Asia redefining growth: Japan to promote power of women

Women have become a key driver of the Asian economy.

A roundtable meeting at the Boao Forum for Asia earlier Thursday discussed the increasing role of women in boosting economic and social development, and countries including Japan are planning to bring more women into the workforce.

Since taking office in 2012, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced a new government initiative to make Japan a country "where women can shine."

Some say women's status in Japanese society has improved in recent years, partially thanks to the government's drive to promote gender equality. Last year, over half of Japanese women were employed for the first time in five decades.

But many experts argue that this was partially brought about by the country's labor shortage as Japan still ranked 110 out of 149 countries according to the World Economic Forum's annual Global Gender Gap Index last year.

Japanese women are increasingly vocal about their demand for more opportunities in higher corporate positions. The ratio of Japanese women in management and other leadership positions remains 12 percent, less than half of the global ratio of more than 27 percent.

A government survey showed the time women spend in doing housework is 5.5 times more than that of men. Experts say reforms in households and corporate mentality are needed for Japanese women to contribute to the "womenomics" policy adopted by Shinzo Abe.

(CGTN)