According to Nintendo’s annual report published earlier this week, only 4.2% of company managers in Japan are women. This is a number that has remained unchanged since 2021, when the company formed its ‘Nintendo Women and Allies’ initiative, pledging to “promote women’s careers”
This is especially true when it comes to traditional gender roles in the workplace. Women in Japan are often only hired as secretaries or “office ladies” in big companies, basically to shuffle papers and serve tea. Not exactly big decision-making roles. Heck, even making an announcement is likely a big thing in this regard for a Japanese company, if they actually follow through they could really be seen as progressive by Japanese standards.