishing studies on the economic benefits of boosting female participation in the Japanese workforce, which she dubbed "womenomics".

Maybe she should have worked to change Goldman Sachs influence in impoverishing a generation of all genders, especially in the wake of the 2008 bailout which showed these institutions can play financial markets like a casino and get bailed out by the taxpayer.

Privatized profits and socialized losses and the economic model affect women and children especially.

21 ( +25 / -4 )

So a privileged billionaire investment banker who made all her money in the USA, the country in which she was born and raised and educated, and who never set foot in Japan until she was 21, is telling Japanese women how to change their ‘low status’ in Japanese society?

Yeah, good luck with that one. I’m gonna go and tell Eskimos how to build igloos.

TT

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Sorry, I can’t completely follow, as everything has already changed into that direction. In former decades the earning man alone could bring home an amount of money that was sufficient for the whole big and child rich family while now even if working both it is not sufficient anymore for either of the genders, still not mentioning that having kids is the coffin nail to quickly dive into poverty. Now womenomics…that’s completed also, look around in any of your towns or big cities. You won’t find any or only very difficultly a store or shopping center for men, or at least one that contains a majority of shops, events or campaigns or whatever, that would fully interest or attract men. 90% or more of everything is about women’s fashion , cooking, eating , ‘cute’ home interior and all such. You already have your women’s society and still don’t recognize it or consider it sufficient? Unbelievable.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

One thing is for certain: It’s only when you attempt to impose American ‘progressive’ (sic) cultures and values on a community happily existing and thriving outside those impractical new American ‘norms’ that you truly become aware of how pernicious and nightmarish the contemporary ’American Dream’ has become.

TT

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The government, as usual, does nothing but talk in this regard. Economic survival will force these changes, as relatively few families in Japan will be able to depend on a single income in the near future and entrepreneurialism will rise because there will be fewer decent paying jobs.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Billionaire? Ahhh, no.

I feel like I did when I’d hear an American in Japan starting most sentences with, “Well, in America, we do it this way . . .”

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Livin' in ParadiseToday  12:02 pm JST

nothing will change until the dinosaurs no longer hold office

Well if it is like my wife's company, they are leaving most are over worked and taking early retirement,

While the new female executives are pretty much all out on maternity leave which is what lead to these old men being over worked more than they were before.

Last month the new hires started, and most have already quit because all the older management is leaving and 3 out of 5 executives left for maternity leave, leaving only the president and the semi retired "kaicho" delegating to far to inexperienced lower management.

But now the company is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

They cannot fire the female executives on maternity leave, they cannot hire 3 new executives only to have to fire them when the 3 on leave return and the company cannot function as it is now!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Japan's 'womenomics' pioneer says mindsets must change

That will be difficult because Japan is oyajinomics.

2 ( +19 / -17 )

Good for her and her credits if she can have such an influence. She had a breast cancer 20 years ago, so became certainly even stronger since. All my respect.

Matsui, 57, is one of the few women at the top of Japan's male-dominated business world, as co-director of a firm founded last year that invests in ethically minded young companies.

The Japanese-American was at Goldman Sachs in 1999

She is (technically) American and to my knowledge did not work for J companies. For me, the Japan's male dominated business world does apply to the J corporate companies

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Supposedly she also coined the phrase Abenomics. Big deal just add a suffix.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

All very nice but as far as I am seeing in my family is others paying for all this so-called progress.

My mother in law because she has no small children has to regularly cover for the other women that have to skip work for family reasons, maternity leave, etc ..

My wife's sister is now having the same problem and female executive are often worse on female subordinates than the males.

And my wife us having all the same problens and now worse as her direct boss and to other non executive manages are all quitting this month as they can no long handle the increased work load due to 3 female executives all taking maternity leave at the same time and their work having to be distributed to others already over worked.

So now my wife is the one getting the work dumped on her and she isn't even management so it looks like she will also be handing in her resignation soon if things don't change.

Already 6 other lower level women have quit, 3 "Haken" (outsourced staff) quit within the first weeks.

My wife's company is massively on board with this new " womenomics" and government idea of promoting women to higher positions.

But now it has lost much of it's experienced management, and even the female executives they hired are not there because they are on maternity leave.

Business is seriously down so may be time for my wife to bail.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

I think ladies should focus on making babies not on carriers.

Do people who say this kind of stuff seriously think a lack of opportunities and low-paying jobs will make people want to start families?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Every J company has its tailor fit policy strategy, no one size fits all.

There are men/women of a certain age working in convenience stores that with retraining, qualifications are remarkable, can truly bring value and quality if only given the opportunity.

Flexible working is a means to an end.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

invests in businesses that prioritize environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG)

But firms seeking investment should beware of resorting to superficial tactics like so-called greenwashing

To me, all ESG is greenwashing.

Be the best business you can be. That’s what is attractive to me. Sure be environmentally conscious. But don’t go screeching about your ESG to me. Just tell me about your business. If you aren’t a viable business then your ESG greenwashing is meaningless.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

To her surprise, the ideas were adopted by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2012 as part of his signature plan to revive the ailing Japanese economy.

Obviously it went nowhere with Abe in charge.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I side with Girlsintokyo and see that she gets negative returns while explaining factually the issues

I don't understand how common sense has gone down the drain that far these days.

Women having the power to decide for themselves is called freedom. Who is against freedom ?

Having (enough but not too many) children is the future. Any other view is egotistical as we are social animals ;)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I was always interested in this, as it must have been presented to Japan from US/Euro that 50% of your population isn't contributing it's potential to the GDP of Japan. If only. Of course nobody listened until after the bubble burst.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The Japanese women I know either behave like men if in full time and for the great majority don't have any children, or are with limited contract and have or trying to get a husband on full time in order to raise a family.

So not sure if women becoming men in Japan that local demography will see the light. There is no general policy to help families, that is the very bad trick in lurking women to management or becoming full time. Money can't create more human resources like children care personel when they are disappearing at a shinkansen speed or used to take mostly care of old age people !

That Matsui-san is just investing. How come she thinks she is gonna help women in Japan at a national level. Easier said than done. Become politician and act if true to words.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Womenomics" is a political campaign soundbite at best and meaningless irritating cliché at its most nauseating.

Matsui's parents emigrated to the US early 1960s.

Matsui is a product of a US education system and subsequent work ethic.

"We have a very low ratio of female entrepreneurs in this country," Matsui, the former vice president of U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs in Japan, told AFP. "But if you want to be driving your own destiny, becoming an entrepreneur is one of the best ways to do that."

I don't believe for the time its took Matsui to utter those words, Matsui seriously has a inkling of how this could be achieved.

The change won't be found in "Womenomics", the problems are systemic in the toxic employment culture.

Promotion, a dead man shoes, fashioned on time served, over innovation merit driven.

Management is mindless endless rounds of desk jockeying, the higher, the more levels of inertia.

When I purchased the company I was determined to effect change. I wanted the business to move in the same manner as the UK sister company.

Gone was, seniority based on ones total length of service, it was not pretty, I was despised, and yes I forced people out. I employed people over others, and harangued the desk jockeys.

That the way things got done. I regret some of my behaviour though.

"Womenomics", do me at favour.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"You cannot manage what you don't measure," she said.

she “forgot” to attribute that concept to Peter Drucker?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

From the onset there has to be a transparent level playing field.

All employees must have genuine belief they are valued. Loyally works in both directions.

Gender, family friendly policies. Men, Women have to be treated in a manner that they feel part of the success of the business whatever there role, promotion though merit.

"Womenomics", is a label, the reality need to be a tad more pragmatic

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Greenwashing could be defined with reference to Abe's (almost entirely male) regime's hijacking of 'womenomics'.

If you want more women entrepreneurs and women being more than 'office ladies' in the workplace, you need to change the mentality of parents and the education system. And that's just for starters. You also need to change Japanese men. Not easy. And you have to accept fewer births and marriages, as women choose a furbaby and a career over being a housewife and mum. And it won't happen overnight, especially in Japan.

None of which will make much difference if you don't fix the weird corporate issues of promotion by age rather than competence, and the imprisonment of staff at work until late in the evening.

Until then, the best that can be done is to support the exceptional women who do the extra work required to escape the mould prepared for them by traditional cultures. Japan isn't Afghanistan, but there are still more hurdles than there need to be for women to do their own thing and make the most of their abilities.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

LOL I think she is reading my post. I have said for years posting here, that the MINDSET has to change".

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@TARA TAN KITAOKA Wow!!! You are finally seeing the light!

Definitely mind set must change.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This is a great example of the unskillful and inconsiderate attitude to the well being of staff in business management in Japan. The management needs to hire more staff so that your wife is not unfairly overworked.

They did including 3 brand new female executives which all promptly got pregnant and went on maternity leave!

That along with a few other mid management females doing the same.

It seems quite obvious that once these women heard this company was hiring based on "womenomics" and "female friendly" (AKA you can take maternity leave no problem) they all applied and there is no doubt the plan was to get pregnant and take leave as soon as possible.

The company could hire more people then what? These women will return, they will demand their positions back as the law requires, so what happens to the people hired to replace them temporarily, they get fired?

Who in their right mind wants to do that?

"Haken"(outsourcing)? Sure please tell us what companies is going to hire outsourced staff for executive and upper management positions?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@Antiquesaving

A company can become female friendly without hiring soon too many to get pregnant female executives.

Good management is not to put all your eggs in same basket. Applies for both genders.

Good to see women favoring family to work.

The problem is just not enough personel in Japan for the job expected to be done.

I am not going to promote childrenomics for sure ;)

Thinking economy can rise forever with a very aging society is lacking common sense. Isn't happiness what people are seeking with family usually the pillar from which it stems from ?

If Japan does not consider families a good investment, no future. Women and men normally should work to earn money to fulfill their objectives, not live to work. All countries thinking this way are starting heavily to hurt the wall, and Japan's first. So be it. I am watching with 7 weeks off per year, like most in my country.

Yes Scandinavian countries have good social laws. Not perfect though with Sweden example of foreign policy leading to violent riots, as forecast by many 20 years ago.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

letsberealistic, I personally don't believe so, however 4% is frankly ridiculous.

The question then is how to even the playing field.

Through training, strictly merit based advancement. And fashion your search net to encourage gender participation.

Up until the pandemic we rotated staff, JP staff with the UK company, a highly diverse culture.

Many nationalities, gender, cultures all accredited analysts in their field.

Middle management had been replaced with task based work management software.

But importantly we had HR totally focused on the needs of all employees, childcare, flexible working.

etc.

Promotion was closely managed transparent open system, paying attention to encourage all employees to take part.

We have increase our gender leveling but I want this to be achieved naturally not through quotas.

Japan is a different ball game completely.

I was given a lecture by one college, a lady, that I don't understand or comprehended family values in respect to priorities of J home life.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

By the time any Human reaches any level of 'power' in our pathological hierarchical power structures, whatever they be, their "mindset" has become petrified (aka 'mature') and highly unlikely to change. And it is these petrified minds who will select their successors by how well the selectees reflect the petrified 'mindsets' selecting them. The only way to change the 'mindset' of institutions is to figuratively behead them, replacing all above junior manager, in toto. That this simply cannot be accomplished in any practicable way means that 'change', particularly of 'mindset', is highly unlikely unless extreme circumstances intervene. If by some dint of inadvertent deception, a person still flexible enough to learn and see a different way becomes in control and attempts to steer the hierarchy in a different direction of 'mindset', they will be undermined by the resistance of the 'old ways' 'mindsets of those 'under' them. Change CAN come but it will be, and as we see is, grindingly, glacially slow and will waste much that is valuable resource of the 50% of Humanity who, by popular opinion, is overall more competent than the 50% now in control. Sho ga nai ne...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

In the US women’s rights are declining. The country is led by old white males who are making abortion illegal. They are dictating that women have no power over their own bodies. It’s like women telling men that they must be castrated for committing rape or causing the birth of an unwanted child. Hmmmm. Maybe that’s a good idea.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

painkillerToday 01:14 pm JST

Is something preventing women from becoming entrepreneurs in Japan?

You could read the article and find out. Or you can sit there with your thumb up your butt expecting someone else to explain it to you.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

girl_in_tokyoToday  06:05 pm JST

You could read the article and find out. Or you can sit there with your thumb up your butt expecting someone else to explain it to you.

I read the article--you didn't I guess, or maybe your rainbow colored flag covered the relevant parts where Matsui is encouraging start-ups with "more diverse founders".

Matsui points towards becoming an entrepreneur as an avenue with more promise for women because the established business environment is historically difficult for women to move up the management chain.

Read the below, and then put your flag where appropriate:

*"Trying to change the mindset and behavior of very established organizations.***.. is not impossible, but it just takes a long time," unlike start-ups which can be more flexible,**

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Forever talk and no action in Japan.

Nothing changes because no one takes initiative.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

@letsberealistic Have a look throughout Japan's modern history and you will see a lot of cultural, social and policy changes in Japan have occurred due to outside influence often called 'gaiyatsu'.

With the greatest respect, I don’t think you understand the domestic meaning and 21st century negative connotations (particularly, and in this context ironically, given Abe’s dealing with Trump) of the term ‘外圧’ (or its correct romanised spelling: gaiatsu).

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Definitely mind set must change.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Have a look throughout Japan's modern history and you will see a lot of cultural, social and policy changes in Japan have occurred due to outside influence often called 'gaiyatsu'.

With the greatest respect, I don’t think you understand the domestic meaning and 21st century negative connotations (particularly, and in this context ironically, given Abe’s dealing with Trump) of the term ‘外圧’ (or its correct romanised spelling: gaiatsu).

TT

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

"But if you want to be driving your own destiny, becoming an entrepreneur is one of the best ways to do that."

Is something preventing women from becoming entrepreneurs in Japan?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Like anywhere else in the developed world businesses must adjust. You can't just say, oh it's too hard to have an inclusive society we have to keep women out because we can't deal with it. That's just unskillful, inconsiderate and lazy management. People, including women, should always be the priority not saving a few bucks and hassle.

Now take a guess as to why western companies are all failing and not surviving.

Places like China, India even Brazil are surpassing western companies, look at who are now head of what used to be western companies.

Who owns Rover, Cooper jaguar,? Who owns Burger King, etc...

Sanyo gone, Toshiba in trouble, Nissan in trouble, etc...

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Antiquesaving Today 02:22 pm JS

It seems quite obvious that once these women heard this company was hiring based on "womenomics" and "female friendly" (AKA you can take maternity leave no problem) they all applied and there is no doubt the plan was to get pregnant and take leave as soon as possible.

What this tells me is three things.

One, those women were smart to go to work for a company that doesn't discriminate against women. That's what all women should be doing - judging companies on their treatment of women, and being discerning about which company they will work for. Hopefully more companies will adapt family-friendly policies, so that women - and men - can be more discerning. For now, though, it's going to be tough for everyone.

Two, the management did not have adequate plans in place to deal with people taking leave, even though they know that both men and women sometimes need to take time off for a variety of reasons. That is a management problem.

Three, if all it takes for the company to go tits up is three managers taking leave, the company was always going to fail. That is a management problem.

Ever wonder how countries like Sweden and Canada and France don't have companies that fail just because they hire women who eventually go on maternity leave? Probably because they have competent leadership instead of a bunch of old dinosaurs.

Management problem.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Sven Asai Today  09:59 am JST

You won’t find any or only very difficultly a store or shopping center for men, or at least one that contains a majority of shops, events or campaigns or whatever, that would fully interest or attract men. 90% or more of everything is about women’s fashion , cooking, eating , ‘cute’ home interior and all such. You already have your women’s society and still don’t recognize it or consider it sufficient? Unbelievable.

I just love this comment, it’s so perfect!!

”Women have lots of shops and cute things to buy, what else could they possibly need?”

It perfectly epitomises the very attitude Ms. Matsui is saying has to change. Imagine this man as a manager:

”What?? I already gave you a job as a receptionist with a cute pink uniform and everything! What do you mean you’d like a career-track position so you could apply your 15 years of experience and master’s degree?? Unbelievable!”

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

And remember that the 40% of female managers in the USA are of multiple ethnicities.

Equal opportunities for multiple nationalities that work and reside in the USA .

Something that Japan hasn't accepted yet.

A sincere round of applause and thanks to this brave pioneer and entrepreneur Kathy Matsui .

Good job !

-8 ( +7 / -15 )

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