Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TOKYO, Dec 15, 2006, 2006 (IPS/GIN via COMTEX) -- Growing numbers of Japanese women are starting their own businesses, applying their multitasking abilities to entrepreneurial endeavors.
Rie Nakamura started her company in 2002 and now reports annual sales of more than $6 million. Her Internet portal sources and delivers to consumers packaged food from 6,500 companies.
"The beginnings of my venture were extremely humble," Nakamura told IPS recently. After the birth of her son 12 years ago, she wanted to be able to spend more time at home. She thought that starting her own company would allow her to do just that.
Nakamura says that while she works very hard, her dream of also being able to look after her son has come true. She personally prepares his daily school lunches -- a symbol of motherly love in Japan -- and can be back home later in the day to watch over his studies.
"Japanese women, long relegated to the responsibilities of their gender that focused on being a good wife and mother, have cleverly used this role to start highly successful companies," said Mayumi Okada of Chau Planning, a company providing incubator services for aspiring women entrepreneurs.
Okada feels that Japanese women are far more flexible in their attitudes than men, having to rear children, work in the community and look after the family. "This background makes them capable of taking the risks that come when starting businesses. They are also good at judging the needs of people more than men, which gives them a head start in certain lifestyle-oriented businesses," she said.
The public National Life Finance Corp. in Tokyo reports that women received the bulk of business loans in 2005 made to the sector that includes youth, men over 55 and women. Women received 5,583 loans, compared with 2,692 for older men and 2,842 for young people.
The number of low-interest loans to women opening new businesses has steadily risen since 2000, when 2,637 loans were granted. On average women borrowed around $50,000 as capital under a soft repayment scheme of three to five years.
Surveys conducted by the organization showed that women usually invested in beauty and health products and services, environmental protection, drinking establishments, and clothing.
"The trend shows that women-led businesses are concentrated on the needs of their gender. Our goal is to expand the number of female (company) presidents in Japan," said director Shigeru Yamaguchi.
As Japan's population ages, leading to predictions of a 30 percent drop in the workforce by 2050, government officials see women entrepreneurs as a potential lifeline for the national economy.
In a report released in early December, the Health, Welfare and Labor Ministry warned that unless the government succeeds in promoting measures that would allow more elderly people and women to stay in jobs, the working population would soon drop by a third to 44.71 million.
Nakamura was a guest speaker at a high-profile business seminar organized by the Osaka prefectural government in late November that was geared solely to Asian women.
She said it can be difficult for women to succeed in the tough working environment -- obtaining bank loans and lack of business experience can present problems -- but also pointed out that the challenges were well worth it.
"I have to work doubly hard to prove myself as a person who can be respected like my male counterparts," she said.
Government figures show that while women comprise almost half of Japan's 63 million labor force, only 18.3 percent are executives and 2.8 percent top-level managers.
Still, whether Nakamura's success can be roundly duplicated in Japan remains to be seen.
Mari Yamaguchi, 52, recently closed her furniture shop in Roppongi, an expensive area in Tokyo, saying she was exhausted after spending 10 years trying to keep her shop afloat.
"It's a constant uphill struggle as a woman to make ends meet given the male-oriented business environment you are faced with. You must deal with sexual harassment, constantly being turned down by male bank officials who see women as risky investments, and a society that generally thinks women are best left looking after a family," she said.
Bando, 31, who just started her own business producing natural soaps from plants, says she has gotten help from her husband, who is her business partner.
"His support is indispensable to my work and the success of the company as he provides me with guidance when dealing with difficult business relations with the outside world, about which I know very little," Bando, a former piano teacher, told IPS.
Both Yamaguchi and Bando insist that starting their own ventures is worth the effort in the long run.
"Our businesses can also contribute to the betterment of society, environment and the lot of women, which is what we want to do along with being company presidents," said Bando.
Copyright (c) 2006 IPS-Inter Press Service. All Rights Reserved.
(C) 2006 Inter Press Service. All Rights Reserved
