Abstract: Japan began to enter an aging society with a low birth rate in the 1970s. In order to address a series of issues arising from this and promote sustainable development, the Japanese government has formulated a series of targeted laws and policies. The womens employment policy, as an important part of it, has gone through a tortuous process of development and change. Labor Standards Act, The Law on the Welfare of Hard-working Women, Law for Equal Employment Opportunity of Men and Women, and Child Care and Family Care Leave Law are the most representative legal documents. Overall, Japans womens employment policy keeps pace with the times, focusing on improving womens employment status and increasing their employment rate. However, at the same time, it also exposes issues such as effectiveness and the urgent need to strengthen constraints. Japan has accumulated rich experience and lessons in womens employment policies for more than half a century, which is worth referring to and learning from for China.

Key words: Japan, women, employment policy, gender roles