logo
A Record 42 Women Win Seats in Upper House Election

A Record 42 Women Win Seats in Upper House Election

Tokyo Weekender22-07-2025
Last month, Japan ranked a disappointing
118th
for the second successive year in the World Economic Forum's 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, with political empowerment being the country's weakest category. It was, therefore, encouraging to see a record number of 42 female candidates elected in Sunday's Upper House election. The previous high was recorded during the last House of Councillors vote in 2022, when 35 women secured seats.
List of Contents:
Decrease in Women Candidates in Upper House Election
Four Women Elected in Tokyo
Related Posts
Decrease in Women Candidates in Upper House Election
In total, women won 33.6% of the 125 contested seats. However, the number of female candidates dropped from 181 in 2022 to 152 this year — with 102 running from electoral districts and 50 through proportional representation. That represented 29.1% of all candidates, compared with 33.2% three years ago. The government was aiming for a 35% quota for female parliamentary candidates in 2025.
Twelve female candidates from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) were elected, the highest number among all parties. That included Renho Saito, commonly known by her given name, Renho, for what was her fifth reelection. She automatically lost her Upper House seat after announcing she was running for the post of Tokyo governor last year. Incumbent Yuriko Koike won the gubernatorial election, with Renho finishing third.
Four Women Elected in Tokyo
Another female from the CDP to be reelected was Ayaka Shiomura, who was famously heckled in 2014 with the
words
'hurry up and get married' by fellow council member Akihiro Suzuki after she asked about measures to help mothers. She was one of four women to win seven of the seats up for grabs in Tokyo. The other three were Mayu Ushida of the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), Yoshiko Kira of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) and Saya, representing Sanseito.
'I am really feeling the weight of each and every vote
,
and I
feel
a strong sense of responsibility,'
said
the singer-turned-politician Saya, who only goes by her first name. 'I believe that the real battle for Japan and for the Japanese people will now begin,' she added. Women accounted for five out of the seven seats
Sanseito
won in the electoral districts. It fielded 24 female candidates, compared to just 22 who ran for the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (17) and Komeito (5).
Related Posts
LDP-Led Coalition Lose Upper House Majority, Ishiba Vows To Continue as Prime Minister
Sanseito Explained: The Alarming Rise of Japan's Far-Right Movement
Why Japanese Leftists Are Using Melonpan to Mock Sanseito
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Japan Releases Guidelines for Stronger Space Defense as It Looks to Protect Its Satellites from Adversaries
Japan Releases Guidelines for Stronger Space Defense as It Looks to Protect Its Satellites from Adversaries

Yomiuri Shimbun

time3 minutes ago

  • Yomiuri Shimbun

Japan Releases Guidelines for Stronger Space Defense as It Looks to Protect Its Satellites from Adversaries

The Defense Ministry unveiled on Monday its first-ever guidelines for space defense, meant to lay out the direction for strengthening these defenses. The guidelines clearly state that satellites operated by the Self-Defense Forces will be fully protected, as well as that companies will be ensured safe use of space. According to the guidelines, the government aims to build security in space through public-private partnerships, incorporating private-sector technology. The guidelines raise concerns about countries such as China and Russia, which are developing killer satellites that can attack other nations' satellites, and about the growing militarization of space. Given the increasingly severe security environment in space, the guidelines stress the need to improve defenses to allow for the safe operation of satellites and other assets run by the government, including the SDF, as well as by Japanese firms. One of the core tenants of the guidelines is the need for improved space domain awareness for monitoring the operational status, purpose and capabilities of other countries' satellites. The plan is to build the capacity to detect threats, such as killer satellites and anti-satellite weapons, and to protect Japan's satellites. The guidelines also note the importance of stable satellite communications for military intel, including for detecting and tracking missiles launched by enemy countries, and that such intel should be shared within the SDF. Additionally, the guidelines push for an improved ability to jam enemy countries' communications. To support these efforts, the guidelines insist on a proactive use of innovative technologies from the private sector, where commercial services have significantly advanced. The guidelines also emphasize the need to cultivate experts in the space field, recruit more outside talent and educate staff in the Defense Ministry and the SDF.

Ukraine's prime minister cancels trip to Japan over political turmoil
Ukraine's prime minister cancels trip to Japan over political turmoil

NHK

time3 hours ago

  • NHK

Ukraine's prime minister cancels trip to Japan over political turmoil

Japanese government sources say Ukraine's prime minister has cancelled her trip to Japan next month, during which she planned to attend a Ukrainian event at the World Expo in Osaka. She reportedly faces backlash in her country over legislation targeting anti-corruption agencies. The sources say Yulia Svyrydenko planned to participate in the Ukrainian National Day event on August 5. They also say Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka will visit Japan instead. They say arrangements are underway for Kachka to make a courtesy call on Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, and to meet Cabinet ministers including Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, as well as senior officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. In Ukraine, nationwide protests erupted last week when a law was enacted to place two anti-corruption agencies under the control of the president-appointed prosecutor general. Demonstrators rallied against the law, which would strip the authorities of independence from the government. Svyrydenko only recently took office as prime minister. She reportedly called off her travel in response to the political turmoil in her country. The sources say Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska will visit Japan as scheduled.

Iwaya, S. Korea's Cho Affirm Cooperation at 1st Meeting

time3 hours ago

Iwaya, S. Korea's Cho Affirm Cooperation at 1st Meeting

News from Japan Politics Jul 29, 2025 21:36 (JST) Tokyo, July 29 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his new South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun, met for the first time on Tuesday and agreed to communicate closely to steadily develop bilateral relations, which have been improving in recent years. They agreed to continue cooperation, including with the United States, in light of the deteriorating security environment surrounding the two Asian neighbors, such as the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Cho is visiting Japan as his first foreign trip since taking office on July 21. During the meeting, held at the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, Iwaya welcomed the fact that very close communication has been conducted between the two countries since the inauguration of the administration of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. Cho responded that he wants to develop relations with Japan in a future-oriented manner based on the policy of practical diplomacy. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store