Thread by @nytimes

Many working moms in Japan face a unique challenge: Men do less housework than anywhere else in the developed world. It’s keeping women from getting better jobs, and holding back the economy. nyti.ms/2D5ZLgB

Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has a goal of energizing his nation’s puttering economy by elevating women in the labor force, an initiative referred to as “womenomics.” nyti.ms/2D5ZLgB

While Japanese women have entered the workforce at historic levels, many are stuck in limited roles.

More than half of working women are employed part time, and about a third are on temporary contracts, reinforcing a large pay gap between women and men. nyti.ms/2D5ZLgB

Japanese women also shoulder a disproportionate burden at home. Cooking a typical dinner often involves preparing multiple small dishes. Children’s packed lunches can be works of art. Dishwashers are not yet ubiquitous. And men are typically not helping. nyti.ms/2D5ZLgB

Just over half of Japanese mothers go back to work after the birth of their first child. But they often have part-time jobs while their husbands continue to work brutal hours, contributing to a phenomenon known as “karoshi,” or “death from overwork.” nyti.ms/2D5ZLgB

Go behind the byline. Our Tokyo bureau chief @motokorich reported this story on Japan's working moms.

2 words sum up what Motoko enjoys most — and what she finds most challenging — about working in Japan: “Tatemae” and “hon’ne.” nyti.ms/2So4EuX

Here's the Japanese article nyti.ms/2Sg0e9B

日本のワーキングマザーが働きにくい本当の原因を理解するには、家の中をみればわかります。典型的に、週に49時間以上働いている女性は、家事に25時間近くを費やしています。彼女達の夫たちは、平均5時間以下。しかも、育児は含まれないのです。