Japan's Largest Labor Union Rengo Appoints First Female President in 32 Years Since Founding

▲Yoshino Tomoko (55, female), new president of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] For the first time, a woman has been appointed as the president of the largest nationwide labor union central organization in Japan, the "Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo)."

According to Asahi and Mainichi newspapers on the 7th, at Rengo's regular convention held the previous day, Vice President Yoshino Tomoko (55, female) was appointed as the successor to outgoing President Kozo Rikio (65).

This is the first time in 32 years since the organization's establishment in 1989 that a woman has become the president of Rengo.

Yoshino is also the first president to come from an industry-specific organization composed of small and medium-sized enterprise unions.

The term for the Rengo president is two years.

Yoshino expressed her thoughts, saying, "I feel a lot of anxiety about whether I am suitable to be the leader of 7 million union members, but I decided that we must not miss the opportunity to break the glass ceiling."

After graduating from high school, she joined Tokyo-based sewing machine manufacturer "JUKI" in 1984 and became the company's union chairperson in 2010.

Since 2015, she has served as vice president of "JAM," an industry-specific union for small and medium-sized manufacturers, and concurrently held the position of vice president assigned to women by Rengo.

On the 6th, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu commented on Yoshino's appointment as Rengo president, saying, "I have heard that she has actively promoted gender equality and diversity, and I expect her to continue her activities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.