EMERGING FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN JAPAN: A CASE STUDY OF DIGIMOM WORKERS

An economic solution for reversing Japan’s financial challenges is entrepreneurship. New ventures are emerging outside the traditional Japanese management systems of lifetime employment, seniority systems, enterprise unions, and the Japanese business culture which stresses a group-oriented, risk-adverse orientation. Governmental changes are slowly improving the climate for entrepreneurship. Using a case study approach, this article follows the development and strategic challenges facing the company, Digimom (or “Digital Mom”) Workers, and profiles the historic and cultural challenges facing a female entrepreneur in Japan. Financial reports as well as a profile of the competitive environment are included. Implications and lessons learned follow the case analysis.