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
