March 9, 2021

Events and rallies in support of the International Women's Day took place in many locations in Japan on March 8 calling for true peace, gender equality, and solidarity with women around the world.

In Tokyo, the organizing committee of Tokyo events celebrating the International Women's Day 2021 held a "talk-rally" near JR Ochanomizu Station.

Shibata Masako, head of the Japan Federation of Women's Organizations (Fudanren) pointed out that burdens and possible health hazards facing women workers in the medical and nursing-care industries under the COVID-19 pandemic situation are increasing and that sexual/domestic violence and coronavirus-induced suicides of women are also increasing. She said, "COVID-19 countermeasures should be taken based on gender equality."

A representative of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) Women's Section said that around 60% of female workers in Japan work non-regular jobs, stressing the need to establish an "equal pay for equal work" system with an "8-hour workday" rule in order to ensure a decent life for all workers in Japan, regardless of sex. She said, "To achieve this, the role labor unions play is very important."

Yoneyama Junko, president of the New Japan Women's Association (Shinfujin) explained to rally participants and passersby the significance of a "selective dual surname" system. She said, "Let's raise our voices together to raise women's rights in Japan to international standards!"

In the evening of the same day, discussions hosted by the International Women’s Day Tokyo event organizing committee took place online under the slogan, "Don't be alone, Let's connect," with Asakura Mutsuko, professor emeritus of Waseda University, as an invited speaker.

Asakura pointed to the Optional Protocol to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, saying that women's rights in Japan should be improved to meet international standards. She called on viewers to increase the nationwide movement demanding gender equality in Japan.

Messages sent in solidarity to this online meeting from the International Women's Year Liaison Group and from women's organizations from more than ten countries, including Greece, Vietnam, and Brazil, were read.

Participants reported on activities in their communities involving workers, freelancers, small business owners, and farmers.

Messages were also sent in solidarity from the Japanese Communist Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party, and the Okinawa Whirlwind.

Past related article:
> On International Women’s Day, Japanese women take to streets to protest against sexual violence against women [March 9 2020]