In October, Japan got its first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. While hailed as a historic breakthrough, her ascent has sparked debate: will her conservative politics translate into progress for gender equality?
Proponents and critics alike agree on one fundamental issue: Japan urgently needs more women in leadership, both in government and business.
Despite its advanced economy, Japan ranks 118th out of 146 countries on the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Gender Gap Index—the worst-performing nation among the 38 free-market democracies of the OECD.
The government once aimed for women to hold 30% of leadership roles across society by 2020. That target was quietly postponed to 2030. As of now, just 11.1% of corporate leadership positions are held by women.
Yet, against this stark backdrop, change is slowly beginning to take root.
By James Kisoo
