TOKYO – A record 73 women have been elected to Japan’s House of Representatives, marking a historic gain for female representation in Japan’s Lower House, according to NHK projections on Oct 28. This is a significant increase from the 45 women elected in 2021, though women still hold less than 16% of the 465 seats.
Despite a rise in female candidates, Japan’s gender gap in leadership remains pronounced. Women leaders are rare in Japan’s political and business spheres, with Japan ranking 118th out of 146 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap report. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s current 20-member Cabinet includes only two women.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) experienced major setbacks in the Oct 27 election, following a recent scandal. Voter dissatisfaction appears to have impacted the LDP’s performance, potentially costing it its parliamentary majority.