01Vol.

日本女性エグゼクティブ協会

2014.01.24

NEWS Letter

http://www.jafe.jp/Inaugural Ceremony Held for New JAFEThe opening ceremony of the Japan Association for Female Executives (JAFE)
was held on December 6, 2013 at Keidanren Hall in Tokyo, marking a new startfor JAFE, an organization with a history dating back to 1985. Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe, Keidanren Chairman Hiromasa Yonekura, and other political andbusiness leaders found time in their busy schedules to attend the ceremony
and gave strong encouragement to more than 200 female executives.

Summary of Prime Minister Abe’s Address at the Opening Ceremony● I would like to express my sincere respect to those who understood the importance of fostering female managers
and executives and founded JAFE nearly 30 years ago.
● The Abe Cabinet has two female ministers. Minister Mori’s precise responses to questions during Diet deliberations
and Minister Inada’s ability to smooth out differences are examples of skills that are rarely found in men. An old
proverb says, “Men should have courage and women should have charm.” Today, however, I rather think that it iswomen who have more courage and yet they have not lost their charm. In a sense, they have become a formidablepower.
● I am intending to appoint more women to important posts. I have just appointed a woman to the position of
executive secretary to the prime minister for the first time in the history of Japan’s constitutional government. I am
counting on her to breathe new life into the male-dominated Prime Minister’s Office.
● Having women account for no less than 30% of leadership positions in all areas of society by 2020 is an ambitious
goal. However, the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, to be held seven years from now, will put Japan in theglobal spotlight and I would like to showcase to the world the new Japan, a country where brilliant women can givefull play to their talent.
● Ms. Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post said, “If Lehman Brothers was Lehman Brothers andSisters, they might still be around.” According to the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, asurvey of 17,000 companies has found that companies having at least one female executive are 20%
less likely to fail than those with no female executive. I have requested the three key economicorganizations to take appropriate measures in this regard.
● This is not meant to be a social policy. This is a policy indispensable for the future economic growthof Japan. The active participation of women is a core component of our growth strategy. I understandthat many listed companies have appointed their first female director. This emerging trend must not
be a passing fashion. I would like to urge each and every one of you at JAFE to play even bigger roles.

Full text of Prime Minister’s address

Full video of Prime Minister’s address (in Japanese)

Available at the Prime Minister’s Office website at:

Available on 01ch (Prime Minister) of the Japanese GovernmentInternet TV at:

http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/96_abe/actions/201312/06executive_e.html

http://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/prg/prg8975.html

NEWS Letter

01

2014

Vol.

01.24

Summary of Chairperson Noriko Nakamura’s Address at the Opening Ceremony● I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of our guests of honor for attending our opening ceremony andgiving us hearty words of encouragement.
● In 1985, 28 years ago from now, JAFE was founded as the first ever women’s professional association in Japan.
● I had a chance to serve as moderator for seminars hosted by Atarashii Keieishazo no Kai, a seminar organizing
company headed by Mr. Shiro Ishiyama of Diamond, Inc.; the equal employment opportunity law was enacted;
and I met and talked with Wendy Rue, president of the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) in theUnited States. All those events prompted me to establish JAFE.
● We invited political and business leaders as lecturers for JAFE seminars in order to have them understand theactual situation in which female managers and executives work and the challenges they face, thereby creating anenvironment that would enable more women to work in managerial positions.
● After 14 years of activities, we took a break as our members became extremely busy with their scope of activities
expanded. In resuming our activities at JAFE, Prime Minister Abe’s strong message about his intention topromote women’s participation was instrumental.
● I participated in the 20/30 Project. Even while we were having our break, women were fighting hard in diverse
areas and various sorts of women’s networks and groups were continuing their activities. All those efforts
culminated into the social movement of today. However, the number of female executives in Japan remains atthe lowest level among advanced countries. We believe that the attendance of Prime Minister Abe, the busiest
person in Japan, at this opening ceremony is meant to be strong encouragement to all of working women inJapan. Through the promotion of active participation of women, we would like to contribute to the future
economic development of Japan.

List of Speakers

Special guest Mr. Hiromasa Yonekura

Honorary member Ms. Yuriko Koike

Guest Ms. Tamayo Marukawa

Guest Ms. Atsuko Muraki

Chairman, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)

Member of the House of Representatives

Member of the House of Councillors

Vice Minister, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Director-General, Gender Equality Bureau, Cabinet Office

Honorary member Ms. Ryoko Akamatsu

Honorary member Ms. Ichiko Ishihara

Honorary member Ms. Nobuko Matsubara Honorary member Ms. Mariko Bando

Honorary member Ms. Aiko Okawara

Chairperson, Japan Committee for UNICEF

Member of the Doyu Club and former managing
director of Takashimaya Co., Ltd.

Honorary Chairperson, Japan Institute of Workers’
Evolution

Chairman, JC Comsa Corp.

First JAFE Seminar

GUEST

President, Showa Women’s University

Mr. Hakubun Shimomura

Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Minister in charge of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games

Honorary member Ms. Tomoko Samura

Time & Date:

18:00, Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Place: Tokyo American Club

JAFE Secretariat
Japan Association for Female Executives www.jafe.jp
Attn: NPO Poppins Secretariat c/o Poppins Corporation
Hiroo Plaza 5F, 5-6-6 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0012 Japan

Phone: 03-6450-4880 E-mail: info＠jafe.jp