Female Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Japan – A Study on Business Life Cycle Stages of Small and Medium Enterprises

There is a growing emphasis on the relationship between immigrant women and businesses. With time, it has come to knowledge that immigrant entrepreneurship is largely dependent on the opportunities and resources offered by the host country and this will determine the growth in small and medium enterprises, new ventures and overall entrepreneurial activity. Japan has traditionally been slow in entrepreneurship even as recent data shows a poor TEA score for the country. Women also have a limited participation and they are expected to be more involved in domestic activities. Although much is now changing in the face of an aging population, changing social structure and the need to boost economic activity, its impact on immigrant entrepreneurship, especially by owned by women, is yet to be understood. This paper looks at the issue by exploring such businesses across stages in a business life cycle. It identifies key motivators, challenges and barriers that most immigrant females face in business creation and development in Japan. Finally it proposes instrumental changes in the system to build a more positive environment and strengthen the prospects for immigrant entrepreneurship in Japan

Cultural Consumption and Citizen Engagement - Strategies for Built Heritage Conservation and Sustainable Development : A Case Study of Indore City, India

Cultural heritage is an invaluable asset of any city, region, or community and is an important component in the sustainable development of societies and economies. However, the role of cultural heritage has been understudied in terms of its social embeddedness and impact on social cohesion. This has led to a demand for more insights on how cultural heritage is conserved globally and more significantly via the role of societal stakeholders. Inclusive strategies allow diverse sections of a community to engage and enrich not only the anthropological interpretations of society but also support social stability and foster positive social change. This paper exemplifies how an inclusive approach was used to engage citizen engagement for the sustainable development of the built heritage in the city of Indore in central India. Best practices are presented through secondary data through various print and online sources relevant to the context. Open coding of secondary data has helped to identify strategic approaches and relationships that emerge as crucial to citizen engagement as presented in this study. The paper discusses strategies that, based on diversity and inclusivity, contribute to the enrichment of community knowledge, increased synergistic participation, and the enhancement of the sense of collective responsibility in cultural consumption

FEMALE IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A DEVELOPING SECTOR IN JAPAN'S ENTREPRENEURIAL ECONOMY

The role of women in Japan was traditionally restricted to housekeeping and childrearing. Over the years, changes in Japanese lifestyle and attitudes have created new grounds for women to venture into small businesses. Although this new personality aspect of women has been accepted, by and large, in larger cities of Japan, it is yet to be accepted in rural areas. Given this background, it becomes even more challenging for a foreigner — an immigrant woman entrepreneur — to set up shop and conduct business in Japan. This study looks at the status of female immigrant entrepreneurs in Japan. Through a qualitative study, it explores the experiences and challenges female entrepreneurs must face before they achieve stability in their businesses. It highlights and draws attention to areas where changes in governance structure and social acceptance can be made so a more positive environment can be built up and the relationship between Japan and the immigrant entrepreneurs can be strengthened.Women, immigrant entrepreneur, Japan, small business, social acceptance