Japanese women in management: Where are they?

The two economic superpowers, Japan and the United States, have different patterns of contribution by their female populations. The authors travelled to Japan to research and observe firsthand the contributions made and the roles filled by the Japanese female. A comparison of costs and benefits to each country created by the different roles of females is discussed. Questions such as the following are explored: Does the Japanese female contribution to child‐rearing and nurturing of new coporate members outweigh her lost contribution to the workplace? Has the United States gained or lost ground economically due to women integrating the American workplace? Will Japanese women be content to be on the fringes of the economic system for another generation? What is the likely future scenario for the workplace for both economic superpowers?