Empowering Women in Construction

Feb 19, 2024 | News On Japan

TOKYO - In the construction industry, where labor shortages are becoming increasingly severe, both the government and companies are focusing on acquiring female talent. We investigated the efforts of a construction company where women are leading the way on the job site.

In July last year, a new construction project began under the elevated tracks of the Keikyu Line. The site was filled with women in work clothes and helmets. The reason? At "Keikyu Construction," a group called "Keikyu Komachi-kai" was formed, consisting of female technical staff members who are working to create a more comfortable environment, including revising work clothes for women. This time, they took on the challenge of constructing a building from scratch.

Takumi Takahashi, a member of Keikyu Komachi-kai and an 8-year veteran at the company, is the site supervisor, while Chika Kurishima, with 6 years of experience, is in charge of design. Together with other members of Keikyu Komachi-kai, they are handling the construction of the building.

The construction industry is facing a serious shortage of labor, and although the number of women working in technical roles on-site has doubled since 2014, they are still a minority.

Takahashi, the first female technical staff member at Keikyu Construction, said, "I hope to create a more comfortable working environment and be a pioneer in this effort."

As a site supervisor, Takahashi manages the work process and coordinates with the construction ordering party, placing special emphasis on entrusting important tasks to newer employees.

One of the focuses of this project is to record the construction process, which will also be used for building inspections.

Kairi Otsuka, a second-year employee, expressed her gratitude for being entrusted with important tasks, despite feeling the pressure.

The building constructed by the women supervisors and designers will primarily serve as an office for night construction workers to take breaks. The design ensures separate areas for men and women to maintain privacy, with the women's room featuring orange wallpaper for a bright and spacious feel when sunlight enters, and a pink washbasin.

Kurishima hopes that the pink color will bring a cheerful mood to those using the facilities. The ordering party praised the construction, noting the good communication and meticulous work.

According to Keikyu Construction, the era when construction sites could be managed solely by male technical staff is coming to an end, and this initiative represents a significant step forward.

Kurishima believes that being a woman allowed her to focus on specific details, and Takahashi thinks that by creating jobs that can only be done by those who have worked on-site, and prioritizing the opinions of women who want to work until the last minute before marriage or childbirth, the number of women in the construction industry will increase.

Source: 日テレNEWS

Toyota to Launch Self-Driving Taxis in 2027

Toyota Motor will begin operating fully autonomous taxis in 2027 through a partnership with U.S. self-driving technology company Waymo, marking a major step in the Japanese automaker's efforts to expand driverless transportation services.

Mount Fuji Puts on First Snowcap

Mount Fuji has received its first snowcap of the season, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced on October 30, after temperatures at the summit plunged to minus 9.4 degrees Celsius, marking the arrival of winter conditions on Japan's highest mountain.

Chinese Female Spy Suspected of Targeting Nvidia Chief

U.S. intelligence agencies suspect that a Chinese female intelligence operative developed a close relationship with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in an attempt to obtain confidential corporate and U.S. government information, according to a report published by The New York Times on October 29th.

Japan Blocks Websites Leaking GMO Personal Data

The Japanese government has asked major telecommunications operators to forcibly block access to websites believed to contain personal information stolen in a cyberattack on GMO, it emerged on October 29th, as authorities moved to prevent further exposure of sensitive data online.

Typhoon No. 31 Heads Toward Japan's Remote Islands

Typhoon No. 31 was located near Minamitorishima Island in the Pacific Ocean, as of 3 a.m. on October 30, and was expected to approach the Ogasawara Islands south of Tokyo over the October 31-November 1 weekend while maintaining very strong intensity, bringing a growing risk of dangerously high waves, powerful swells and extremely rough seas.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Cyberattacks Hit Muji, Matsuya, ANA and Foreign Ministry

A series of cyberattacks has exposed millions of personal records belonging to customers of major Japanese companies, including Muji, Matsuya and All Nippon Airways, as well as individuals connected to the Foreign Ministry, while cybersecurity experts investigating a separate attack involving GMO say a serious mistake by the hackers may provide crucial clues to their identities.

World's Largest Nitori Store Opens in Osaka

Japan's furniture and home goods retailer Nitori opened what it describes as its largest store in the world on October 30th in Osaka's Chayamachi district, bringing a major new retail destination to an area east of Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station known for its youth culture, fashion boutiques, and specialty shops.

Japan Stocks Plunge 1,369 Points as AI Selloff Hits Tokyo

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average plunged 1,369.36 points, or 2.12%, to close at 63,290.11 at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, October 30, ending a three-day winning streak as a sharp selloff in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares swept through the Tokyo market, while the Bank of Japan's decision to leave interest rates unchanged failed to restore investor confidence.

BOJ Says Underlying Inflation Has Effectively Reached 2% Target for First Time

The Bank of Japan announced on October 30th that underlying inflation has effectively reached its 2% target for the first time since the goal was introduced in 2013, marking a major milestone in the country's efforts to achieve sustained price growth, while keeping its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.25% as policymakers assess the impact of last month's rate increase.

Halloween Costume Prices Double in Five Years

Halloween celebrations across Japan are becoming increasingly expensive as October 31 approaches, with costume prices nearly doubling over the past five years and the average spending budget rising to 8,148 yen, prompting more people to find creative ways to enjoy the annual event without stretching their finances.

Hands Shibuya to Close After 48 Years

Hands Shibuya, one of Tokyo's best-known variety stores, will close on November 15 after 48 years in business, bringing an end to a shopping destination famous for its enormous selection of innovative household goods, stationery and unusual gadgets, with around 100,000 products still filling its shelves in the final weeks before closure.

Japan Stocks Rise for Third Day as Nikkei Reclaims 64,000

Tokyo stocks extended their recovery on Thursday, October 29, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 64,659.47 points at 3:30 p.m., up 705.28 points, or 1.10%, from the previous session, as renewed buying of semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares helped the benchmark record its third consecutive daily gain ahead of the Bank of Japan's monetary policy decision.

GMO Offers 150 Million Yen Reward to Identify Cyberattackers

GMO has announced a reward totaling approximately 150 million yen for information leading to the identification of hackers responsible for a cyberattack on its systems, while also pledging compensation to customers whose personal information has been exposed, as Japan faces a growing wave of cyberattacks targeting major companies.

< 2 3 4 5 >