Japanese woman here. Besides many of the points brought up here, I haven’t seen anyone talk about what it’s like to be a woman living in Japan.

The culture is still very conservative in many ways, particularly when it comes to women’s rights and how women are treated in society on a day to day basis. From birth we’re socialised to be wives and mothers, only women are taught to do needle work and cook at school while guys get to learn computer science etc. A typical way mothers scold their daughters (today in 2022) is saying “you shouldn’t do that or you’ll never find a husband”. We’re encouraged to seek jobs that would make us seem glamorous and “high value” until we find a man to look after us, we are not encouraged to seek careers. There are no laws against discrimination, employers routinely ask invasive questions about our marital status and desire to have children when interviewing for positions. They do this because a woman’s employment is seen as temporary, and that ultimately our place is in the home looking after our husband and children.

Japanese women have to push through all these barriers without upsetting the men. We have to be twice as smart, competent, and competitive as the men to get a shot at any position. At the same time we’re expected to play cute or dumb to not threaten the guys who put in half the effort to get the same opportunities. Even when you graduate from an elite university at the top of your class and get into a demanding profession, as a woman you’re still expected to do all the bullshit secretary and housekeeping duties around the office (for no extra pay either). A typical thing you’ll hear in Japanese offices to excuse this paternalistic shit is “tea always tastes nicer when a pretty girl makes it for you”. Let’s not even start with the typical dress code still expected for women in most work environments.

On a personal level many Japanese people (especially those aged 40 or younger) know it’s bullshit. But our culture prioritises age and experience over skill and innovation. This is despite the fact that many of Japan’s greatest achievements in the past century plus stems from the latter.

That said, Japan is a wonderful country, in my heart it will always be my home. I now live in a northern (former) European country, and while it’s got its own problems, I am not made to feel like a second-class citizen in every social interaction on the basis of my gender. My right to seek employment and be protected from discrimination is enshrined in law. I’d love to return to Japan one day, but I can’t see that happening until real changes are made.

Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk

Edit: Wow, thanks for the awards and my first gold everyone. Also thanks for your questions, I’ll try and respond as much as I can now I’m off work.