Japanese Women in Leadership

This edited book highlights the unique cultural and socioeconomic elements of Japan and the strong influence of those elements on women leaders in the nation. It shows that gender inequality and under-utilization of female talent are deeply rooted in Japanese society, explaining why Japan lags behind other countries in Asia in this regard. The contributors are expert academicians and practitioners with a clear understanding of Japanese women leaders’ aspirations and frustrations. This book has critical implications for the development of women leaders in Japan, providing intriguing insights into developing the potential of highly qualified women leaders in diverse Japanese contexts in which traditional cultural expectations and modernized values coexist.

Yoshie Tomozumi Nakamura is Assistant Professor of Human and Organizational Learning, Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University, USA

Mayuko Horimoto is Associate Professor of Department of Education, Faculty of Letters at Toyo University, Japan.

Gary N. McLean is Professor on the PhD Program in Organization Development at Assumption University, Bangkok, Thailand.