Japan is known as a deeply conservative country. While modernism tends to standardize habits, lifestyles, and mentalities across many industrialized nations, Japanese society remains an exception. The place of women in Japan is still quite precarious. Of course, progress has opened a breach in tradition that once allotted a disproportionate place to men. Changes are moving in the right direction. An increasing number of Japanese women are entering the workforce. Social relationships are evolving. Yet there is still much work to be done to achieve gender equality across all areas of life.

What Are the Beauty Standards in Japan?

In Japan, the image of women struggles to break free from traditional cultural patterns. The Western ideal that praises independent women, capable of supporting themselves and treated as equals with men, is difficult to accept in Japanese society.

In the Land of the Rising Sun, ladies are associated with beauty, delicacy, and fragility. There are expected beauty standards for women. The figure should be petite and slender. Facial features are admired for their refinement. Facial anatomical features should be small, except for the eyes. A woman is considered more seductive when she has large eyes.

The appeal of women is also judged based on skin color. In Japanese culture, young women with fair and pale skin are admired, as whiteness is seen as a sign of innocence.

In recent years, aesthetic standards have been evolving. Fuller-figured women with a more rounded waist are beginning to gain recognition and set the tone in fashion.

How Are Geishas Regarded in Japan?

When discussing Japanese women, the Western imagination often conjures the image of geishas, young women draped in kimonos and elegantly styled in traditional chignons, trained in traditional Japanese arts. They are particularly prominent in iconic locations like downtown Kyoto.

Geishas—which literally means "practitioners of the arts"—are artists trained in Japan's refined arts and entertainments: they combine the talents of musicians, dancers, classical instrument players, and companions.

Not anyone can become a geisha. It is a professional title earned after a year of training (sometimes more). The apprentice geisha or shikomiko must master several artistic disciplines: the tea ceremony, the art of conversation, classical Japanese poetry and literature, and various games. She must also be knowledgeable about flower arrangement.

Geishas are not considered women of ill repute, even though their primary mission is to entertain men. The activity of geishas was legalized as early as 1779, and a registry office was opened at the time to record practicing geishas in Kyoto and prevent their exploitation for sexual purposes.

The confusion between geishas and prostitutes probably stems from their status as "kept women." Indeed, to finance purchases of elaborate hairstyles, kimonos, or musical instruments, a geisha needs a very wealthy man—called a danna—who gives her generous gifts. In return, the artist may grant sexual favors to her patron, but no one can force her to do so.

What Is the Situation of Japanese Women in the Education Sector?

Japan recognizes equal access to education for all children, regardless of gender or nationality. Both girls and boys enter school at age 6 and do not leave middle school until age 15, with nine years of compulsory education.

The enrollment rate for basic education is around 99.8%. After high school, 56.5% of Japanese students continue their studies by preparing for university entrance exams, while 43.5% immediately seek employment.

Women's access to university education is fully legitimate. However, they face difficulty being admitted to certain study programs preparing for careers traditionally reserved for men. Fields such as medicine, automotive, and industry remain fundamentally conservative in Japan and do not sufficiently open their doors to female students.

What Is the Place of Japanese Women in the Working World and Business?

In Japan, the job market is open to all qualified individuals regardless of gender. The days when Japanese women had to leave their careers after marriage to dedicate themselves to family are long gone. Thus, the employment rate of married female workers rose from 38% in 1960 to 66% in 1987. Generally speaking, Japanese women leave employment after marriage and resume their careers when their children are school age.

Nevertheless, full participation of women in economic life is merely a façade. In reality, Japanese women continue to face deep inequalities. Long-term contracts or full-time positions typically favor male workers, even though employers do not refuse to hire women.

A widely accepted view suggests that women's primary duty is to care for the home and children, making them poorly suited for part-time work. As a result, the majority of female workers are relegated to poorly paid, low-skill tasks. They are hired as subordinates.

The professional status of women is very fragile and unfulfilling, especially when compared to other industrialized countries. Unequal treatment between the sexes is the cause. Statistics tell the story. According to the Global Report on Gender-Based Disparities, fewer than one in ten Japanese women held a management or leadership position in 2015. Far from it—they fill support roles: secretary, accounting assistant, receptionist, nurse, cashier… In large corporations, you are more likely to encounter a female cashier than a male one, but there are more male than female office workers.

The inequality affects both the prestige of the work and compensation. For the same position, the average salary of women is 35% lower than that of their male counterparts.

Relationships Between Men and Women in Japan

Relationships between men and women in Japan reflect a society in transition. The World Economic Forum ranks the country at 118th position out of 146 nations in terms of gender equality in 2024, a ranking that illustrates persistent challenges.

This reality is particularly evident in the private sphere. A recent study reveals that 70% of young men and 60% of young women between 18 and 34 years old are not in any romantic relationship. A phenomenon explained notably by traditional expectations: men seek a partner ready to dedicate herself to the home, while women aspire to greater independence.

Cross-cultural couples also reflect these social dynamics: 3 out of 4 Western-Japanese marriages involve a Western man and a Japanese woman, revealing deeply rooted cultural patterns.

Health

Japan boasts high standards of hygiene and excellent medical coverage. The maternal and infant mortality rate following childbirth is among the lowest in the world.

However, medical expenses are relatively high in Japan, which increases women's financial dependence on their husbands.