[New labour leader hopes to help women crack the glass ceiling] 7 October 2021

The first woman to chair Japan’s largest labour organization decided she would step into the role after listening to her own advice to young women: “Don’t miss an opportunity.”

Tomoko Yoshino, 55, became the eighth head of Rengo, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, on 6 October.

Yoshino was previously one of the 13 vice chairs of the organization, which comprises about 7 million members and 48 industry-based labour organizations.

But she said she was regarded as a representative of women at the table, since the other 12 were all men who doubled as heads of major affiliated industry-based labour organizations.

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Yoshino said she saw many senior women fail to shatter the glass ceiling. She has decided to dedicate her efforts toward promoting gender equality.

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“I will promote gender equality in all activities at Rengo,” she said.