Japan may see first female PM, but gender gap still a big void

Japan could soon see its first female prime minister, with Sanae Takaichi (in pic) emerging among the front runners in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership race, a significant achievement in a country where women leaders remain a rarity.

Hardline conservative Takaichi has consistently been a public favourite, along with agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi, ahead of the LDP's leadership vote on Oct 4. Last year, Takaichi narrowly lost to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the runoff round of the LDP leadership race.

If Takaichi wins both party and parliamentary votes, she will make history as Japan's first female premier. For a country that has seen limited progress on gender equality, especially in politics, that could represent a watershed moment.


"Having a woman become prime minister could really shift how the world sees Japan," said Hiroko Takeda, a professor at the Graduate School of Law, Nagoya University, who has researched politics and gender issues.

Japan ranks 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index, trailing behind nations such as Senegal and Angola.

The Asian country scores especially poorly in political and economic participation, having never appointed a female prime minister, finance minister or central bank governor.

Female representation in parliament also remains limited. As of August, women make up just 15.7% of the more powerful lower house, well below the global average of 27.1% and the Asian regional average of 22.1%, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

A native of Nara Prefecture, Takaichi has cited former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as a key inspiration.

On Friday, Takaichi pledged to make babysitter fees partially tax-deductible and proposed corporate tax breaks for companies that provide in-house childcare services. "I have personally experienced nursing and caregiving three times in my life. That's why my determination has only grown stronger to reduce the number of people forced to leave their jobs due to caregiving, child-rearing or children refusing to attend school," Takaichi said.