Women CEOs and the Glass Cliff in Japanese Companies

• In Event: Organizations, Occupations, and Work Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 22: Organizational Mechanisms of Gender Inequality

Abstract

Using the concept of the glass cliff, in which women are appointed to leadership roles with limited authority during company crises, this chapter explores the corporate and organizational contexts in which two women have been appointed as CEOs in large Japanese companies: Mitsuko Tottori at Japan Airlines and Yuko Seimei at Monex Group. By analyzing articles from large Japanese business magazines published from 2018 to 2025 and company websites, we examine these women’s leadership characteristics from the standpoints of changes to company performance, public image, and gender inequality. The CEO of Japan Airlines, Tottori, was repeatedly described as being invisible and lacking real power, even though her appointment restored the company’s brand image. Seimei at Monex Group was described as a loyal successor to her company’s founder and chairman, Matsumoto, and was reported as being actively involved in the company’s strategizing. However, the chairman continued to speak on behalf of the company and served as a gatekeeper, suggesting that Seimei’s leadership was largely shaped by his continued influence. This chapter’s findings confirm those of glass cliff scholars: simply increasing the number of women leaders is insufficient to change gender inequality in business management. Instead, it can reinforce traditional gender stereotypes in both corporate management and public perceptions of company leaders.

Authors

• Kumiko Nemoto, Senshu University

• Mieko Takahashi, Osaka University