In 2021, Yoshiro Mori, the head of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee, made headlines due to numerous controversial comments he made about women in leadership. According to Asahi Shinbun, he said that “a meeting of an executive board that includes many women would take time. Women are competitive. When someone raises his or her hand and speaks, they probably think they should speak too. That is why they all end up making comments.”

For many, this statement was seen as offensive and, even, ironic. Because while competitiveness and the eagerness to pitch ideas are all qualities that are valued in men in the professional world, Mori saw these qualities as detriments for women.

Misogyny is deeply rooted in the history of Japan and continues to infiltrate its professional world, creating high barriers for women to overcome. This misogyny is also rooted in family values and teachings. In Japan, young boys and men are often taught these ideas because traditional values and gender roles are espoused and repeated by their heads of family — their fathers. When these men enter the professional world, their skewed perception of women and gender norms and roles follows. 

In 2013, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed a “womenomics” tactic to address Japan’s declining economy. In essence, this plan would extend the role of women in the professional world in order to regenerate Japan’s economy. 

The results of “womenomics” were mixed. On one hand, nearly 2 million women joined the workforce in the plan’s first 6 years. However, since the initiative was intensely corporate driven, no fundamental changes were made in other aspects of working life to reduce barriers of entry for women in the workforce. For example, changes in the daycare system and policies that often forced women to choose between starting families or working (a contributing factor to Japan’s declining birth rate) were not addressed. 

Interestingly, however, is the motivation for this policy. Many saw “womenomics” as not an effort driven by the restoration of fundamental rights and liberties for women but instead as a strategy introduced in order to utilize human capital in a more efficient way. It was a plan focused on profit and the economy, not a true pursuit of equality.

This policy, which the government claimed was for workplace equality, came from a desperate need to boost Japan’s economy. For many women, this hollow attempt at equality was poorly received.

Clearly, this reform is idealistic and shallow. 

The problem of equality for women in Japan’s workforce — and greater society — is more than just a work policy problem. Instead, it’s a problem deeply rooted in Japan’s long history, complex political culture and traditional values. Traditional beliefs regarding the role of women in Japanese society hinder the country’s social progress. 

In an interview with Emi Doyle, a civil engineer, Ph.D. candidate of Kyoto University and mother in Japan, she said she experiences this inequality often.

“Even though I have long experience as a civil engineer and a Ph.D., men do not respect [my]opinion and any professional input in their decision-making process,” Doyle said.

Despite her qualifications, which include managing projects within the Japan International Cooperation Agency and conducting research at Kyoto University’s Graduate School of Management, Doyle said that the pressure to always prove oneself persists for working women in Japan. 

According to The New York Times, “[m]en in Japan do fewer hours of domestic work than in any other wealthy nation.” In Japan, raising children is primarily a women’s issue and, therefore, is not considered a political or social priority. As a result, policies on childcare and maternal leave have yet to progress in the way that it has in other developed countries. In fact, the term “maternity harassment” was coined in Japan. The term refers to discouraging women in the workplace from having children. 

Mainichi Shimbun reported that an employee at a cosmetics company claimed that childbirth and child-rearing schedules were emailed to her and 22 female colleagues. Instead of being accommodating of female employees, many corporations expect the individual to prioritize the company, labor and profit. 

“Due to time constraints, I felt disadvantaged,” Doyle said. “The women work so hard to balance their careers and family. Especially in Japan, we could not distribute our house workloads to our partner or someone else [like a nanny]due to a staunch conservative mindset. I was lucky to have a full-time house husband to take care of my daughter to help me handle a long-term business trip or overwork till late at night.”

According to The Economist, “when women [in Japan]have their first child, 70% of them stop working for a decade or more, compared with just 30% in America.” But, “quite a lot of those 70% are gone for good.” 

On a personal note, growing up in Japan I was rarely exposed to the normalization of working mothers or the division of household labor. There is also an extreme lack of representation, especially when it comes to women in positions of power. Additionally, while the term “feminist” has revolutionized numerous movements in the United States, the same term often carries a negative connotation in Japan. 

Despite Japan’s impressive ranking as a global economic power, it ranks 120 out of 156 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2020 Global Gender Gap Index for 2020 for economic opportunity. This stems from the fact that gender equality is not often discussed in workplaces or schools, and therefore Japan’s youth is less exposed to it. And given that men are usually the ones with the power to make substantial changes in the education system, this vicious cycle prevents women from having positions high enough to address the root of these problems.  

With Japan’s economy and population both declining, gender equality needs to be a priority. Not only is it a human rights matter, but it is also critical to revitalize the country’s economy. While there are many challenges that need to be overcome for gender parity to be reached, the first step is to normalize conversations of gender equality in schools, households and workplaces. Japan has a long way to go, but this will put the country on the path to resolving this issue.

The post Addressing Gender Inequality in Japan appeared first on Glimpse from the Globe.

But currently, the company faces over $300 million in debt and has over 800 unfinished projects, leaving hundreds of thousands of people uncertain if they will have new homes. To put this into perspective, Russia, as of 2020, had roughly $257 billion in national debt. 

The company’s aggressive ambitions led to ballooning debt as it attempted to expand its brand at an expeditious rate by borrowing large amounts of money to finance projects. And while this issue is not entirely new, it has gotten to a point where Evergrande is currently restricted from borrowing more money due to crossing all three lines of the Chinese government’s borrowing system. 

The “three red lines” policy curbs borrowing to ensure that the real estate sector has financial liabilities. And since the company finds itself in a deep hole, unable to pay investors, suppliers or workers — which has led to the complete halt of the majority of its projects — it has been cut off from borrowing. 

“Toughly up to one-third of Chinese developers could experience financial distress in the next 12 months because of the weak demand for housing and the crackdown by Xi Jinping’s government on what it regards as the industry’s reckless ‘borrow and build’ model,” The Guardian reports.

How did a Chinese property giant end up buried in a mountain of debt? Two factors may explain the crash and burn of Evergrande: the crackdown on China’s private companies and the stagnant nature of China’s property market.

Mattie Bekink, the China director of the Economist Intelligence Unit, states that Evergrande’s rise and fall “is the story of the deep [and]structural challenges to China’s economy related to debt.” 

China is well known for its top-down economic system, and especially under President Xi Jinping’s government, state crackdowns on private companies have become extremely common. For instance, Dalian Wanda, another multinational conglomerate, was forced to downsize in 2018 due to heavy borrowing and accumulating debts. 

These efforts led to a crackdown on Evergrande’s borrowing practices. The company then began trying to sell shares of its assets but failed to attract buyers or investors due to forced suspension on ongoing projects and construction. Additionally, the property market in China is declining with significantly less demand for housing. But this is more than a housing issue; data shows that the decline in this particular sector is in line with other metrics of the Chinese economy. 

Beijing held meetings with Evergrande executives to get their debts in order. The issue at hand, however, is that the government has yet to intervene to prevent any volatility. If anything, Chinese authorities have been less willing to step in, and instead, lean toward overseeing a company’s collapse in order to mitigate the national debt crisis. 

Analysts suspect that Hui Ka Yan, the founder of Evergrande, has contributed millions of dollars of his personal wealth and has disposed of private assets to sustain the company’s operations. On Sept. 14, Evergrande also hired Houlihan Lokey, an investment bank and financial services company that has advised the infamous Lehman Brothers. Despite the consideration of all feasible options, nothing is certain and there has been no “material progress” in terms of selling shares to prevent the company’s collapse. 

This problem also ties into the lack of transparency plaguing Chinese companies and conglomerates. Companies often struggle with their images and the accessibility of reliable information. 

The global financial market and foreign investors should be worried about this crisis. 

Banking regulators in China claim that Evergrande will undergo a controlled collapse, in which case the financial market will not be impacted on a global scale. While this crisis will largely impact China’s economy, foreign investors are beginning to turn their backs on the company to adverse effects.

The domino effects of this issue are still unclear. However, analysts will be closely following China’s banks, foreign and domestic investors and shareholders and national suppliers to see how the crisis unfolds. 

The post China’s Property Crisis, Explained appeared first on Glimpse from the Globe.

Now, with Kishida at the helm of Japan’s global leadership, citizens’ hopes for the newly-elected prime minister are at an all-time high. Japan’s citizens expect the government to focus on its public health and pandemic eradication efforts — ultimately anticipating a drop in COVID-19 cases and increased vaccination rates throughout the country. In Japan, roughly 75% of people are fully vaccinated — and the country lags behind countries like Scotland and South Korea. 

Japan’s population also hopes that Kishida will usher in effective reforms and policies that will help nurse Japan’s steadily declining economy back to health. However, despite efforts to connect with the public and set himself apart from his comparatively bureaucratic predecessors, Kishida is considered to be yet another stable and moderate consensus builder. 

Kishida, 64, comes from a political background — both his father and grandfather were past members of Japan’s House of Representatives. Kishida was appointed foreign minister of Japan by Abe in 2012 and served in that position until 2017. One of his pivotal achievements as foreign minister includes arranging former U.S. President Barack Obama’s historic 2016 visit to Hiroshima, the city the U.S. atomic bombed at the end of World War II. Kishida also worked to reconcile Japan’s relations with South Korea by compensating for the atrocities committed towards Korean women, or “comfort women,” during the war. 

Additionally, Kishida’s international background informs his approach to foreign policy. Growing up, the Prime Minister spent some time living and attending an elementary school in New York City. According to The New York Times, this experience abroad informs his current vision cultivating a close political alliance between the United States and Japan, which have been strategic allies for over six decades. 

But Kishida’s first few tests as prime minister will prove challenging. Japan’s current national priorities include tackling the  COVID-19 crisis, addressing Japan’s declining birth rates, and revitalizing Japan’s economy. 

His predecessor, Abe, attempted to address the COVID-19 spike during his tenure by implementing policies such as the “Go To Travel” campaign, which encourages domestic traveling by funding hotel and tourist business discounts. Abe’s government also provided generous stimulus checks that were distributed to corporations that were eligible applicants that provided futuristic visions for Japan. Though some of these were deemed effective, perhaps the fundamental flaw of the government’s response to the pandemic was its power diffusion.

According to Japan’s Local Government Center, the country placed COVID-19 mitigation responsibility onto the country’s local governors and officials, instead of focusing on a united national response. Each of the 47 prefectures implemented varying degrees of restrictions and inconsistent policies throughout the country, which instigated confusion and hostility toward local officials. For instance, when one prefecture was in “the state of emergency,” citizens who reside there would simply travel to another prefecture that was not in lockdown.  

So far, Kishida has addressed the urgent issues of Japan’s COVID-19 response and offered proposed policy changes, such as an increase in testing rates and vaccinations, as well as a focus on equitable wealth distribution and closing the pandemic-induced – income gap. With the national disparities between wages and opportunities steadily increasing, many believe that it is crucial that Kishida implements a policy that supports the Japanese working class. Ideally, this would bring about a structural reform that promotes economic growth and provides the working class with higher wages. Kishida said that he plans to invest money into digital infrastructure in rural areas that would help restore the social safety net and close wage gaps. It is difficult to predict at this point, however, whether or not he is capable of creating the changes that his predecessors have failed to implement over the years. 

The other focal point that Kishida has publicly addressed is foreign relations with countries like North Korea, China, and the United States. As a Hiroshima native, Kishida is firmly against nuclear weapons. However, according to the East Asia Forum, he hopes to normalize diplomatic ties with North Korea in the near future. 

Additionally, improving relations with China is one of Kishida’s more complicated goals — one that requires caution and nuance due to China’s rising economic and military power. Kishida firmly believes that cooperation with both countries, North Korea and China, despite animosity and stark differences in political values, is critical. 

In terms of the United States, both Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden seek strong Indo-Pacific relations — a partnership that has strengthened due to the emergence of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. The Quad is a diplomatic network among Japan, the U.S, India, and Australia that are committed to supporting a cooperative region that helps foster a liberal trading system and a strong democratic alliance. Article 5 of the bilateral security treaty states that the obligation of the United States is to defend Japan — this also applies to the highly contested islands known as the Senkaku, Diaoyudao or Diaoyutai Islands. 

Kishida states that the Japan-U.S alliance is critical in shaping national policies because it “serves as the foundation of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the entire world.” Ultimately, it is in both countries’ interests to maintain strong relations and ensure mutual security and economic benefits. 

It is important to note, though, that like many politicians throughout history, leadership and vision do not necessarily equate to immediate action or change. 

Abe is a prime example of this disparity. Despite his contributions to restoring stability throughout the country, the majority of his “Abenomics” vision was poorly implemented, according to The Guardian, and many of his economic goals to this day remain unachieved. The three “arrows” of Abenomics were envisioned to 1) implement monetary easing in order to achieve 2% inflation in the economy, 2) create a flexible fiscal policy that would alter the rates of government spending levels and tax rates while monitoring the economy and 3) use private sectors to promote economic growth holistically. 

While these all seemed ideal, the fundamental problem was the successful implementation of these policies due to Japan’s rigid rules and checks. Additionally, some of Abe’s visions failed due to the corporations’ and industry owners’ inability to change their policies because of their devotion toward deeply-embedded old-school beliefs. This is a case in how Japanese politics often prioritize stability, and thus, fails to implement any drastic changes to the traditional “way things are done.” 

So, is Kishida truly the leader that Japan needs with the current state of the nation? 

Both the Tokyo Olympics and the government’s response to COVID-19 have contributed to Japan’s current economic decline and the decrease in citizens’ trust in and deference to the government. Despite growing animosity towards Kishida’s party, the LDP, the fact is that there is no alternative party that can counter the dominance they have in Japanese politics. Yet, despite the fact that Japan’s governing party seems to be steadily losing its support, it continues to stay in power due to a lack of opposition. 

There will potentially come a time when “playing it safe” will no longer be the safest option for the nation. Looking at how former leaders erred in leading Japan and previous governments’ inability to evolve, it is crucial that Kishida is able to learn from the past and adapt to the changes and challenges that lie ahead. 

The post Under a New Prime Minister, Will Japan Continue to “Play It Safe”? appeared first on Glimpse from the Globe.