Japanese Working Mothers

Watch this short report by the Financial Times and try and answer the questions below.  The reporter is a Japanese woman and it features three interviews with Japanese women speaking English.  Listen carefully for the numerical data and for the opinions of the women.

What percentage of leadership positions is the government aiming to have filled by women by 2030?

1. 30%
2. 20%
3. 12%

When Maki Yoshida joined her company, there were…

1. A lot of women in her department
2. Only women in her department
3. No other women working in her department

What is the rule that Hidemi Kimura and her husband have established?

1. They take their children out to dinner every night
2. At least one of them has dinner with their children
3. Hidemi must always prepare dinner for their children

Miki Matsui can work reduced hours until her children are at least…

1. 3 years old
2. 13 years old
3. 3 months old

How does Miki Matsui feel the government can help families in Japan?

1. By giving working-mothers more money
2. By creating more day-care centres
3. By having more female politicians

By how much does the OCD predict the Japanese labour force will decline over the next ten years?

1. 10%
2. 20%
3. 30%