Japan’s first female leader wrestles with sumo’s ban on women – NBC News

Report on Gender Inequality and Cultural Tradition in Japan

Introduction: A Conflict of National Leadership and Traditional Practice

This report examines the challenges to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) in Japan, as highlighted by the circumstances surrounding the nation’s first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi. A conflict has emerged between her official duties and the long-standing traditions of sumo wrestling, Japan’s national sport. The rules of the Japan Sumo Association, which prohibit women from entering the wrestling ring (dohyo) on grounds of “impurity,” directly challenge the principles of gender equality and inclusive institutions, central to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of Barriers to Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The situation directly illustrates the persistent barriers to achieving full gender equality in Japan. While the appointment of a female Prime Minister represents progress, the inability of the nation’s leader to participate in a traditional ceremony due to her gender underscores deep-seated institutional discrimination.

• Institutional Discrimination: The Japan Sumo Association’s policy is a clear example of institutional rules that perpetuate gender inequality, preventing women from participating fully in cultural life.
• Historical Precedent: This is not an isolated incident. Previous high-ranking female officials have been barred from the dohyo, indicating a systemic issue that has hindered progress on gender equality for decades.
  1. In 1990, Chief Cabinet Secretary Mayumi Moriyama was not permitted to present a trophy.
  2. In 2000, Osaka Governor Fusae Ohta was denied entry to the ring.
  3. In 2018, Mayor Tomoko Nakagawa was denied a request to speak in the ring.
• Global Standing: These cultural barriers are reflected in Japan’s international standing. The country ranked 118th out of 148 nations in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, indicating significant work is needed to meet the targets of SDG 5.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities & SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The exclusion of women from the sumo ring is a matter of inequality that extends beyond gender, touching upon the need for just and inclusive institutions as outlined in the SDGs.

• Exclusionary Practices: The policy reinforces social hierarchies and exclusionary norms, which is contrary to the objective of SDG 10 to reduce inequalities within countries.
• Challenge to Institutional Inclusivity: The Japan Sumo Association, as a major cultural institution, fails to meet the standards of inclusivity promoted by SDG 16. The incident where women providing first aid to a collapsed official were ordered out of the ring highlights how these rules can be prioritized over public well-being, revealing a profound institutional challenge.
• Government Response: The government’s position, emphasizing respect for tradition, suggests a reluctance to challenge established cultural norms in favor of promoting equality. This raises questions about the state’s commitment to building fully inclusive institutions that serve all citizens equally.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

A key target of SDG 11 is the safeguarding of cultural heritage. The sumo controversy presents a critical dilemma between preserving tradition and adapting it to align with modern, sustainable principles of equality and human rights.

• Cultural Heritage vs. Modern Values: The debate forces a national conversation on how to maintain cultural traditions like sumo, which are rooted in Shinto religious beliefs, while ensuring they do not perpetuate discrimination.
• Evolving Traditions for Sustainability: For cultural heritage to be truly sustainable, it must be inclusive. The current standoff suggests that a failure to evolve could render such traditions incompatible with the values of a modern, equitable society.

Conclusion

The dilemma faced by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi serves as a powerful case study of the complex interplay between culture, tradition, and Japan’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals. The incident underscores that achieving SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) requires more than legislative changes; it necessitates a critical examination and reform of deeply entrenched cultural and institutional practices. The resolution of this issue will be a significant indicator of Japan’s capacity to build the truly inclusive and just institutions envisioned by SDG 16.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article primarily addresses issues related to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

   • SDG 5: Gender Equality – This is the most prominent SDG discussed. The central conflict of the article revolves around Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, being prohibited from entering the sumo wrestling ring because of her gender. The article explicitly states that Japan “struggles with gender equality” and highlights historical instances of other high-ranking female officials facing the same discrimination.
   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – This SDG is relevant because the issue involves a powerful and traditional institution, the Japan Sumo Association, whose rules are not inclusive and perpetuate discrimination. The conflict between the country’s top political leader and the rules of a national cultural institution touches upon the need for inclusive and accountable institutions at all levels.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The sumo association’s rule that considers women “impure” and prohibits them from entering the ring is a clear form of gender-based discrimination. The article provides multiple examples of this rule being enforced against female officials, including a chief Cabinet secretary in 1990, a governor in 2000, and a mayor in 2018.
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The inability of Prime Minister Takaichi to perform a ceremonial duty that her male predecessor performed demonstrates a barrier to her full and effective participation in public life. The article notes that male prime ministers have awarded the winner’s trophy, but Takaichi, as a woman, is prohibited from doing so in the same manner, denying her an equal opportunity in this aspect of her public role.
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The Japan Sumo Association, as a significant cultural institution, demonstrates a lack of inclusivity in its practices. Its refusal to allow female leaders to participate fully in ceremonies, despite their high-ranking government positions, shows that its decision-making and rules are not representative of or responsive to the principle of gender equality in modern society.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article mentions and implies several indicators:

   • Explicit Indicator: The article directly cites a key metric for measuring gender inequality: “Japan, which ranked 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report.” This ranking serves as a direct indicator of the country’s overall performance on gender equality.
   • Implied Indicator: The article implies an indicator related to SDG Target 5.5 (women’s participation in leadership) by repeatedly mentioning “Japan’s first female prime minister,” the “first female chief Cabinet secretary” (in 1990), and the “first female governor” (in 2000). These phrases suggest that the proportion of women in high-level political positions is historically low, which is a measurable indicator (specifically, SDG Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments).
   • Implied Indicator: The existence of the sumo rule itself serves as an indicator for Target 5.1. The presence of traditions, rules, or laws that discriminate against women is a qualitative indicator of a lack of a full legal framework for gender equality (related to SDG Indicator 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex). The article’s focus on this “immovable” tradition highlights a specific area where non-discriminatory principles are not being applied.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 5: Gender Equality	Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.	The existence of discriminatory rules within traditional institutions, such as the sumo association’s prohibition of women from the ring.
   SDG 5: Gender Equality	Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.	– Japan’s ranking of 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report. – The low proportion of women in high-level political positions, as implied by references to the “first female prime minister,” “first female chief Cabinet secretary,” etc.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.	The persistence of non-inclusive rules by the Japan Sumo Association that exclude women from participating in public ceremonies, regardless of their official capacity.

Source: nbcnews.com