Kobe City: Women’s Advancement and Realization of Diverse Lifestyles

Ten years have passed since the enactment of the Law for the Promotion of Women’s Activities, but Japan’s gender gap index remains low, ranking 118th in the world. The percentage of women in employment and management positions is lower than that of men, and gender-based biases and stereotypes continue to make it difficult for both men and women to choose the lifestyle they desire. Kobe City is promoting the realization of a society where women can live “their own way” through the opening of “Asutep Coworking,” a free coworking space for women with childcare, and efforts to promote diverse ways of life.

Asutepu Coworking

Asutepu Coworking, a free coworking space for women operated by Kobe City, was opened in September 2021 in the Kobe Gender Equality Center (Asutepu KOBE).

The facility, which is free of charge and can be used with children, offers seminars and career counseling to support women’s continued employment and career development. It also functions as a place for information sharing and exchange through the formation of a community among users.

For details, please visit the Asutepu Coworking page (external website).

The “I-ness” Project

Aiming to become a sustainable city, the City of Kobe is promoting efforts to realize a society where people can live “as I am” without gender restrictions.

For more information, please visit the ” Be Yourself” Project page.