Japan Business

New Opportunity Under the Abe Administration

39th Annual Special Japan Section

Written by Martin Foster and David W. Russell.

Photography by Kentaro Ishibashi and Mao Yamamoto

January 24, 2017

Introduction
“In 2017, Japanese companies will be in the
global spotlight as never before. Japanese
businesses are in a good position to restore
the economy to good health—but only if
leaders implement the workplace-oriented
policies of the Abe government, particularly
in the area of women, seniors and labor-
saving productivity.”
Throughout the past several years, Japanese companies have focused
on rebuilding balance sheets, boosting corporate profits and
stockpiling internal reserves. However, they have only gradually
allowed these profits to filter down to employees, which has stymied
consumption. It is also one key reason the Japanese economy has
been unable to fully shake off deflation.

Today, Japanese companies face the additional challenge of

overcoming longstanding structural impediments to socioeconomic
progress. Under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the current
administration is taking a strong stance on altering the Japanese
workplace, and is encouraging companies to evolve their customs and
policies.

PM Abe has pledged to create a society where “women can shine”;

this means that male-dominated companies will need to dismantle
customs that have been in place since the reconstruction of the
Japanese economy began at the end of WWII, and to nurture more
female-friendly workplaces.

Forward-looking companies are already reducing punishingly long

workdays and increasing the wages of female employees, so that they
are on par with those of their male colleagues. Some are establishing
in-house childcare centers to better cater to the needs of working
mothers.

True progressives realize that beyond helping working mothers, they

must empower working fathers to be more present at home as well.
Toward this end, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is
promoting the Ikumen Project, a campaign launched in 2010 to
encourage Japanese men to take a more active role in parenting. But
today, the Abe government is encouraging Japanese companies to go
one step further by promoting ikuboss, whereby company managers
help their
workers achieve a better work-life balance.

At the same time, despite rapidly changing demographics, Japanese

society appears unable to depart from the traditional view that
workers should retire at 60 to make way for fresh talent. However,
new talent isn’t appearing fast enough, nor at the scale necessary to
offset the numbers of skilled, experienced seniors leaving the
workforce.

Thus those companies that realize the unique value of seniors and
that have diverse hiring and retention policies will be better
positioned moving into the future.

Furthermore, as the country prepares itself for a new era, Japanese

business leaders agree that artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will
play an increasingly important role in productivity going forward.
Undoubtedly, companies that harness the power of AI and robots—
for everything from providing in-home help for working parents, to
aiding seniors both at work and in retirement, to serving as
interpreters for unskilled staff—will advance into the mid-21st
century as industry leaders.

Moving into 2017, Japanese companies stand ready to lead the

world’s second-largest capitalist economy out of deflation and away
from the low expectations of the last quarter century. But in order to
move forward, they must work to eradicate deep-rooted customs.
Those that are able to evolve their views on work-life balance and
productivity overall will be best prepared for the future of global
business.
Japan is a developed nation with high thinking and discipline, Under Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe, the current Japanese administration has changed to encourage growth in a company,
PM Abe promises to make women more employed in a company and ensure women can
compete well with men. In addition, the Abe Government also encourages all Japanese
companies to promote the ikuboss, which is the Company's Manager to help each of their
employees achieve a better working balance and daily life. This is because employees who
have a balanced time will be more intelligent in all respects. In addition, the company also
recognizes unique values and the diversity of retrieval and retention policies will be much
better for future transfers. The Japanese company is ready to lead two of the world's largest
economic capitalists from deflation and far below expectations in the last quarter, they must
endeavor to eradicate deep customs. Those who can change their views on work and overall
productivity will be available for the future of global business.

In my opinion, I agree with what the PM Abe has suggested because women play a role in
contributing to the energy sector. Women have certain skills that are useful to make
themselves a complete human resource. The diligent attitude of working and diligence and
giving full attention when working makes this group a target in any field. So women have a
big role in ensuring that our human resources are capable of meeting our economic growth
needs. At the same time women can also devote their energy in the aspect of national
security that is so important. There are already many women who join military and police
services by demonstrating the same capabilities as men. The existence of women in this
security service also gives men the opportunity to ensure that all tasks can be solved well
because there are tasks that require women's hands only. Hence, women are also able to
contribute their energy in the area of vital importance.

Based on the article, the new thing that I get is to increase the number of women in an organization so that it can
enhance the dignity of women. In addition, we also need to think far and plan ahead so that the desired thing
will be more organized and successful
In my knowledge, women now in Malaysia prefer to work and most of them have a good
career, compared with some foreign countries, they still think women as weak and
inadequate in a single position in organization
Jepun merupakan sebuah negara maju yang mempunyai pemikiran serta tahap disiplin yang tinggi,
di bawah Perdana Menteri shinzo abe, pentadbiran semasa jepun telah diubah supaya
menggalakkan perkembangan dalam sesebuah syarikat, PM Abe telah berjanji supaya menjadikan
wanita lebih berkerjaya dalam sesebuah syarikat untuk memastikan wanita boleh bersaing secara
sihat dan saksama bersama lelaki. Disamping itu, Kerajaan Abe juga menggalakkan kesemua
Syarikat Jepun untuk mempromosikan ikuboss iaitu pengurus Syarikat membantu setiap pekerja
mereka mencapai keseimbang kerja dan kehidupan dengan lebih baik. Hal ini kerana pekerja yang
mempunyai masa yang seimbang akan lebih cerdas dalam semua aspek. Selain itu, Pihak syarikat
juga menyedari nilai unik senior dan dasar pengambilan dan pengekalan yang beragam akan menjadi lebih
baik dipindahkan ke masa depan. syarikat Jepun bersedia untuk memimpin ekonomi kapitalis kedua terbesar di
dunia daripada deflasi dan jauh dari jangkaan yang rendah pada suku suku terakhir, mereka mesti berusaha
untuk membasmi kastam yang mendalam. Mereka yang dapat mengubah pandangan mereka tentang
keseimbangan kerja dan produktiviti secara keseluruhan akan disediakan untuk masa depan perniagaan global.

Oleh itu, syarikat-syarikat yang menyedari nilai unik senior dan yang mempunyai dasar pengambilan dan
pengekalan yang beragam akan menjadi lebih baik dipindahkan ke masa depan.
Lebih-lebih lagi, semasa negara menyiapkan diri untuk era baru, pemimpin perniagaan Jepun bersetuju bahawa
kecerdasan buatan (AI) dan robotik akan memainkan peranan yang semakin penting dalam produktiviti ke
depan. Tidak syak lagi, syarikat-syarikat yang memanfaatkan kuasa AI dan robot-untuk segala-galanya daripada
menyediakan bantuan dalam rumah untuk ibu bapa yang bekerja, membantu senior di tempat kerja dan bersara,
untuk berkhidmat sebagai jurubahasa untuk kakitangan yang tidak mahir-akan maju ke pertengahan abad ke-21
sebagai pemimpin industri.
Bergerak ke 2017, syarikat Jepun bersedia untuk memimpin ekonomi kapitalis kedua terbesar di dunia daripada
deflasi dan jauh dari jangkaan yang rendah pada suku suku terakhir. Tetapi untuk maju ke hadapan, mereka
mesti berusaha untuk membasmi kastam yang mendalam. Mereka yang dapat mengubah pandangan mereka
tentang keseimbangan kerja dan produktiviti secara keseluruhan akan disediakan untuk masa depan perniagaan
global.