Encouraging Female Leaders to Unleash Untapped Energy

On September 27, Governor Koike met with female executives and leaders from a wide range of fields, joined by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi Shinjiro.

The governor stated, "The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is implementing various policies to create an environment where anyone with aspirations—entrepreneurs, female managers, or working mothers—can achieve self-fulfillment.” 

“We believe it’s a tremendous waste not to fully harness women’s energy. When their potential is utilized, men benefit as well. We call this initiative for female advancement ‘Women in Action’ (WA), with the aim of helping everyone shine even brighter.” 

She continued, “In 2019, Tokyo had 115,000 female business owners. By 2024, that number had surged to 165,000. To ensure this momentum continues, we have launched an 8-billion-yen fund to support startups developing services that promote women's empowerment.” 

She concluded, “Women represent Japan's greatest untapped energy, and I am convinced that mobilizing this power will lead to sustainable growth and Japan's development. The world is undergoing dramatic change, and industries themselves are undergoing transformation. Women are the game changers. I hope today’s gathering fosters our shared determination to push forward together."