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The Elsevier Foundation and RIKEN have launched a comprehensive report that has focused on advancing gender equity and women’s leadership across Japan’s research landscape. Titled “Envisioning Futures: Women’s Leadership and Gender Equity in Japanese Research,” the report represents a collaboration between the Elsevier Foundation and RIKEN, Japan’s leading research institute. It highlights the experiences, achievements, and challenges of women research leaders in Japan.

Combining data-driven analysis with personal narratives, the publication serves as both a roadmap for institutional transformation and a call to action to promote the advancement of women in science and innovation.

The report demonstrates that, despite Japan’s global reputation for technological progress, the country continues to face persistent gender disparities within its research community. Through powerful stories, “Envisioning Futures” illustrates the resilience, ingenuity, and leadership of women scientists whose work has shaped Japanese research. By amplifying these perspectives and acknowledging their crucial contributions, the initiative aims to motivate future generations to pursue scientific careers and reshape the country’s research culture toward inclusivity.

Key findings

• Significant gender gap: As of March 31, 2024, women represent 22% of active researchers in Japan, a figure that remains substantially below the global average of 41%.

• Leadership disparity: Women account for only 16% of scientific publication authorships and 17% of patent applications, reflecting a notable underrepresentation in senior research and innovation roles.

• Nonlinear pathways: Many women research leaders have progressed through flexible, opportunity-driven career routes, viewing interruptions as opportunities for resilience and personal growth.

• People-centered leadership: Interviewees describe laboratory environments centered on empowerment, collaboration, and psychological safety, fostering inclusive “communities of belonging.”

• Mentorship and networks: Access to mentorship and professional networks is identified as a critical factor in supporting women’s career advancement and confidence in research.

• Cultural barriers: The study underscores continuing challenges, including unconscious bias, unequal evaluation standards, cultural expectations, and insufficient institutional support for work-life balance.

• Progress and gaps: Although Japan’s government has established ambitious targets for women’s participation and leadership, progress remains gradual, emphasizing the need for continued focus and systemic effort.

Rethinking success metrics: The report advocates for expanding evaluation frameworks beyond traditional measures such as publication counts and patents to include societal impact, interdisciplinarity, mentorship, and science communication, ensuring that diverse contributions are acknowledged.

Dr. Yuko Harayama, Secretary General of the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), and former Executive Director for International Affairs at RIKEN as well as a former member of The Elsevier Foundation Board, has highlighted that the experiences of these pioneering women research leaders demonstrate that true scientific progress depends on inclusion, resilience, and collective action. She has emphasized that recognizing diverse career trajectories and valuing broader forms of achievement are essential for creating a research ecosystem that supports innovation and equality.

Ylann Schemm, Executive Director of The Elsevier Foundation, has added that the partnership with RIKEN exemplifies a shared commitment to inclusivity in science. She has noted that by combining the stories of Japan’s women research leaders with national data, the “Envisioning Futures” report offers both insight and inspiration for cultural and institutional change. Schemm has further highlighted that RIKEN’s leadership and open approach to dialogue are contributing to the development of a more inclusive future for Japanese science, helping to amplify women’s voices and create pathways for the next generation of researchers to thrive.