When Women Got the Mic—But Men Still Hold the Mic
In a scene that was almost like a sitcom in its irony, elected officials at Japan’s “LDP” – the party that’s been running the country for decades – found themselves sitting in parade‑style rows of black‑suit men to pick their next leader. The very women who would possibly become prime minister were out behind the ballot boxes, with the losers of the vote… almost a movie script.
Two Trailblazers, One Classic Race
Finally, for the very first time, the steering wheel of the Liberal Democratic Party passed to two women: Sanae Takaichi and Seiko Noda. Each had a cabinet résumé that would make a seasoned journalist sigh. Yet, folks were quick to call them the “long shots” – no surprise: the election’s landscape was still dominated by men.
Who Wins? Who Rises?
- Fumio Kishida – The crown prince for the moment; he’s on the talk of turning Japan into a more diverse spot.
- Only 9.9 % of Japan’s parliament is female – a fact so stark you’d think it was a data hoax.
- Women front 8.1 % of corporate presidents – a minute slice of the pie.
Inside the “Masculine” Realm
“It feels like a boys’ club,” lamented youth activist Momoko Nojo. She pointed out that even though there could be strong women leaders, the approach is “like picking a ball from a bag that’s mostly full of men.”
- Without a real, safe space for a woman to pivot to the premiership, the “choice” is a tough one.
- In 2020 Japan slipped to 121st on the World Economic Forum’s gender parity ranking – from 101st back in 2012.
- Matters were heated in 2018 when a major medical school admitted they’d kept lowering scores for women over the years.
Why Takaichi Ran the Numbers
At first glance, the ultra‑conservative Sanae Takaichi might have resembled a “safety net.” She had the king’s backing (Shinzo Abe), and she stands for the “last changes” like not allowing dual surnames for married couples or keeping monarchical succession male-only.
In parallel, Seiko Noda’s profile was more of a balanced mix – “steady as a hand” in cabinet roles, but still a whiskey‑old 7‑year trader of political capital.
Office Politics & Gender – A Reality Check
Even if the party promises “womenomics,” the LDP still struggles to break its own glass ceiling. Professor Koichi Nakano of Sophia University hit the nail on the head:
“The LDP is far behind when it comes to gender equity. Women leaders tend to be conservative and not necessarily feminist.”
Tokyo Voices
By the time the ballots were punched, a 60‑year‑old commentator Yuko Sakamoto shrugged and said, “All talk about gender equality seems just a post‑show when it’s needed.” Her grin said it all: it’s time to put the “show” into real action.
Stamp on the Future: A Call‑to‑Action
The Prime Minister’s creation of a place for women may simulate a kind of “nice‑line rather then a concrete-plot.” Yet, as long as the voting proportion heavy‑handedly tips toward men, we can expect the same narrative to echo.
- Women ganging‑up into > 30 % of leadership positions isn’t a target; it’s a matter of action.
- “Make everything better” is no longer an empty promise – let’s play for the women on the court.
- It remains unfinished business; the LDP has a 28,000-word essay waiting to be written.
