Winding Paths to Success

An inspirational compilation of stories from successful Japanese professional women In Winding Paths to Success: Chart a Career in Uncertain Times, experienced management consultant Nobuko Kobayashi delivers an engaging and insightful discussion of the professional and personal successes of senior Japanese women executives, academics, and entrepreneurs who started their career in the late ‘80s to ‘90s, the dawn of gender equity at work in Japan. You’ll discover how these remarkable people carved out a long and rewarding career in a challenging environment. The author describes the substantial diversity of Japanese professional life, exploring the rich and varied histories of women who are often stereotyped and relegated to a one-size-fits-all story. Their creative navigation amid uncertainties inspires anyone who wishes to establish a career in the highly volatile world of today. You’ll also find: Personal and forthcoming stories from women executives Recommendations for public and private sector employers to further enhance diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace Individual strategies for crafting successful careers from a minority position Perfect for those building a career, managers, executives, entrepreneurs, founders, and other business leaders, Winding Paths to Success is a must-have resource for aspiring and practicing business leaders in Japan and other countries.

Prologue xi 1 Levity 1 Yuki Shingu Makes a Brilliant Comeback to IT Career After Nursing Care Leave 4 Japan—Almost Silent over #MeToo 14 Why Having Women at the Top Is Not Enough 18 2 Independence 23 Makiko Nakamori Approaches Corporate Governance with Resolve 26 Gender Diversity in Japan Inc. Must Blast Past Tokenism 34 Women Must Learn to Harness the Power of Networking 37 3 Purpose 43 Mami Kataoka Believes in the Power of Art to Change the World 46 Every Day Is International Men’s Day in Japan 56 Companies Must Face Up to the Downsides of Workplace Diversity 59 4 Altruism 67 Ayako Sonoda Inherits Altruism and Entrepreneurism Passed from Her Mother 70 Let’s Get Real About Female Equality in Corporate Japan 80 Rolling with the Punches Hurts Japanese Women 84 5 Conviction 91 Miyuki Suzuki Drives Change as Outsider from Within 94 Meetings with Women That “Take Too Long” Are a Good Thing 104 Kawaii Culture Hurts Japanese Women in Business 107 6 Leadership 111 Masami Katakura Realizes Her Leadership Potential with Help from a Mentor 114 Former Princess Mako’s Marriage Holds a Mirror to Japan 123 Japan’s Language Gender Divide Hurts Women at Work 126 7 Growth 131 Ryoko Nagata Stays Clear of Cigarettes in a Tobacco Company 134 Japan Must Break the Glass Fence Keeping Mothers at Home 143 Japanese Companies Must Capitalize on the Gender Gap Disclosure Rule 146 8 Curiosity 153 Noriko Osumi Normalizes Women in Science 156 Japan Needs More STEM Research, Not Tours, to Revive Innovation 167 Women Can Help Revive Innovation for Japan Inc. 171 9 Ambition 179 Yumi Narushima Returns to Benesse After Running a Girls’ School 182 Japan Must Reform Its Antiquated Marriage Laws 195 Japan’s Miss Contests Reflect Society’s High Demands on Women 198 10 Competence 205 Masae Yamanaka Builds Career in Sales Traversing Four Companies 208 C-Suite: The Last Frontier for Foreigners Eyeing Japan Inc. 223 Can Japan Have Prosperity Without Growth? 226 11 Homecoming 233 Chikako Matsumoto, World Bank Alum, Thrives at Japanese Trust Bank 236 Japanese Companies Can No Longer Expect Lifetime Loyalty from Workers 250 Gender Equity Is Coming to Japan’s Workplaces 253 12 Resilience 259 Yasuko Gotoh Breaks Ground for Women Career Bureaucrats 262 Japanese Businesswomen Need More Than a Place at the Table 277 Employers Should Encourage Risk- Taking to Beat Impostor Syndrome 281 Acknowledgments 287 Index 291