Landmark EO Chapter Launches in Japan with Strong Commitment to Inclusion and Gender Balance

English | 日本語

7 March 2025 (Tokyo, Japan / Virginia, U.S) – The Entrepreneurs’ Organization welcomes EO Beyond Japan, a new chapter that has adopted a groundbreaking approach to gender parity in a country where men tend to be heavily and often disproportionately represented in its business community. Beyond Japan hopes to achieve an even 50-50 split among male and female members. It is EO’s 18th chapter in Japan, 30th in North Asia, and 220th chapter worldwide.

“The EO Beyond Japan Chapter is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and championing diversity by engaging underrepresented communities within Japan,” said Minako Suematsu, the new chapter president and a 20-year EO member. “This diversity showcases the rich perspectives that drive entrepreneurial success.”

Already, the chapter has nearly achieved some of its ambitious goals. Beyond Japan launched with 26 members, 12 of whom are women. Its founding board is evenly split between men and women leaders.

While EO has thrived in Japan over the past three decades, women have been underrepresented among the country’s members. An imbalance in gender representation is not unique to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in EO’s membership. According to the World Economic Forum, Japan ranks 118th in the world in terms of gender balance in its economy. By comparison, other developed economies are achieving greater balance and ranking higher: France is 22nd in the same measure, the U.S. is 43rd, and South Korea stands 94th.

Although EO members in Japan have worked together in hopes of bridging that gap for the past several years, their efforts require innovative thinking. Minako led the initiative to create the new Beyond Japan community as a means of becoming a testing ground for new ideas that might catalyze change more rapidly. If their model proves successful, Minako and other chapter members plan to share lessons from their novel approach with peers from other EO chapters around the country, in hopes that it will spur adoption of best practices.

Jun Tarikino, a 17-year EO member through its chapter in Kyoto who serves as the organization's current Regional Chair in North Asia, underscored the challenges the new chapter will address.

“Japanese society faces challenges in promoting women’s participation and embracing diversity. Female entrepreneurs are a minority, and the environment is not yet well-developed to support them. Our new Beyond Japan chapter is designed to create a majority environment through gender balance, and to develop EO products that are more accessible to women. Its inclusive structure will become a key initiative in addressing some of Japan’s societal challenges."

Change is already underway. Men who belong to the new chapter report being eager to engage in its intentional structure, even if they find persistent challenges to effect change within their companies or industries. For women in the new chapter who are often accustomed to being in the small minority in business dealings and networks, a sense of optimism springs from the belief that a commitment to gender balance will provide a refreshing new dynamic and member experience.

Minako is the publisher of the largest and most well-established English-language news outlet in the country, The Japan Times. She is also the founder of the first certified elementary boarding school for children in Japan. She added, “With Beyond Japan, we can meet the needs of those who are looking for something new, in addition to all of the other wonderful opportunities like networking and EO Forum.”

EO launched its first chapter in Japan in 1995. Since then, EO has grown faster there than in other leading economies, and the country now boasts more than 1,200 entrepreneurs who belong as members. Each member owns a business that generates more than $1 million USD annually.

“We have set a vision of reaching 2,000 members in Japan by mid-2027 and 3,000 members by mid-2030", Jun explained. “We aim to grow EO into an essential platform for entrepreneurs within Japan, driving societal progress forward. I look forward to seeing Minako-san, the champion of this new EO chapter, together with our entrepreneurial members, achieve remarkable success in Japan and beyond!”

EO Beyond Japan held a launch party on 31 January in Tokyo and hosted a retreat in Yokohama in late February. Learn more about EO’s newest community on its website.

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Notes to Editors:

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About Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is the world’s largest membership network exclusively by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, everywhere. Since 1987, EO has been supporting the world’s leading builders of business to realize more of their potential by fostering connections, applying leadership skills, and creating belonging across industries and borders. Nearly 20,000+ entrepreneurs in 90+ countries make up EO’s network of leaders, who enjoy local and global membership experiences that go beyond the business to support the whole entrepreneur. For more information or to get involved, follow us on Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, and visit our website: www.eonetwork.org