Sanae Takaichi’s Premiership Is Unlikely to Close Japan’s Gender Gap – mironline.ca

Report on Japan’s Political Landscape and Sustainable Development Goal 5

Introduction

In late October 2025, the election of Sanae Takaichi as Japan’s first female prime minister marked a significant event in the context of the nation’s progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. This report analyzes the political circumstances of her appointment and evaluates the potential impact of her leadership on Japan’s efforts to meet its SDG commitments, particularly those related to gender equality in political and economic life.

Analysis of Japan’s Progress Toward SDG 5: Gender Equality

Current Status of Political Empowerment

Japan’s progress on SDG Target 5.5, which calls for ensuring women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in political, economic, and public life, remains limited. The following data points illustrate the persistent gender gap:

• Global Gender Gap Index: Japan ranks 118th out of 148 countries, with a particularly low score in the Political Empowerment sub-index.
• Parliamentary Representation: Women hold only 15.7% of the seats in Japan’s House of Representatives, significantly below the global average of 27.2%.

Review of Past Policy Initiatives

Previous government efforts have failed to substantially advance gender equality, impacting both SDG 5 and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

1. “Womenomics” Policy (2013): Introduced by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, this policy aimed to increase female employment and leadership to boost economic growth.
2. Policy Target: The goal was for women to hold 30% of upper-level management or leadership roles by 2020.
3. Outcome: As of 2025, the figure remains at 11%, indicating a failure to meet the target.
4. Attributed Causes of Failure:
   • Deeply entrenched social norms that position women primarily as homemakers.
   • Hierarchical corporate and employment structures that create barriers to advancement.

Prime Minister Takaichi’s Platform and Implications for SDGs

Political and Economic Agenda

Prime Minister Takaichi’s rise to power occurred within a challenging political context for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has faced internal scandals, rising prices, and declining public support. Her leadership was secured through a coalition with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party, signaling a conservative nationalist appeal rather than a progressive shift. Her platform includes:

• Economic Policy: A continuation of “Abenomics,” focusing on increased government spending, low interest rates, and corporate deregulation. The applicability of these deflation-era policies to current inflationary pressures is uncertain.
• Immigration Policy: A restrictive stance on immigration and foreign tourists, which could have implications for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Stance on Gender Equality and Social Issues

Despite her historic position, Prime Minister Takaichi’s conservative platform raises concerns about the potential for substantive progress on SDG 5.

Key Policy Positions

• Single-Surname Policy: She supports the legal requirement for married couples to adopt a single surname, a policy that disproportionately affects women and is seen by critics as a barrier to gender equality.
• Absence of Gender Issues: Women’s issues have been largely absent from her early agenda, with the exception of a proposal to make babysitter fees partially tax-deductible.

Comparative Analysis

A cross-national report by the Westminster Foundation of Democracy suggests women political leaders typically prioritize issues like reproductive rights, childcare, and healthcare. However, Prime Minister Takaichi’s approach aligns more closely with that of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who she has cited as a role model. Thatcher, despite being a female leader, denounced feminism and did not advance policies to support working mothers, reinforcing traditional family values.

Conclusion: Symbolic Representation vs. Substantive Progress

Evaluating the Impact on SDG 5

The election of Japan’s first female prime minister is a noteworthy symbolic victory that demonstrates the possibility of breaking gender barriers in Japanese politics. This can provide a powerful role model, contributing indirectly to the aims of SDG 5.

However, substantive progress requires policy action. Prime Minister Takaichi’s socially conservative views and her platform’s lack of focus on gender equality issues suggest that her leadership may not translate into meaningful advancements for women. Her support for traditional gender roles could further entrench patriarchal norms, potentially hindering progress toward SDG 5.

Final Assessment

For Japan to achieve the targets outlined in SDG 5 and close its significant gender gap, systemic change is necessary. The appointment of a single woman prime minister, while historic, is insufficient on its own to deliver the comprehensive policy and social reforms required.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This is the central theme of the article. It extensively discusses gender inequality in Japan, focusing on the low representation of women in politics and corporate leadership. The election of the first female prime minister is analyzed within the context of “pervasive gender inequality” and the challenges women face in the country.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article addresses the need for inclusive and representative institutions. It highlights the low percentage of women in Japan’s parliament, which relates directly to the goal of ensuring responsive and representative decision-making. The election of a female leader is a key event related to the structure and inclusivity of political institutions.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article connects gender equality to economic policy through its discussion of ‘Womenomics’ and ‘Abenomics’. The ‘Womenomics’ policy explicitly aimed to boost the economy by increasing female employment and participation in leadership roles, linking women’s economic empowerment to national economic growth.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

• 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 article directly relates to this target by discussing the election of Japan’s first woman prime minister, a significant milestone in political leadership. It also highlights the persistent lack of participation, citing that women hold only 15.7% of seats in the House of Representatives and that the goal to have 30% of leadership roles held by women failed, with the figure remaining at 11%.

• Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

  This target is addressed by the article’s focus on political representation. The statistic that women make up only 15.7% of the lower house of parliament indicates that Japan’s legislative body is not fully representative of its population. The election of Sanae Takaichi is a step towards representation, but the article questions whether her conservative platform will lead to more inclusive decision-making.

• Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

  The article discusses policies relevant to this target. It mentions the ‘Womenomics’ policy as an initiative aimed at empowering women economically. Conversely, it points out Prime Minister Takaichi’s support for the “single-surname policy,” which is described as a socially conservative view that could “threaten gender equality” by reinforcing traditional family structures.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

• Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments.

  The article provides a precise figure for this indicator, stating that “women make up only 15.7 per cent of the seats in Japan’s House of Representatives.” It also provides the “global average percentage of women in parliaments is 27.2 per cent” for context.

• Indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions.

  This indicator is clearly referenced in the discussion of the ‘Womenomics’ policy. The article states that the goal was to increase this proportion to “30 per cent by 2020,” but as of 2025, it “remains at 11 percent.”

• Qualitative Indicator: Existence of policies and laws that affect gender equality.

  The article implies this indicator by discussing specific government policies. The introduction of ‘Womenomics’ serves as a positive indicator of policy action, while the support for the “single-surname policy” serves as a negative indicator, suggesting a potential setback for gender equality legislation.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: mironline.ca