Table 1 Respondent attributes
| Â | Number | Percent |
Age | Â | Â |
 20s | 4 | 3.3 |
 30s | 33 | 27.3 |
 40s | 53 | 43.8 |
 50s | 23 | 19.0 |
 60s | 7 | 5.8 |
 No answer | 1 | 0.8 |
Years after medical school graduation you entered Basic Sciences field? | Â | Â |
 Under 1 year | 33 | 27.3 |
 2–5 years | 43 | 35.5 |
 6–10 years | 29 | 24.0 |
 Over 11 years | 15 | 12.3 |
 No answer | 1 | 0.8 |
Motivation to enter Basic Sciences (multiple answers) | Â | Â |
 Interest in research | 75 | 32.3 |
 Interest in disorders | 28 | 12.1 |
 Continued in Basic Sciences after receiving PhD | 23 | 9.9 |
 Career advancement | 13 | 5.6 |
 Wanted to leave clinical work | 10 | 4.3 |
 No particular reason | 15 | 6.4 |
 Better work-life balance | 33 | 14.2 |
 Others | 33 | 14.2 |
 No answer | 2 | 0.9 |
(n = 121) |  |  |
Specialty | Â | Â |
 Pathology | 42 | 34.7 |
 Physiology | 17 | 14.0 |
 Microbiology | 4 | 3.3 |
 Anatomy | 8 | 6.6 |
 Social medicine | 22 | 18.2 |
 Forensic medicine | 6 | 5.0 |
 Biochemistry | 2 | 1.7 |
 Immunology | 4 | 3.3 |
 Pharmacology | 6 | 5.0 |
 Genetics | 3 | 2.5 |
 Others | 5 | 4.1 |
 No answer | 2 | 1.7 |
Academic rank | Â | Â |
 Professor | 18 | 14.9 |
 Associate Professor | 29 | 24.0 |
 Senior Assistant Professor | 26 | 21.5 |
 Junior Assistant Professor | 44 | 36.4 |
 Others | 4 | 3.3 |
Clinical experience | Â | Â |
 Yes | 101 | 83.5 |
 No | 20 | 16.5 |
Presently conducting clinical work regularly? | Â | Â |
 Yes | 57 | 47.1 |
 No | 63 | 52.1 |
 No answer | 1 | 0.8 |
Afterthoughts relinquishing full-time clinician practice? | Â | Â |
 Yes, often | 8 | 6.6 |
 Yes, sometimes | 30 | 24.8 |
 Almost never | 52 | 43.0 |
 Not at all | 24 | 19.8 |
 No answer | 7 | 5.8 |
Birth experience | Â | Â |
 Yes | 60 | 49.6 |
 No | 42 | 34.7 |
 No answer | 19 | 15.7 |
Is Basic Sciences a good fit with female MDs’ career goals? |  |  |
 Yes | 22 | 18.2 |
 Generally yes | 33 | 27.3 |
 Not sure | 46 | 38.0 |
 Generally no | 13 | 10.7 |
 No | 1 | 0.8 |
 No answer | 6 | 5.0 |
Reasons Basic Sciences are advantageous (multiple answer) (n = 56) |  |  |
 Having time to take care of children | 22 | 19.0 |
 Not physically demanding | 17 | 14.7 |
 Managing work and private life | 49 | 42.2 |
 Basic Sciences compatible with female identity | 22 | 19.0 |
 Others | 4 | 3.4 |
 No answer | 2 | 1.7 |
Received modified working considerations as a woman? | Â | Â |
 Favorable considerations | 53 | 43.8 |
 Unfavorable considerations | 8 | 6.6 |
 No | 44 | 36.4 |
 Not sure | 13 | 10.7 |
 No answer | 3 | 2.5 |
Made efforts to inspire student interest in research | Â | Â |
 Yes | 51 | 42.1 |
 Generally yes | 51 | 42.1 |
 Generally no | 13 | 10.7 |
 No | 3 | 2.5 |
 Not engaged in lectures or practical trainings | 2 | 1.7 |
 No answer | 1 | 0.8 |
Satisfaction with your career choice | Â | Â |
 Yes | 81 | 66.9 |
 Generally yes | 31 | 25.6 |
 Not sure | 7 | 5.8 |
 Generally no | 1 | 0.8 |
 No answer | 1 | 0.8 |
Total salary of previous year in million JPY (thousand GBP, October 2012) 1 GBPÂ =Â 127 JPY | Â | Â |
 < 4.0 (< 31.5) | 1 | 0.8 |
 4.0–6.0 (31.5–47.2) | 11 | 9.1 |
 6.0–8.0 (47.2–63.0) | 23 | 19.0 |
 8.0–10.0 (63.0–78.7) | 35 | 28.9 |
 10.0–12.0 (78.7–94.5) | 35 | 28.9 |
 12.0–14.0 (94.5–110.2) | 8 | 6.6 |
 14.0–16.0 (110.2–126.0) | 3 | 2.5 |
 16.0–18.0 (126.0–141.7) | 1 | 0.8 |
 No answer | 4 | 3.3 |