JR East × mederi Co-hosted Webinar Report

mederi Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Arisaki Sakanashi) co-hosted a webinar titled 'Why Don't Women Choose to Become Managers?' on May 22, 2026, with 'PeerCross,' a career development support service for working mothers operated by East Japan Railway Company. The webinar targeted corporate personnel in charge of HR, general affairs, health management, benefits, DE&I, and women's empowerment.

In this webinar, a talk session was held on the factors hindering women's career advancement and the support required from companies, focusing on life events that women often face when aiming for managerial positions, changes in work roles, and health issues such as PMS, menstrual pain, and menopause.

Event Overview

Title: Why Don't Women Choose to Become Managers?
Organizers: mederi Inc., East Japan Railway Company 'PeerCross'
Date & Time: May 22, 2026 (Friday) 14:00-15:00
Format: Online (Zoom)
Target: Corporate personnel in HR, general affairs, health management, benefits, DE&I, women's empowerment, etc.

Agenda

1. Talk Session 1
Career and Health Support for Women Born from Personal Experience
Speakers: JR East Mr. Konishi / mederi Ms. Sakanashi

2. Talk Session 2
For Women to Choose Their Careers Authentically
Speakers: JR East Mr. Konishi / mederi Ms. Sakanashi and others

3. PeerCross Service Introduction

4. mederi for biz Service Introduction

Speaker Profiles

East Japan Railway Company
Marketing Headquarters, Lifestyle Creation & Regional Revitalization Division, New Business Unit, Deputy Manager
Ms. Yoshimi Konishi
Joined JR East in 2009. After working in railway operations (stations, conductors, drivers) as a clerical track employee, she was responsible for HR (recruitment, diversity promotion) and the Suica business. After her first childcare leave, based on her experience struggling to balance work and childcare, she applied to the JR East Group new business creation program 'ON1000' in 2019. After a proof-of-concept and the birth of her second child, she launched the career development support service for working mothers 'PeerCross' in July 2023. In July 2025, she launched '&bloom,' a service for women before life events. Mother of a 9-year-old and a 4-year-old.

mederi Inc. Representative Director Arisaki Sakanashi
After graduating from Meiji University, she worked in marketing and EC operations at a major fashion e-commerce site and an EC consulting company. From 2014, she served as director, COO, and representative director of a web media for women, then founded mederi Inc. based on her own experience with infertility treatment. The company offers the online birth control consultation service 'mederi Pill' and the corporate health management support service 'mederi for biz.' In 2025, she joined Leberages Inc., which operates the online medical service 'Rebacuri.'

Lecture Report

[Background to Why Women Find It Hard to Choose Management]

At the beginning of the webinar, the theme 'Why Don't Women Choose to Become Managers?' was explained as a structural issue influenced not only by women's own motivation but also by a combination of health issues, life events, and workplace environment.

It was explained that women's career development tends to stagnate at two main points. The first is in their 20s, early in their careers. During this period, health issues that are not easily visible, such as physical discomfort due to hormonal changes like PMS, resulting performance instability, and decreased confidence and career motivation, are likely to occur. These are difficult to articulate as reasons for leaving a job and are hard for companies to notice, leading to an insufficient pipeline of future management candidates.

The second point is around the time of life events such as childbirth and childcare, typically from the 30s onwards. It was shared that due to time constraints from balancing childcare and the 'mommy track,' where challenging opportunities are less likely to be given, there are cases where women do not desire promotion or lack confidence, even if systems are in place.

Based on these physical and mental condition issues from the 20s to early 30s and career challenges associated with life events like childbirth and childcare, the webinar discussed how companies should support women's career development.

[Talk Session 1: Career Support for Working Mothers Born from the Mommy Track Experience]

In the first half of the webinar, Ms. Konishi from East Japan Railway Company and Ms. Sakanashi from mederi discussed challenges in women's career development based on their respective experiences.

Ms. Konishi mentioned her experience of falling into the so-called 'mommy track' after the birth of her first child, despite having built a successful career before that. While she appreciated the consideration and thoughtfulness from those around her, she said there were times when she felt frustrated and anxious about being distanced from responsible work, as someone who valued her career.

It was also shared that unconscious bias and gender role stereotypes remain deeply rooted in the workplace, and that in Japanese companies, there are still not enough role models of female managers who build careers while raising children. Many women, especially after childbirth and childcare, feel lost about the direction of their careers and unable to consult anyone.

Based on her own experience, Ms. Konishi felt the need for a place where people with similar concerns could connect and consult each other. This led her to apply to the JR East Group new business creation program 'ON1000' and subsequently launch the career development support service for working mothers, 'PeerCross.'

Ms. Sakanashi expressed empathy, noting that well-intentioned consideration from others can sometimes lead to anxiety and frustration for women who value their careers. Through their dialogue, the importance of creating an environment where women can continue to build their own careers even after life events such as childbirth and childcare was shared.

[Talk Session 2: From Major Japanese Company to Venture. Career Choices and Women-Specific Health Issues]

In the subsequent talk session, a female employee who had experienced different corporate sizes and organizational cultures also joined, sharing insights on women's career choices and health issues based on her experience of moving from a major Japanese company to a venture company.

The session shared that even when companies have well-established measures to promote women's success, these measures are not always sufficiently linked to individual career intentions and skill development. Particularly, it was noted that there are situations where women feel they lack ownership over their careers because the timing of assignments, job changes, or promotions overlaps with their own wishes or life events.

The discussion also touched on the possibility that overlapping life events such as marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth with promotion timing could delay promotion opportunities or lead to a decline in the individual's motivation. It was emphasized that these situations are deeply related not only to the individual's ability and motivation but also to the company's system design and approach to career support.