The Japanese government has made a new plan to help more women start businesses in rural areas. This plan was shared on Monday at a meeting of the Council for Gender Equality. The goal is to make rural communities better by giving women more chances outside the capital city.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, who chairs the council, revealed that the government intends to hold seminars and lectures through regional gender equality centres established by local authorities. These centres will serve as hubs for empowering women entrepreneurs and advancing local economic growth.
The draft, which is set to be formally adopted by the end of June at a joint meeting involving the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality, highlights the pressing challenge of an accelerating population concentration in Tokyo. It stresses the urgent need to make rural areas more appealing to women, who often face limited job prospects outside urban centres.
To tackle this, the government plans to enhance consulting services for business startups in the countryside and facilitate stronger connections between female entrepreneurs and local economic associations and financial institutions. Additionally, measures will be introduced to protect women business owners from harassment and to better match companies with individuals possessing the skills they require.
Looking ahead, Japan aims to establish an independent administrative institution dedicated to gender equality by fiscal 2026. This body will maintain a database of experts to support regional seminars and will distribute state grants to local governments to aid their gender equality efforts.
The draft also touches on the ongoing parliamentary debate over a selective dual surname system for married couples. It states that the government will continue efforts to promote the use of maiden names and raise awareness about this option.
In a related development, the government has prepared a separate draft plan to nurture female talent in technology sectors. This includes a three-year programme featuring intensive support measures. Notably, artificial intelligence courses will be added to the list of job skill improvement courses eligible for tuition subsidies under the employment insurance system, aiming to boost women’s participation in cutting-edge fields.
This multi-faceted approach signals a determined push by the government to create a more inclusive and balanced society, ensuring that women in rural areas have the resources and opportunities to thrive.
