Public-Private Partnership DX Women's Advancement Consortium Celebrates First Anniversary with Event

To create an environment where women can work as they wish, MAIA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuka Tsukita; hereinafter referred to as "MAIA"), which supports the development of female digital talent and the digitalization of companies and local governments nationwide, participates in the "Public-Private Partnership DX Women's Advancement Consortium." This consortium was established with the aim of developing female digital talent and promoting regional DX. A first-anniversary event was held on July 7, 2026 (Tue.), marking one year since its launch, and Representative Director Yuka Tsukita took the stage.

About the Public-Private Partnership DX Women's Advancement Consortium and the First Anniversary Event

The "Public-Private Partnership DX Women's Advancement Consortium" was established on July 7, 2025, with Ms. Chieko Yada, former Special Advisor to the Prime Minister (Employment and Wages), as its representative director. The organization aims to solve social issues such as correcting the wage gap for women and promoting DX in regional companies, with a focus on developing regional women as digital talent and supporting their employment. Through collaboration with companies, organizations, and local governments, it promotes initiatives that support women from acquiring digital skills to employment and beyond.

The event, held at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Annex "Betsunana," brought together participants from diverse backgrounds, including government officials, local governments, companies, and organizations. It reviewed the consortium's activities over the past year and shared practical examples and future directions regarding the support for women's digital skill acquisition and employment, as well as the promotion of DX in regional companies. The numerous examples of women from diverse backgrounds acquiring digital skills and forging new careers and regional roles were highly praised by many attendees.

First Anniversary Event Overview

- Date and Time: July 7, 2026 (Tue.) Event 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM / Reception 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Venue: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Annex "Betsunana" - Program 1. Greeting from Government Representative 2. Introduction of Guests 3. Report on One Year of Initiatives 4. Introduction of Initiatives by Related Government Ministries and Agencies 5. Introduction of Regional and Corporate Initiatives 6. Sharing of Future Activity Plans, etc.

Ryosei Akazawa, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry: "Women's Advancement Enhances the Quality of Decision-Making"

At the beginning of the event, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa delivered a greeting on behalf of the government.

Minister Akazawa stated that with the increasing labor shortage due to declining birthrates and an aging population, improving productivity through digitalization and AI utilization is indispensable. He emphasized that the significance of promoting women's advancement goes beyond simply securing labor. He spoke about the importance of improving productivity through digitalization and AI utilization, and reskilling support to enhance women's earning power.

Japan is now facing a full-scale constraint on labor supply due to population decline, declining birthrates, and an aging population. As the workforce shrinks, if we do not dramatically increase productivity through digitalization and AI utilization, our GDP, tax revenue, and our ability to support social security will all diminish. This is an issue that must be addressed seriously.

However, the reason for promoting women's advancement is not solely to secure labor. When women participate in decision-making, the quality of decision-making dramatically improves. I believe this is the essential reason why we should promote women's advancement. Therefore, we need to promote the appointment of women to leadership positions so that they can enter decision-making forums, and broaden the base of women active in various fields.

Many women interrupt their careers due to childbirth, childcare, or nursing care. The spread of AI and digital technology holds great potential to change the very nature of work. It is important for women to acquire digital skills and AI utilization capabilities, enabling them to work regardless of regional or family circumstances, which will enhance their earning power and help resolve the gender wage gap.

The initiatives of this consortium, which comprehensively supports women from skill acquisition to employment, are extremely important. I pray for its future development with the slogan "Let's change the world together!"

Ryosei Akazawa, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry

Chieko Yada, Representative Director: "The Second Year Will Be a Year of Social Implementation"

Next, Chieko Yada, Representative Director of this consortium and advisor to MAIA, looked back on the past year's initiatives and spoke about future prospects.

Over the past year, through interactions with local governments, companies, and women who have learned digital skills, I have felt that the energy of women wanting to challenge DX far exceeds my imagination. Through reskilling, women are steadily emerging in their regions who have found new ways of working and careers that suit them. I have witnessed many instances where one person's challenge has begun to change not only their own life but also the atmosphere of their surroundings and region.

On the other hand, we have also identified challenges where women who have learned skills are not yet sufficiently connected with companies and jobs where they can utilize their skills. In some regions, companies are unable to provide work opportunities for women, or local governments have not fully grasped the DX needs of regional companies, creating an opportunity gap with urban areas. The development of corporate environments for women to demonstrate their abilities, such as flexible working styles, evaluation systems, psychological safety, and access to decision-making forums, has not yet caught up.

Therefore, we want the second year to be a year of social implementation. First, we will disseminate the examples created by each company in the first year to various regions across the country. We will also expand consortium membership to companies and local governments, strengthening the co-creation platform. Furthermore, we will create career paths for regional DX that connect learning in rural areas with work. We aim to create such a cycle in various regions, where people learn online, practice with jobs at major companies, and leverage that experience to promote DX in small and medium-sized regional companies and local governments.

We want to promote reforms where challenging DX is not special for women, where companies recognize women's capabilities as assets, and where local governments welcome women as drivers of regional DX. We want to advance reforms where not just one person is the protagonist, but where companies, local governments, the government, and each individual woman challenging themselves are all protagonists.

Chieko Yada, Former Special Advisor to the Prime Minister (Employment and Wages) / Advisor to MAIA

MAIA Introduces Initiatives Connecting Women's Reskilling and Employment

In the case study presentation by participating members, MAIA Representative Yuka Tsukita introduced the achievements and future initiatives of our reskilling support program, "Digital Women Project." Additionally, a graduate who completed the "Yamanashi Women's Digital Talent Project" and is currently engaged in a project for MISUMI Group Inc. took the stage. She spoke about the changes she experienced after her training and her current work style.

MAIA Representative Yuka Tsukita MAIA collaborates with local governments nationwide to support women's reskilling and employment so they can work while living in their regions. Collaboration with local governments, which began in fiscal year 2022, has expanded annually, with initiatives starting this fiscal year in Okayama Prefecture, Shizuoka City and Kakegawa City in Shizuoka Prefecture, among others.

When I speak with women across the country, I hear many voices saying, "I love my region and want to continue living here, but there are no jobs where I can utilize my skills and experience." Some individuals find it difficult to work full-time or commute due to childcare, nursing care, or relocation. There are many talented individuals in various regions, so I hope companies will turn their attention to these areas.

MAIA Representative Yuka Tsukita

Voice of a Graduate I had to quit my job due to nursing care, but I always had the desire to "work again someday." That's when I was introduced to the "Digital Women Project." I started the course in November 2024 and completed it in March of the following year, 2025. Since June, I have been working on projects for MISUMI Group Inc.

Currently, I am involved in tasks such as checking AI-generated Chinese translations and ensuring consistency in expressions. It's a job that allows me to utilize my experience as a Japanese language teacher in Taiwan and my Chinese language skills. Since it's fully remote, it's very convenient for me to handle sudden needs related to my children or nursing care, and I am truly grateful.

I personally didn't have any IT skills initially and sometimes thought, "This might be impossible..." but I've learned that you can change if you have the motivation. It's never too late. I would be happy if more people would take on the challenge.

Graduate Tomoko Sakamoto (Left)

MAIA is in charge of the Local Government Subcommittee within this consortium. During the "Sharing of Future Activity Plans" session at the end of the meeting, a report was also given on the status of challenges related to the development of female digital talent and employment support in local governments.

While some local governments are already implementing measures, others are unsure how to proceed or are struggling with a lack of employment opportunities or support systems for those who have reskilled. The challenges vary by municipality. Going forward, through dialogue with many local governments, we plan to consider mechanisms that allow local governments, regional companies, and urban companies to connect and deepen collaboration, after organizing the industrial structure and challenges specific to each region. We also indicated our intention to make policy recommendations based on the challenges and necessary support identified on the ground.

MAIA will continue to work as a member of the Public-Private Partnership DX Women's Advancement Consortium to create systems that enable women to utilize their skills while choosing their preferred work styles and contribute to the DX promotion of companies and regions.

Company Profile

<About MAIA Co., Ltd.>

MAIA's mission is to "Co-Create the Future: Create a society where everyone can be independent as an individual, live freely and authentically, and co-create." The company develops businesses that combine women's advancement, regions, and IT. By supporting women in improving their IT skills and promoting the success of those who acquire these skills, MAIA drives DX for the nation, local governments, and companies.

【Head Office Location】16F, Ark Hills South Tower, 1-4-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

【Established】November 2017

【Representative】Yuka Tsukita, Representative Director and President

【Capital】23.3 million yen

【Website】https://www.maia.co.jp/

【Business Activities】Reskilling and employment support, regional revitalization support, IT consulting

<Inquiries Regarding This Matter>

MAIA Co., Ltd.

URL: https://maia.co.jp/contact/

TEL: 050-1745-9639

MAIL: [email protected]