Court ruling is latest setback for Japan’s working women

Female executives of Japanese companies gather to share their stories in Tokyo

A Supreme Court decision in Japan this week, widely viewed as a setback for women’s rights and a victory for conservative family values, upheld a 19th-century law that requires married couples to adopt one surname for legal purposes. The ruling underscores the persistent challenges for working women in Japan, despite government rhetoric and some progress.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made “womenomics” a centerpiece policy, pushing to overcome a shortage of daycare spots and elevate women to leadership roles in government and the private sector.
Japan remains far from reaching his goals. An annual gender gap report released last month by the World Economic Forum ranked Japan 101st out of 145 countries. The United States was 28th and European countries such as Germany, France and Britain were even higher.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy addressed the issue at a news conference yesterday, saying: “I think that this is going to take a sustained effort, and it’s going to have to involve men, women, children, businesses, academia. And I think that this is certainly something that’s in the long-term interest of Japan and the short-term interests of its families and workers.”
Describing herself as the first working mother to serve as U.S. ambassador in Tokyo, she acknowledged that gender equality remains an issue in America too: “We have not solved this problem. It is still too difficult to balance work and family in the United States. But I think by sharing our experiences, we all can do better.” Ken Moritsugu, Tokyo, AP