This book investigates the evolving role of women in the Japanese labor market during the transformative decades following the Second World War. Helen Macnaughtan, a scholar specializing in Japanese economic history, examines the intersection of corporate culture, government policy, and social expectations. By analyzing labor statistics and institutional practices, the author argues that the postwar economic miracle relied heavily on a gendered division of labor that simultaneously empowered and marginalized women in the workforce.

Scholars frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the structural inequalities inherent in the Japanese postwar economic model. The prose is noted for its academic rigor and its ability to synthesize complex labor data into a coherent historical narrative.