As Japan approaches its October 27 general election, Karen Makishima, the sole female candidate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in her prefecture, reflects the challenging landscape women face in the country’s male-dominated political sphere. Despite promises from the LDP to close the gender gap, the party and others are unlikely to meet the government’s 2025 target of 35% female lower house candidates.
While societal attitudes in Japan remain a barrier, some critics argue the LDP, which has governed for most of the post-war era, is not doing enough to address gender inequality. Only 16% of LDP candidates in the upcoming election are women, compared to 22% for the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), according to a Reuters analysis.
Japan has one of the lowest percentages of female lawmakers among advanced democracies, with only about 10% in the lower house, compared to the 30% average of other Group of Seven (G7) countries. The country ranked 118 out of 146 in the World Economic Forum’s 2024 gender gap report.
Despite setting a party target of 30% female lawmakers by 2033, the LDP has not implemented bold measures like gender quotas. Former defense minister Tomomi Inada believes the party needs a clear, realistic plan to achieve this goal. The LDP has stated that societal attitudes also need to change, but it has no plans for quotas due to the number of incumbents holding seats.
Harassment and societal pressures are additional obstacles women face in Japanese politics. Inada, along with other lawmakers, has called for reforms, stating that the low number of women in parliament “distorts democracy.”
Although challenges remain, Makishima remains optimistic, believing Japan is in a “transitional period” towards broader gender equality in politics.
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