“Girls Meet STEM in Tokyo” Program Now Accepting Second Round Applications

TOKYO, June 25, 2025 — The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) announced today that together with the Yamada Shintaro D&I Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation that supports female middle and high school students in pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, they have immediately commenced receiving applications online for the second round of the "Girls Meet STEM in TOKYO" program to be held this August.

Through this program, TMG will provide young female students with opportunities to interact with professionals in STEM fields and experience working environments firsthand. The exposure is intended to help students discover their interests, visualize their future careers and make informed decisions about their educational and career paths.

Part 2 program and application details

Tour dates	Part 2:  Aug. 18 – Aug. 31 (application closes July 25) Dates are subject to change.
Eligible participants	Female middle and high school students residing or attending school in Tokyo
Participation cost	Free (transportation to venues to be paid by participants)
Activities	Office and laboratory tours, technology demonstrations, and workshops Discussions with professionals engaged in STEM fields
Application form (in Japanese only)	https://www.25summer-office.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/ In the event that applications exceed capacity, participants will be selected by lottery.

 

Participating Companies and Tour Highlights (partial):

• Asahi Kasei Corporation
  Discover the Charms of Science at Asahi Kasei
  Asahi Kasei operates in diverse fields impacting daily life, including healthcare, housing, and materials. At the head office, students will directly ask female engineers about their career choices, such as "Why did you choose this job?" and "What did you study in school?" to gain insights into career paths and work styles.
  When: Wednesday, August 20, 13:30 - 16:30
• Ricoh Co., Ltd.
  Experience the Dense Technology of Ricoh Inside a Printer!
  Ricoh produces copiers that are often seen in schools and supermarkets. Additionally, Ricoh's technology is also widely used in large printers for catalogs and posters, as well as in cameras that are part of everyday life. Participants will have the opportunity to tour Ricoh's workplaces, observe the technology in action, and engage directly with female engineers to discuss their roles and experiences.
  When: Thursday August 21, 13:30 - 16:30
• Bosch Corporation
  Visit Bosch’s New Headquarters and Explore the Future of Automobiles!
  Participants will explore cutting-edge research and development in autonomous driving and electrification technologies at the new headquarters of this leading global automotive systems supplier. They will also learn about the car manufacturing process through an office tour. This opportunity will be perfect for participants interested in the automotive and IT sectors, offering them a chance to experience the work environment up close.
  When: Friday, August 22, 14:00 - 16:00
• freee K.K.
  A candy store inside the company? Visit this app-developing IT company and see for yourself!
  Based on the mission "Empower small businesses to take center stage," freee provides an integrated business platform that allows anyone to freely manage a business. They also develop SaaS solutions to address challenges faced by many companies and shops. Participants will be able to enjoy a unique office tour, including a candy store in the office!
  When: Monday, August 25, 14:00 - 16:00
• STORES, Inc.
  How Technology Helps Run Online Stores and Cashless Payments
  Participants will discover technology that supports trendy cafes, popular sweets shops, and online fan merchandise stores. They will also learn about services that use technology to support shop operations, such as online retail, cashless payments, and reservation systems, and explore behind the scenes of familiar services.
  When: Tuesday, August 26, 10:30 - 13:00

 

Program background

Japan ranks last among OECD countries in women STEM professionals

Japan is noted for having a significantly low number of women graduating with degrees in STEM subjects.  According to the OECD publication Education at a Glance 2023, women accounted for only 17.5% of university graduates in STEM fields, compared to a 32.5% average among 38 OECD countries, placing Japan last. To address the situation, TMG has been providing young women with opportunities to interact with STEM-related companies before choosing their academic paths, hoping to spark increased interest in these fields.

Previous program achieved over 96% participant satisfaction rate

TMG has been organizing office tours since the fiscal year ending in March 2022. Last year, participants toured 12 companies, including businesses popular among students such as Fast Retailing, Mercari and Kokuyo. The initiative attracted 7,357 applications for 546 available spots, and over 96% of the participants reported that the experience helped them to consider future career paths, underscoring the program's success.

2025 program significantly expanded to over 50 companies

To expand its popular office-tour initiative, TMG is now collaborating with the Yamada Shintaro D&I Foundation, which has been conducting its own initiative to provide female students with tours of STEM-related companies and university laboratories. Through the combined efforts of TMG and the Foundation, this year’s Girls Meet STEM in Tokyo program has been expanded to more than 50 companies. In the second round, participants will be given opportunities to tour offices, experience the latest technologies and join workshops at companies such as Honda Motor and TV Asahi. Additionally, they will engage in roundtable discussions with employees who are active in STEM fields, allowing them to ask questions about work styles and career paths.

About the Yamada Shintaro D&I Foundation
Established in July 2021 by Director, Representative Executive Officer and CEO of Mercari Shintaro Yamada , the Yamada Shintaro D&I Foundation aims to build a society where everyone can reach their full potential through the promotion of diversity and inclusion (D&I). Focusing on closing the gender gap in STEM, the foundation supports middle and high school students in pursuing STEM education and careers through scholarships and other initiatives. In 2024, it launched the Girls Meet STEM program, offering year-round in-person and online opportunities to connect with role models via company office tours and university lab visits. https://www.shinfdn.org/

 

This initiative is part of Tokyo 2025 Strategy – Unlocking a Better Future.
Strategy 5: Women’s Empowerment - changing societal mindsets

 

Women in Action (WA)
With Japanese society facing a declining population, it is essential to fully harness the potential of women, who make up half the population, in order to achieve a prosperous and diverse future. Aiming to empower women beyond Tokyo and across Japan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is raising awareness and building momentum through a range of “Women in Action” (WA)” initiatives.