Abe appoints first ever female aide to PM

It will be very interesting to see reactions to this. Abe has now proven that he's willing to take real, concrete steps toward smashing the glass ceiling for women in the workplace in Japan, something the DPJ or Socialist Party were unwilling or too weak to do when they were in power. But I suspect that rather than praise the man for his bold actions, there will be naysayers claiming this is only window dressing or a cosmetic appointment. And I suspect that once again, Abe will prove them wrong.

Homeland

Abe has now proven that he's willing to take real, concrete steps toward smashing the glass ceiling for women in the workplace in Japan

Besides this what else?

Abe’s 19-member cabinet has only two women: state ministers in charge of reform and women’s affairs.

Noda had three women in cabinet. Tanaka, Komiyama and Renho. But you wrote "something the DPJ or Socialist Party were unwilling or too weak to do when they were in power."

You love Abe, congratulations.

Hurrah!!! Byt with my extensive personal experience, can I be taken as an aide to her? Joking aside. Am really serious.

will advise the conservative prime minister on policies affecting women,

Isn't this a clear instance of sexism?

Ah I get it. When they all go out for izakaya they need someone to pour their drinks for them. At least that's the reason a few of my friends who go out with their Senpais and colleagues have to do. Though, they don't tend to mind being the 'server' as they don't have to pay for their meal.

homleandNov. 30, 2013 - 07:02AM JST

naysayers claiming this is only window dressing or a cosmetic appointment. And I suspect that once again, Abe will prove them wrong.

He is.... look at his own wife.

The prime minister has been thinking about naming a woman as a prime ministerial aide. Now that U.S. Ambassador Kennedy has arrived, it seems things have come together

Say what?

Well, with Obama we found out that tyranny isn't racist and now with Abe we know that tyranny isn't sexist. It's still tyranny.

We are all equal (slaves) in the Police State.

I personally don't much like or trust Abe but I'm not going to criticize him for doing something positive. Well done, most qualified person for the job regardless.

Not really sure what to make of this or if it's just an indicator of how far behind socially Japan is compared to other nations. I hope she gets what she considers meaningful work

Any female appointment in the corridors of power is welcome news for Japanese women. But the sincerity and purpose of this move will be solely proved by visible steps towards gender balance in workplaces. In addition to offices and industries, there is a real shortage of women in postgraduate education and research, especially in science and engineering.

Without a generally more relaxed work and life attitude it seems impossible for real change in the condition of women. If, in order to advance in work-life, you can never have family time, family vacations, personal days, childbirth leave, family dinners, weekends, etc, then I don't see how anything will change. I don't see what changes Abe has made besides printing money, raising taxes and attempting to broadly increase government secrecy.

It seems that Abe is just trying to appease the new U.S. Ambassador to Japan, She called on giving women a higher profile in the Japanese government/business world, and Abe responded by naming a woman to one of his secretary posts. In a great "show and tell" press conference that was broadcast on TV all day Friday, he "proved" that he is not really a sexist ... or whatever you want to call it ...

But no matter what, hope that Ms. Yamada can hold her own in a man's world ...

Abe has now proven that he's willing to take real, concrete steps toward smashing the glass ceiling for women in the workplace in Japan,

A sucker is born every minute if you think that this was just Abe's doing. Using Kennedy as part of the rational on timing is just another PR game that Abe is fond of playing. Dont be suckered by this man, he is a big bad wolf in sheep's clothing looking to take this country back into the dark ages.

One can only hope that this is just not a window dressing and that her ideas and opinions become state policy.

I am sure a lot of (naive) Japanese will praise themselves and Abe for this being a modern and progressive move. Fact is, the Japanese society is so far behind the rest of the developed world it is not even funny. It takes more than some shinkansen and drink vending machines sprinkled everywhere to become modern. Abe is a sly dog, and he can stand there with his fake smile and pretend to care about "women" but I don't believe him. Not for a second. Unfortunately for this country's females, they will have to take some action themselves if they want change. They will have to take on the ingrained oyaji culture and not accept to be any "nadeshiko" or any other ridiculous "cute" thing, but show their worth.

Knox.

Contact me once the USA has a female vice-president or president.

No, I won't contact you. You see, the world consists of more places than the USA.

Like Australia, for example. Or Germany. Or Ukraine. Or Argentina... You get the picture, right?

Knox.

You don't get it plenty of famous female leaders across the ages, recent examples Thatcher, Merkel, etc.

This is a No-News simply designed to get Clicks.

Contact me once the USA

Hardly a model of democracy. So far behind other nations when gender and race are considered.

window dressing

@knox: You missed S. Korea. The lady is on top of the country. We don't know Hlillary will be next President but she sure is expected to be Dem. candidate.

What's one more office lady to Abe?

Abe is a man of half measures, always trying to look good but never doing it right. You should just make her a minister! What the heck is an aid? Some one to bring you the pillows at night?