Participation in the 30% Club Japan
The 30% Club, a global campaign to boost female representation on company boards, launched in Japan in May 2019. Since its launch, Masahiko Uotani — Representative Director, President and CEO of Shiseido — has served as Chair. The 30% Club Japan strives to increase the proportion of female executive officers in Japanese companies.
Under Mr. Uotani’s leadership, the 30% Club Japan established the “TOPIX Presidents’ Committee,” a community of 33 leaders from TOPIX 100 and TOPIX Mid 400 companies. The Committee works to achieve a 30% ratio of female directors at TOPIX 100 companies by 2030.
To address the main factors that impede women’s career growth, the 30% Club Japan promotes collaborative initiatives among member companies. Initiatives include career exploration opportunities for young female employees, sharing management know-how to support employees through childbirth and child-rearing, and exchange events for female executive candidates and leaders of the TOPIX Presidents’ Committee.
To date, the 30% Club Japan has held five TOPIX Presidents’ Committee meetings. In 2021, meetings focused on the appointment of women to executive officer and organization head positions, with discussions based on case studies from member companies. The project management team, which consists of 75 employees from 33 member companies, also organizes cross-company initiatives to resolve common issues related to life events — especially in the development of career awareness among young women and the elimination of “Mommy Track.”
Efforts over the last three years have led to a 14.1% rise in women in executive positions at member companies of the TOPIX Presidents’ Committee (versus the national average). We have also seen steady progress in the elimination of gender gap inequality.
Shiseido will lead the transformation of Japanese companies toward breaking away from homogeneity through innovation and by promoting the active participation of women.
Empowering Women through Collaboration with Local Governments
In 2021, Shiseido Japan and Hiroshima Prefecture concluded a joint agreement to promote the empowerment of women.
As part of our activities, we conduct beauty seminars to support women’s social participation and employment in Hiroshima. To promote awareness and communication of the empowerment of women, we also contribute to local societies and support the formation of networks of working women.
In March 2021, to commemorate the launch of the agreement, we held an online seminar for 14 women seeking re-employment. The seminar included a makeup lecture and makeup tips for online interviews.
In support of Hiroshima’s internship program for mothers of young children, we held skincare and makeup classes specifically designed for job seeking activities, as well as online company briefing sessions.
Childcare Support
To improve the childcare environment through coordination among companies, Shiseido launched its 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 our own in-house nurseries — Kangaroom Shiodome (opened in 2003) and Kangaroom Kakegawa (opened in 2017) — we began supporting and managing two childcare facilities at other companies in Kanagawa and Shizuoka Prefectures.
In 2021, we launched Ikutore, a childcare training program for men. Through hands-on training by childcare staff at Kangaroom Shiodome, participants gain first-hand awareness of childcare and learn how to pursue their career while the whole family becomes a team.
Supporting Female Researchers in Natural Sciences
We are working to increase the ratio of female researchers in Japan, which remains at a low level of about 17.5% compared to Western nations. To achieve this, we provide support for women conducting world-leading research in the field of natural sciences.
In 2007, we established the Shiseido Female Researcher Science Grant, which provides funding for 10 female researchers per year. In 2021 — its 14th year of operation — a grant of JPY 1 million was bestowed to each researcher. The grant provides unique flexibility, allowing researchers to use the money in support of life events including childbirth and childcare while conducting research.
To date, we have contributed to the research achievements of 139 female researchers in Japan.
Supporting the Creation of a “Third Place” for Working Women
We have been supporting the Corporate Ladies Team Golf Tournament as a special sponsor since 2019. The tournament focuses on the significance of a “third place” — a place where women’s work and private lives are bridged. We seek to support the creation of such a place where working women with common interests can gather, form relationships, and motivate one another towards shining brighter — both at home and at work. We see this tournament as an opportunity to increase women’s empowerment within Japanese society.
Aiming to inspire women who continue to work hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, the theme of the 2021 tournament was “Power of Women 2021: Let’s expand the circle of support!” In 2021, 232 participants from 90 companies joined the tournament. Since its launch in 2019, a total of 716 participants from 149 companies have come together to expand their network and spark a brighter future.
