Opening of Ro
In Japanese tea ceremony, November marks the beginning of winter, signaled by the opening of the Ro, where the kama (iron kettle) is moved closer to the guests to provide warmth. Traditionally, this event occurs on the first day of the boar in the old Japanese calendar. Although this timing is often associated with Inyo Gogyo Shiso, which posits that all things consist of five fundamental elements – Wood (Moku), Fire (Ka), Earth (Do), Metal (Gon), and Water (Sui) – the boar represents water, and the act of opening the Ro and lighting the fire is more about ensuring warmth and safety during the colder months.
We enjoy Inoko mochi, also known as “baby boar cake,” a traditional Japanese sweet closely tied to the opening of the Ro. This sweet is eaten to wish for health, prosperity, and fire safety. Originally from China, it was made with a variety of ingredients such as soybeans, red beans, black-eyed peas, sesame, chestnuts, persimmons, and sugar. During the Heian period, Inoko mochi was shaped like a baby boar, but over time, its shape evolved to resemble a stone, and the ingredients simplified to mainly include sesame, red bean, and chestnut. I love the taste of sesame that bubbles in my mouth.
Women’s Leadership
While I typically do not talk about politics, the recent US presidential election has highlighted the persistent glass ceiling that women face in both politics and the workplace.
With Donald Trump officially set to become the 47th President of the United States, it’s worth noting that Kamala Harris received only 54% of women’s votes, three points lower than Biden’s in 2020. This decline was particularly pronounced among Latina women and those without college degrees.
Although Harris’s performance as vice president may not have been impressive, the election results underscore the formidable barriers women still encounter when aspiring to top leadership positions in America. This glass ceiling isn’t limited to politics, I recently experienced a similar situation in my own workplace.
I advocated for the promotion of a highly capable woman on my team. She’s intelligent, resilient, quick to learn, and from a managerial perspective, her work is consistently reliable. The promotion wasn’t anything extraordinary – just a standard career progression for someone with three years of experience post-graduation. However, the response was a disappointing “not now.”
Predicting this outcome, I had prepared a detailed presentation outlining her career and accomplishments. The reason for the delay was that she had started as a temporary worker, transitioned to full-time two years ago, and currently splits her duties with an executive assistant role. Frustratingly, my boss argued that she’s perceived primarily as an executive assistant, regardless of her achievements or potential. Absurd!!! What a narrow-minded view he has !! Though these pervasive biases that continue to hinder women’s career advancement are not limited to my boss, they exist in all of us, even in the countries with the largest GDPs.
Words for Women
I’ve always felt this way since the beginning of my social life. After being denied opportunities at my previous companies, I had to switch jobs, and even now, I’m unsure if I’m truly progressing or moving forward. However, when I open my notebook filled with positive words, the first page is a quote from Sheryl Sandberg, who was the COO of Facebook (now Meta) when she delivered her TED Talk titled “Why we have too few women leaders.”
Her most memorable message was clear:
- “Sit at the table.” Women often underestimate their own abilities, and no one reaches the corner office by sitting on the side rather than at the table. You won’t get the promotion if you don’t believe you deserve your success or even understand your own achievements.
- “Keep your foot on the pedal.”
Reflecting on these words, I realize I need to adopt this mindset as well. I aspire to take on more responsibility and more important roles, but I often find myself shy in meetings, lacking confidence and worried about making a wrong comment. It’s time for me to overcome these doubts and assert myself more confidently.
Keeping My Foot on the Pedal
I am keen to help women who feel the same way and work on changing my own mindset as well. I emphasize that women often face significant discrimination in areas such as marriage, children, and workplace positions from women as well. However, I am committed to promoting anyone at work who is talented and valuable to the company, and I aim to change both their mindset and my own.
“Chototsu Moushin” – a Japanese idiom meaning charging forward with great energy and determination, much like a boar rushing straight ahead, whether through my work or even the tranquility of Japanese tea. Ready set, Action!
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