Kyodo News Rie Karasawa is the latest addition to a growing number of Japanese female entrepreneurs moving into a business world long dominated by men.
She gave up her executive position with cosmetics firm Noevir Co. last summer and set out to follow the example of pioneer female entrepreneur Reiko Okutani, who founded The R, a temporary employment agency, in 1982 after resigning from Japan Airlines.
"The business world was a male society," Karasawa said. "Women were not considered human resources. I had to become a company president to do what I wanted to do." Karasawa, 38, started a business consulting firm in October in her condominium near Tokyo's National Stadium to help others, particularly women, develop their talents.