Karen Makishima, the sole female candidate from Japan’s ruling party in her 20-seat prefecture, is vying for victory in the upcoming general election. Her candidacy highlights the formidable challenges women encounter when trying to penetrate the male-dominated political landscape in Japan.
Despite pledges by her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to reduce the gender disparity among lawmakers, progress remains slow. While a record number of female candidates are running in this election, the government’s goal of having 35% female lower house candidates by 2025 seems out of reach.
Societal attitudes and the LDP’s reluctance to implement significant reforms are seen as major obstacles in closing the gender gap in Japanese politics. Only 16% of LDP candidates are women, compared to 22% from the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.