Can Takaichi Inspire More Women to Enter Politics?

Sanae Takaichi, Japan's first female prime minister, received a 75.4% approval rating in a joint poll by The Sankei Shimbun and FNN (Fuji News Network). Her appointment represents a historic breakthrough in breaking the glass ceiling for women.

However, the number of Japanese lawmakers actively promoting and implementing policies from a female perspective remains limited.

Misako Iwamoto, emeritus professor of political science and women's studies at Mie University, emphasized that "creating an environment that encourages more women to enter politics is essential."

*Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi welcomes US President Donald Trump with a handshake at the State Guest House in Moto-Akasaka, Tokyo, on the morning of October 28.*

Takaichi got off to a relatively smooth start on the international stage, handling her first face-to-face summit with United States President Donald Trump in Tokyo on October 28 without any major issues.

According to the World Economic Forum's 2023 Gender Gap Index (GGI), Japan ranks particularly low in political representation, placing 118th out of 148 countries, largely due to the gender imbalance in parliament. Takaichi's leadership is viewed as a potential step toward improving this record.

The Glass Cliff

Iwamoto said, "Takaichi serves as a role model, showing that women in Japan can reach the very top. This is an important first step toward normalizing female political leadership, and we can expect the number of women in politics to grow."

However, she cautioned about the so-called glass cliff, a phenomenon where women are often appointed to leadership positions during times of crisis or instability, only to be replaced by men soon afterward. "Long-term reforms are needed to create conditions where women can truly thrive," Iwamoto added.

National and Local Politics

The proportion of women in Japan's national parliament has been gradually increasing but remains low by international standards. As of October 2025, women make up 15.4% of the House of Representatives and 29.8% of the House of Councillors.

*Based on the 2022 White Paper on Gender Equality (Cabinet Office, Japan)*

The trend is similar at the local level. A survey by the Ichikawa Fusae Center for Women and Governance and Kyoto Women's University found that women accounted for 16.9% of local assembly members in 2023. While Tokyo (33.3%) and Osaka (24.3%) had relatively high representation, many local governments hovered around 10%, and 12.9% of municipalities had no female representatives at all.

Essential Workers

Iwamoto points out, "Campaigning places a heavy burden on candidates, and women — who often carry the majority of household and childcare responsibilities — find it especially difficult to run. Without female lawmakers, policies that address women's needs, such as childbirth subsidies, are less likely to be enacted."

She also notes that in fields dominated by women, like childcare and nursing, a decline in female lawmakers could hinder policies that reflect the needs of essential workers.

Gender Quotas

Some countries have introduced gender quotas to promote balanced representation. Japan, however, has not because Article 44 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination against legislators based on sex.

"Even without national mandates, many parties in countries like Germany and the Nordic nations voluntarily set gender targets," Iwamoto explained. "Unless at least one-third of parliament is female, it is difficult to enact policies that reflect diverse perspectives. We need a political environment that supports women and allows a broad range of female lawmakers with different viewpoints to emerge."

(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: Akari Horiguchi, The Sankei Shimbun