Women in Science and Mathematics in Japan and Asia-Oceania

The current landscape of women’s participation in STEM in Japan and the broader Asia-Oceania region still exhibits gender disparities. Despite high academic performance in STEM among Japanese students, a persistently low percentage of women pursue advanced STEM degrees, particularly PhDs in mathematics, where Japan ranks among the lowest globally. To address this gap, Japan and other countries have implemented various initiatives, such as STEM outreach programs, affirmative actions, and policy recommendations from advisory bodies like the Science Council of Japan and for mathematics in particular, associations of women mathematicians in the different continents.. Additionally, the newly established Asian and Oceanian Women in Mathematics (AOWM) organization seeks to support and promote women in mathematics through networking, mentoring, and collaborative events. The AOWM has also encouraged its members to strengthen their organizations and address/resolve the gender bias in their home countries.