A total of 33.4% of major companies listed in Japan had no female executives as of July, with the rate exceeding 50% in such sectors as shipping and pulp and paper, the Cabinet Office said last week.
Among the 2,189 companies listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, 732 did not have any women executives, such as board members and auditors, as of late July, according to a government tally.
The rate of major firms with no female executives has steadily declined from 62.0% in 2017, but it remains relatively high despite the country's efforts to promote women's representation in business.