Masako Mori, a member of the Japanese parliament and special advisor to the Japanese prime minister for women’s empowerment, spoke with NYU law students about “Women’s Empowerment in Japan: Policies and my Personal Experience.” In a conversation on Sept. 20, 2022 with Bruce Aronson, senior advisor to the Japan Center at the U.S.-Asia Law Institute, Ms. Mori described her past and current work to improve opportunities for Japanese women.

Ms. Mori acknowledged that Japan’s low ranking in international surveys such as The Global Gender Gap Index (produced by the World Economic Forum) is well-deserved. (Japan currently ranks 116 among 146 countries included in this index.) She noted that Japan actually ranks high in female education and health, but is dragged down by its very poor showing with respect to women’s economic participation and opportunity and political empowerment.

Asked about current policy measures, Ms. Mori emphasized the important role of women in Prime Minister Kishida’s signature policy of introducing a “new form of capitalism” in Japan. Women’s empowerment, she said, is the foundation for implementing all four pillars of Kishida’s policy: investment in human resources, innovation, start-ups, and green transformation.

Ms. Mori also recalled her experiences as a visiting fellow at the NYU School of Law for one year in 2003, when she was one of the first participants in an exchange program with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. Upon her return to Japan, Ms. Mori shifted gears from being a lawyer to becoming a successful politician. She was instrumental in establishing Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (and was its head) and pushed for initiatives on women’s empowerment. She has held several ministerial positions, including minister of justice. Recalling her own early efforts to promote women’s workforce participation, she emphasized the potential for young women professionals to make a difference even in the face of strong opposition from an entrenched establishment.