Gender Gaiatsu: An Institutional Perspective on Womenomics

Abstract

Womenomics: Prime Minister Abe Shinzō’s ambitious plan to increase the number of women in Japan’s work force and government has generated a great deal of international media attention and scrutiny. The term “womenomics” has now become associated with Kathy Matsui of Goldman Sachs Japan and her 1999 report, in which she argued that Japan could grow its economy by 13 percent if it increased the number of women in its work force (Matsui 2006). Because Japan has the fastest-aging and fastest-shrinking population in the world, it faces a daunting labor shortage and a complex set of policy challenges for maintaining its long-term economic stability and competitiveness. One quarter of Japan’s population is now 65 or older, which means that there are fewer than two people at work for every retiree (Ezrati 1997: 1; Japan Times 2014a). In an op-ed piece that Abe wrote in September 2013 for the Wall Street Journal, he explained that he was impressed by Matsui’s analysis and eager to include her recommendations when he became prime minister again (Abe 2013). Abe had served a brief term as prime minister in 2006–2007. He left the post early because of health problems and had never really escaped the shadow of his predecessor, Koizumi Junichirō. Koizumi was quite charismatic and celebrated for his bold leadership style and reforms. It was not easy to follow such a persona and one with such a memorable political legacy, but on September 26, 2012, Abe received a second chance at the most important political office in Japan, and another opportunity to