Resolving the Gender Gap and Empowering Women in Japan

As a leader in achieving gender equality throughout Japanese society, Shiseido promotes a variety of activities to empower women by constantly upgrading our internal initiatives.

Shiseido DE&I Lab

In 2023, we established the Shiseido DE&I Lab within the company to explore ways to leverage the power of diversity. We are actively researching the process by which the empowerment of diverse human resources facilitates innovation by introducing different values and ideas and verifying the cause-and-effect relationship between diversity and corporate growth. We also aim to obtain know-how to maximize the power of diversity by analyzing the effects of our initiatives. Additionally, we broadly disseminate our findings from the Shiseido DE&I Lab throughout society, thereby contributing to the growth of the Japanese economy through DE&I.

SHISEIDO DE&I Lab

Participation in the 30% Club Japan for Sound Gender Balance in Corporate Decision-Making Bodies

The 30% Club Japan aims to increase the proportion of women on the boards of companies in Japan.^*1 As part of a global initiative that originated in the United Kingdom, the Japan chapter was inaugurated in May 2019, and Phase 2 started in May 2022 with the goal of achieving a 30% proportion of female directors^*2 at TOPIX 100 companies by 2030. Masahiko Uotani, Shiseido’s Representative Corporate Executive Officer, Chairman and CEO, continues to serve as the chairperson for Phase 2, as he did for Phase 1, leading the activities of the TOPIX President’s Committee, which consists of chairpersons and presidents of 34 companies^*3 listed on the TOPIX 100 and TOPIX Mid 400.

The TOPIX President’s Committee has held 9 sessions^*4 to date with the total participation of 172 chairpersons and presidents of the TOPIX 100 and TOPIX Mid 400.
Through the examination of case studies at the different member companies, the sessions involve lively discussions on extensive themes, such as appointing women to executive and head positions and conducting organizational culture reforms that make the most of diversity. These discussions are based on the belief that to lead innovation, nurturing an organizational culture with high adaptability is necessary, and to do that, achieving gender balance among those in top management (e.g., executive officers, line managers, etc.) who have many subordinates and a substantial influence on daily operations is crucial. On the project management team organized by operation-level leaders of member companies (about 80 members from 34 companies), cross-company projects have been organized to tackle three gateways that inhibit the career development of women, which were clarified through the TOPIX President's Committee, by promoting the implementation of concrete measures to resolve common issues, including the development of career awareness among young women, the sharing of best practices for balancing work with childcare, and exchange meetings between female candidates for executive positions and committee leaders.

In Phase 2, a fully integrated approach is underway to influence society through various stakeholders collaborating with companies, which is characteristic of the 30% Club Japan. Specific actions have been taken through the collaboration of the Investor Group of 33 institutional investors, the University Group of 9 universities, and the TOPIX President’s Committee.

With its activities over the past five years, the ratio of women on the boards of companies comprising the TOPIX President’s Committee has risen by 12.5 percentage points to 23% compared to the average of listed companies in Japan. Progress has also been made in women’s participation in corporate decision-making, such as advancement to previously untraditional posts, including directors of business and manufacturing operations. Shiseido will continue to lead the way in transforming Japanese corporate culture to break away from the current homogeneity by promoting the active participation of women, thereby driving innovation.

*1：Women on boards are defined as directors and auditors.
*2：Proportion of female members on the boards of directors at TOPIX 100 companies (including auditors at companies with a board of auditors)
*3：As of the end of December 2023
*4：As of the end of December 2023

Click here for more information on the 30% Club Japan.

TOPIX President’s Committee

30% Club

Empowering Women through Collaboration with Local Governments

As part of Shiseido's ongoing efforts to empower women, in 2021, Shiseido Japan Co., Ltd., and Hiroshima Prefecture entered into an agreement on promoting the empowerment of women. Since then, we have been supporting the women of Hiroshima in social engagements and job placements chiefly through beauty seminars. In 2022, we held an online makeup seminar for mothers seeking employment and lectured them on basic makeup and gave them advice on hair styling and makeup to help them prepare for job interviews. In February of the same year, a Social Area Leader based in the Shiseido Japan was invited to speak at a discussion in an online seminar for the empowerment of women hosted by the Hiroshima Prefecture Department of Commerce, Industry and Labor to share her personal experience and motivate women aspiring to hold managerial positions. In August, we started a new initiative in job placement support and distributed vouchers at the prefecture’s job placement office for women, the “Waku-waku Mama Support Corner.” The vouchers can be redeemed Shiseido counters for a short personal makeup lesson with Shiseido Personal Beauty Partners. Furthermore, reaching beyond the framework of the agreement, we joined a networking event for women in management hosted by the Hiroshima City Center for Promotion of Gender Equality. We met 12 women managers mainly from local companies and exchanged views on the challenges that women in leadership positions face. We are contributing to the growth of Hiroshima Prefecture through these efforts in raising awareness and communicating the empowerment of women and assisting in the creation of networks among working women.

Online makeup seminar for job interviews in collaboration with Hiroshima Prefecture

”Online makeup seminar for job interviews” in collaboration with Hiroshima Prefecture

In 2022, Shiseido Japan Co., Ltd., joined a citizens’ collaboration project, the “Machi, Watashi, Kirameku Women’s Campus Yamagata,” a project in which Yamagata City and Ridilover, a general incorporated association that organizes educational and training programs on social issues concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement. As part of this project, Emiko Ashida, Shiseido’s People Division Vice Chief People Officer spoke at a seminar to promote women’s empowerment in May, and Yukari Suzuki, Shiseido’s Director, Senior Executive Officer joined a talk event in June, encouraging women working in Yamagata City.
In addition, 20 women from Yamagata City participated in a total of 5 workshops (June-December) to resolve issues, and Shiseido Japan’s Yamagata Office employees joined in discussions. They also held beauty lecture sessions on skincare and makeup in June and September. In November, a lecture was given on the theme of "Balancing Family and Career", and 20 employees from Shiseido's Sendai Office also participated in this project.

Workshop at Machi, Watashi, Kirameku Women’s Campus Yamagata

Workshop at “Machi, Watashi, Kirameku Women’s Campus Yamagata”

Beauty session at Machi, Watashi, Kirameku Women’s Campus Yamagata

Beauty session at “Machi, Watashi, Kirameku Women’s Campus Yamagata”

Click here for the news release regarding the agreement with Hiroshima Prefectural Government. (in Japanese only)

Click here for the news release regarding the joint press conference with Yamagata City. (in Japanese only)

In 2022, Shiseido was invited to speak about gender equality and women’s empowerment at various events hosted by about 30 municipalities, government agencies, corporations, universities, and other organizations to a combined total of 1,856 attendees. The lectures covered a wide range of topics, from the importance of the commitment by top management to fostering female leaders to Shiseido’s history of empowering women and personnel development programs to raise awareness. One highlight of our collaborations was giving the keynote speech at the regional symposium involving local government, corporations, and universities organized by Yamaguchi Josei Katsuyaku Ouendan, a multilateral group for women’s empowerment in Yamaguchi Prefecture comprised of leaders from the area’s government, industry, and academia. We also received a request from the Yamaguchi Prefectural Police Headquarters to speak to its police officers. The prefectural police welcomed the impact of the lecture, as it was a good opportunity to reevaluate both male and female officers’ work styles. We are eager to share the knowledge gained from our own experience in advocating gender equality for the betterment of society.

Lecture on Empowering Women Given by Yamaguchi Josei Katsuyaku Ouendan

Lecture on Empowering Women Given at the Yamaguchi Prefectural Police Headquarters

Childcare Support

In the drive to make the childcare environment better through company cooperation, Shiseido started a childcare business in 2017 with the establishment of KODOMOLOGY Co., Ltd., which focuses on the entrusted operation of in-house childcare facilities within businesses. In addition to the operation of in-house nurseries, such as KANGAROOM Shiodome (2003)＊ and KANGAROOM Kakegawa (2017), we began supporting the establishment and management of 3 childcare facilities at other companies in Kanagawa Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture (2 facilities in Shizuoka and 1 facility in Kanagawa as of the end of December 2022). In April 2022, the parenting training program for men “KODOMOLOGY Ikutore—Preparing for Paternity Leave”, started full-scale operations at KANGAROOM Shiodome in response to the phased implementation of the new legal requirements for paternity leave in Japan. This program provides support for participants in gaining an awareness of childcare and greater family involvement in childcare while pursuing careers. A cumulative total of 52 participants (as of the end of December 2022), including Shiseido employees and their families, completed the program, and many commented that they felt more positive with the parenting training, and that the program provided an opportunity to consider the balance of childcare and career as a family.

*KODOMOLOGY Co., Ltd. closed KANGAROOM Shiodome at the end of March 2023 and started the childcare support program, “KANGAROOM +” for employees of Shiseido and alliance partners in April 2023.

Click here for information on employee support in balancing work and childcare/family care.

Click here for information on KANGAROOM +（in Japanese only）

In-house daycare nursery, KANGAROOM Kakegawa

KODOMOLOGY Ikutore

Supporting Female Researchers in Natural Sciences

The ratio of female researchers in Japan is low compared to Western nations, remaining at roughly 17.8%. To help improve this situation, Shiseido supports female researchers in Japan who are engaged in world-leading, innovative research in the natural sciences through the Shiseido Female Researcher Science Grant. Launched in 2007, the grant is now in its 16th year, and in 2023, it has awarded research grants to 10 female researchers. This grant is distinguished by its versatility, providing recipients with support in everyday matters, such as childbirth and childcare, so long as the funding is used to enable them to conduct their research. To date, it has contributed to the research results and career development of 159 researchers.

In 2023, an awards ceremony to encourage networking among female researchers for the realization of a sustainable society was held at the Shiseido Global Innovation Center in Yokohama. In a survey^* of previous award winners regarding the status of female researchers, over 80% of them responded that they have struggled because of their gender, with many saying that they have difficulty balancing family and work responsibilities, that there aren’t many female researchers, that their positions aren’t well understood, and that they don’t have anybody around them to consult or exchange information with. These responses highlight the reality of female researchers. They often easily feel isolated or anxious about their career development and face difficulties in balancing family and work responsibilities within the traditional gender roles common in Japanese society. On the other hand, when asked about the benefits of receiving the grant besides the grant itself, respondents said that the interaction with other talented recipients gave them new ideas, that just winning the award provided emotional support, that they were able to interact with other Shiseido researchers, and that they felt they had been recognized by those around them.
Networking is essential for researchers to develop their ideas, produce research results, and give back to society. We hope that the network we have built through this grant will support the next generation of female researchers in the natural sciences.

*Survey Period: November 16-30, 2022; No. of Respondents among Shiseido Female Researcher Science Grant Recipients: 74 (No. of Eligible Respondents: 119)

Click here for details on the Shiseido Female Researcher Science Grant

The Shiseido Female Researcher Science Grant award ceremony

SCIENCE GRANT

Activities through Sports
Strong, Fast, Beautiful—the motto of the Shiseido Running Club

The Shiseido Running Club was established in 1979, the year when the first Tokyo International Women's Marathon was held as the first international women's marathon race in Japan. "Strong, Fast, Beautiful" is the motto of the club that introduced a number of athletes who left their mark on women's athletics in Japan, including Chie Matsuda, Mari Tanigawa, and Harumi Hiroyama. Nine^* athletes are currently in the club. These include, Yuka Takashima (participated in the Rio Olympics), Mao Ichiyama (won a prize at the Tokyo Olympics) and Rino Goshima (participated in the World Athletics Championships, Oregon 2022 and the World Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023), and they are contributing to the enhancement of athletic skills of Japanese women through global competition. In the 42nd All-Japan Women's Corporate Ekiden Championship (Queen‘s Ekiden) in November 2022, a memorable year being that it was the 150th anniversary of Shiseido's establishment, the club won the second championship for the first time in 16 years, setting a new championship record, with roadside cheers from about 200 employees of Shiseido group in Japan. Our female runners continue to overcome challenges to achieve higher goals. Their running not only encourages many people but also fosters the unity of the employees of Shiseido group and the culture of learning from each other.

*As of the end of December 2023

Click here for the Shiseido Running Club (in Japanese only)

Shiseido Ladies Open aspiring to achieve Active Beauty

Shiseido sponsors the “Shiseido Ladies Open,^*” a tournament certified by the Japan Ladies Professional Golfers' Association (JLPGA), under the tournament philosophy of promoting ”active beauty” both in terms of mind and body through the dynamic performances of female athletes and with the aim of creating a brighter world filled with smiles. In 2023, the tournament attracted approximately 22,000 visitors over its four days. Shiseido also held a charity auction with the cooperation of the players, and the proceeds were donated to the Female Athletes Health Support Committee to support their women's health projects.