123: How the pandemic exacerbated Japan's gender inequality w/ Hanako Montgomery

<div>During the pandemic, women in Japan have been more likely to lose their jobs, face increased pressure at home and be victims of domestic violence. And data released earlier this month showed that in 2021 suicides increased among women for the second year running, whilst declining for men. </div> <div><br> </div> <div>Hanako Montgomery, a reporter for Vice World News in Japan, discusses Japan’s poor record on gender equality, why the pandemic has impacted women in particular, and what the country is trying to do about the rise in suicides among women. <br> <br> <strong>Read/see more: </strong> </div> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kK9dpazrMY">Japan Is Facing an Alarming Spike in Female Suicides</a> (Hanako Montgomery, Vice)</li> <li> <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/03/15/national/females-suicides-rise-2021/">Suicides by women rose in Japan for second straight year in 2021</a> (The Japan Times)</li> <li> <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qj8vdw/japan-covid-mental-health-suicides">COVID scared her. But it was loneliness that nearly killed her. </a>(Hanako Montgomery, Vice)</li> <li> <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkpv4n/japanese-schools-ban-ponytail-sexism">Japanese schools are still banning ponytails because they could ‘sexually excite’ men</a> (Hanako Montgomery, Vice)</li> <li> <a href="https://bloste.net">Bloste counseling app</a> </li> </ul> <div> <br> <strong>The Japan Times 125th anniversary discount:<br> </strong>To celebrate our 125th anniversary, The Japan Times is offering <a href="https://bit.ly/jt125dd">a lifetime discount</a> to its premium digital plan. You’ll have unlimited access to The Japan Times’ content, no ads on the website, and a digital copy of the printed paper. All for just ¥1,600 a month. This offer expires on March 31. For more details on how to sign up, head to <a href="https://bit.ly/jt125dd">jtimes.jp/jt125dd</a>.<br> <strong><br> Sponsor: <br> </strong>Today’s episode is sponsored by RGF Professional Recruitment Japan, the bi