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First Japanese woman drive bullet train

TOKYO: A woman took the controls of a Japanese "bullet train" on Wednesday to become the first female driver since the nation's fastest train began operating in 1964.

"Women can now be drivers because the change in the labour law allows them do late-night shifts, which all drivers have to do," said a spokesman for Tokai Japan Railway, which runs the trains.

Rieko Tsujiuchi, 25, will be joined in the job on Thursday by a second female colleague, 23-year-old Yuka Sato, he said.

Japan's Labour Standard Act was amended in April last year to improve employment opportunities for women.

The two women will be driving the bullet train for another month as a part of a training programme for new employees hired after graduating from university before they are moved to other positions.

Job opportunities for women are improving in Japan but a glass ceiling remains in most sectors.-Reuters