Kuniko Urano is the first, yes, the very first woman board member of Komatsu Ltd., a 98-year-old company that is the world¡¯s No. 2 construction and mining equipment maker.
The path that Urano, 63, took to the boardroom and the reason she¡¯s still a solo member on Komatsu¡¯s board say a great deal about Japan¡¯s difficulties in bridging the gender gap in a country that most acknowledge needs more women in positions of influence.
Worries about Japan¡¯s shrinking workforce and aging demographics have prompted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for years to promote lowering barriers that keep women from contributing fully to the economy.
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