The characteristics and agenda of women entrepreneurs and support programs for small- and medium-sized firms (including starting-ups) in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions in Japan

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  • 中四国における女性による起業と地方中小企業（起業を含む）支援の動向
  • チュウ シコク ニ オケル ジョセイ ニ ヨル キギョウ ト チホウ チュウショウ キギョウ(キギョウ オ フクム)シエン ノ ドウコウ

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Abstract

Recently women entrepreneurs have been attracting the attention of administrators and researchers as potential actors for invigorating local socio-economies. This paper introduces the characteristics and agenda of women entrepreneurs. It also discusses the roles of support programs for small- and medium-sized firms (including starting business) by a variety of agencies in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions through case studies based on field research. This study has revealed that women entrepreneurs vary in their starting processes and business contents: there is a case of a business which started based on the entrepreneur's experience of chiiki okoshi kyōryokutai (a government-funded program to hire community activists in the local municipalities). There is another case of a business which has grown from the entrepreneur's unique vision and sincere efforts. It has become clear that although there are quite a few women who wish to start their own businesses, many of them are reluctant to start out because they do not know how to begin the necessary processes. What is needed are relevant institutions and programs to support those women. This study explores such support programs for starting up businesses, including official agencies and local banks which assist women entrepreneurs, and a case of community practices by a firms' study group in Kagawa.

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