Abstract
Japan has been identified as the nation where women’s participation is least advanced. This article addresses the central problem of women’s persistent underrepresentation in higher education and research in Japan. The research questions are: (1) How have government policies influenced universities’ actions? (2) What impacts can be observed from measures such as female quotas? (3) What lessons can Japan’s case provide in an international context? The underrepresentation of women in universities, particularly in science and engineering, is a significant issue. The analysis is grounded in theories of diversity and innovation. Methodologically, the study relies on document analysis of government plans, statistical data, and case studies of universities. Findings suggest that while policies such as the Basic Plans have shaped institutional practices, their effectiveness remains uneven. The article shows that Japan’s evolving approach highlights both the potential and the limitations of state-driven gender equality policies. Numerous universities have adopted a policy of exclusively recruiting female faculty members, while student admissions examinations are being aggressively opened more to women. These developments are in alignment with the government’s policy plans, suggesting that government-led initiatives are beginning to yield tangible results. Underway initiatives are closely related to the promotion of gendered innovations with the objective of enhancing scientific progress, and are recently promoted in Japan. It is anticipated that the consequences will disseminate throughout society. The cornerstone of gender equality is the eradication of discrimination within society. However, it is insufficient to effect societal change. This article elucidates the reasons why tackling discrimination alone will not achieve the ambitions of the changes actually occurring. The benefits of diversity are not only enjoyed by certain people. Gender equality benefits all the people in the society. With this understanding, there has been notable progress towards gender equality in recent years, especially in the field of higher education institutions.
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Data availability
The data used in Table 1 and 3 are publicly available from official sources, such as government ministries and universities. The data in Table 2 were obtained from previously published studies. All sources are listed in the references section.All data is provided in the manuscript file.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to Professor Kaoru Tamada for her invaluable contribution of information regarding Kyushu University's data. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to Professor Reiko Motohashi for her insights regarding Shizuoka University's initiatives concerning gendered innovations. This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
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First author (Watanabe): Writing—original draft, Conceptualization. Second author (Sasaki): Writing—section titled “Initiatives to promote gendered nnovations in universities”.
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Watanabe, M.O., Sasaki, N. The evolving landscape of gender equality in Japanese higher education, research, and innovation. Humanit Soc Sci Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-06516-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-06516-5
