Cultural Barriers

Sylvia Ann Hewlett writes for Time that educated women are underutilized in Japan. They are less likely to be working and more likely to leave the workforce voluntarily.

This in a country with a rapidly aging population and tough barriers against the immigration of replacement workers. In other words, Japan needs women's workforce participation.

Hewlett doesn't much emphasize the cultural barriers forcing Japanese men and women into very separate roles, particularly at work. Changing a culture is no easy task.