What Japan’s First Female Prime Minister Could Mean for the Country’s Gender Politics – Time Magazine

Sanae Takaichi’s Premiership and Implications for Japan’s Sustainable Development Goals

Election Outcome and Political Context

Sanae Takaichi has been elected as the new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), positioning her to become the nation’s first female Prime Minister. Takaichi secured 185 of 341 votes in a run-off leadership contest. She assumes leadership from Shigeru Ishiba, whose resignation followed significant electoral defeats for the LDP amidst a series of political scandals that have eroded public trust. This transition presents an opportunity to address the principles of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by working to restore faith in political institutions and ensure they are effective, accountable, and transparent.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality

The election of Japan’s first female Prime Minister is a significant milestone that directly relates to 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. This development is set against a backdrop of persistent gender disparity in Japan.

• According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, Japan ranks 118th among 148 economies.
• The nation’s ranking is particularly low concerning the political empowerment of women.
• Female representation in Japan’s parliament stands at only 15%.

While Takaichi’s ascent is a symbolic victory for SDG 5, her policy history presents a more complex outlook. Analysts note a contradiction between her new position and her established conservative record on gender issues.

Policy Stances and Their Impact on SDGs

An examination of Takaichi’s proposed and historical policy positions indicates varied potential impacts on Japan’s progress toward its Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Policies Supporting Gender Equality (SDG 5): During her campaign, Takaichi pledged to increase female representation in her Cabinet and the LDP executive committee to Nordic-like levels. She also proposed new policies aimed at supporting working families.
2. Policies Potentially Hindering Gender Equality (SDG 5): Takaichi is a vocal opponent of legal reforms that would allow married couples to retain separate surnames, a measure widely supported by gender equality advocates. She also supports maintaining Japan’s patrilineal imperial succession laws, which reinforces traditional gender roles.

Economic and Institutional Implications (SDG 8 & SDG 16)

Takaichi’s agenda includes initiatives that could advance SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by improving conditions for female participation in the workforce.

• Proposed policies include partial tax deductions for babysitting fees and corporate tax incentives for companies offering in-house childcare.
• These measures align with SDG Target 8.5, which aims for full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men.

However, experts caution that these proposals may reflect a strategic effort to gain electoral support rather than a fundamental shift in her conservative ideology. Her leadership is expected to follow the right-wing agenda of her mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which promoted women’s economic participation while upholding traditional social values. The ultimate impact of her premiership will depend on whether the symbolic progress represented by her election is followed by substantive policies that advance gender equality and strengthen institutional integrity in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The article’s central theme is the election of Sanae Takaichi as Japan’s first female Prime Minister, which directly relates to achieving gender equality and empowering women. The text highlights this as breaking “Japan’s highest glass ceiling” and a “departure from the long male-dominated politics.” It extensively discusses Japan’s low ranking in the Global Gender Gap Report, the underrepresentation of women in parliament and the cabinet, and Takaichi’s own complex history with gender-related policies.

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The article touches upon the effectiveness and representativeness of Japan’s political institutions. It discusses the ruling LDP’s leadership contest, recent election defeats, political scandals that have “tarnished the party’s reputation,” and the operation of a minority government. The election of the first female leader can be seen as a move towards more inclusive and representative institutions, a key aspect of SDG 16.

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The article mentions policies aimed at women’s economic participation. It references former Prime Minister Abe’s promotion of “the economic participation of women” (known as “womenomics”). Furthermore, it notes Takaichi’s campaign promises of “partial tax deductions for babysitting fees and corporate tax incentives for companies offering in-house childcare,” which are policies designed to remove barriers for women in the workforce and promote full and productive employment.

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

1. 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.

   • This target is the most prominent in the article. Takaichi’s ascent to Prime Minister is a clear example of a woman reaching the highest level of political leadership. The article provides context by stating that “only 15% of Japan’s parliament is female” and the previous cabinet had only “two female members,” underscoring the ongoing challenge of achieving this target in Japan. Takaichi’s promise of “Nordic-like female representation in her Cabinet” is a direct pledge towards this goal.

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

   • The election of a country’s first female leader is a significant step toward more representative decision-making, as it ensures that the highest political office reflects a broader segment of the population. The article’s discussion of the LDP’s need to reform in response to voter dissatisfaction and election defeats also relates to the need for more responsive political institutions.

3. Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

   • This target is relevant through the discussion of the dual-surname law (fūfubessei). The article notes Takaichi’s opposition to a reform that would allow married couples to have different surnames, a law that critics argue is discriminatory against women, who overwhelmingly are the ones to change their names. This debate highlights the presence of legal frameworks that can be perceived as discriminatory.

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

1. Indicator 5.5.1(a): Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments.

   • The article explicitly states this indicator by mentioning that “only 15% of Japan’s parliament is female.” This figure is a direct measure of progress (or lack thereof) towards Target 5.5.

2. Proportion of women in ministerial/cabinet positions.

   • While a sub-component of Indicator 5.5.1, the article provides a specific data point by noting that the outgoing “Ishiba’s Cabinet had only two female members.” Takaichi’s subsequent cabinet appointments would serve as a direct measure of her commitment to her “Nordic-like” representation promise.

3. Global Gender Gap Index Ranking.

   • The article cites the World Economic Forum’s “2025 Global Gender Gap Report,” stating that Japan “ranks 118th among 148 economies” and performs poorly in the “political empowerment metric.” This external index serves as a comprehensive indicator for measuring gender equality across multiple domains, including political participation.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: time.com