{"id":7181,"date":"2026-03-04T15:00:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T15:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/?p=7181"},"modified":"2026-03-25T14:08:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:08:46","slug":"in-japan-a-woman-at-the-helm-and-so-what","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/en\/in-japan-a-woman-at-the-helm-and-so-what\/","title":{"rendered":"In Japan, a woman at the helm! And so what?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

By CHEN Yo-Jung<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

On 21 October 2025, the Japanese parliament\u00a0 designated Takaichi Sanae, 64, as the 104th\u00a0 Prime Minister, making her the very first woman\u00a0 to hold such office since 1890, the year when\u00a0 Japan, until then feudal, converted to a\u00a0 constitutional parliamentary monarchy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The arrival of a woman at the head of the\u00a0 government of a country still far behind others\u00a0 in terms of the status of women indeed\u00a0 constitutes a revolution that has not failed to\u00a0 generate astonishment and excitement in the\u00a0 archipelago as well as in the rest of the world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

However, despite a popularity generating near general euphoria at the political level, this\u00a0 historic success of a woman appears to have\u00a0 aroused very little enthusiasm\u2014indeed even\u00a0 indifference\u2014within Japanese society,\u00a0 particularly among women.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As sociologist, Ueno Chizuko, a specialist in\u00a0 gender issues, declared following Ms. Takaichi\u2019s\u00a0 appointment: \u201cThere is nothing to rejoice about!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At first glance, the world\u2019s fourth-largest\u00a0 economy seemed far from predisposed to\u00a0 entrust its highest executive office to a woman.\u00a0 Despite some progress made thus far in terms\u00a0 of gender equality, the country retains the core\u00a0 of the patriarchal social system that has\u00a0 prevailed in its society for millennia.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Today, it ranks 118th out of 148 in the 2025 World\u00a0 Economic Forum Gender Equality Index, and its\u00a0 score in this area is the poorest among the\u00a0 Group of Seven major economies. Women in\u00a0 fact constitute only 16% (72 individuals) of the\u00a0 465 members of the lower house of the National\u00a0 Diet (Kokkai), and even the new government\u00a0 formed by Ms. Takaichi includes only two\u00a0 women out of a total of 19 ministers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Barely 10.9% of all executives in leadership\u00a0 positions in the country are women, whereas\u00a0 this rate averages 30 to 40% in the principal\u00a0 Western countries. Likewise, the wage gap\u00a0 remains significant (22%) between men and\u00a0 women in Japan. Same-sex marriage remains\u00a0 legally banned, whereas it has already been\u00a0 legalized in neighboring countries such as\u00a0 Taiwan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Married couples are still legally required to share\u00a0 the same surname, which effectively obliges\u00a0 women to relinquish their maiden name upon\u00a0 marriage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In most cases, Japanese society considers that\u00a0 a married woman should stop working to take\u00a0 care of the household.Under such conditions,\u00a0 the ascent of a woman to the post of Prime\u00a0 Minister was bound to cause a sensation. Ms.\u00a0 Takaichi Sanae\u2019s breaking of the glass ceiling in\u00a0 a country such as that described above\u00a0 represents, in every respect, an achievement\u00a0 that should have provided momentum to\u00a0 movements defending women\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yet it must be acknowledged that Japanese\u00a0 society as a whole has remained unmoved,\u00a0 observing near-total silence in the face of\u00a0 Ms. Takaichi\u2019s historic achievement.\u00a0 Societal reactions are surprisingly\u00a0 restrained, far from the heated debates that\u00a0 might have been expected.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Four months after her election, while the new\u00a0 Prime Minister\u2019s approval rating remains very\u00a0 high\u2014around 70%\u2014a sense of disappointment\u00a0 is perceptible among those who had expected\u00a0 a general surge of enthusiasm within Japanese\u00a0 society in favor of improving the status of\u00a0 women.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sharing sociologist Ueno Chizuko\u2019s view, Arata\u00a0 Yamamoto, Tokyo correspondent for the\u00a0 American network NBC, headlined: \u201cJapan Has\u00a0 Its First Woman Head of Government, but Not All\u00a0 Women Are Celebrating.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Primarily Political Popularity\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Certainly, since her appointment at the head of\u00a0 government, Ms. Takaichi has enjoyed an\u00a0 unprecedented level of support ranging\u00a0 between 60% and 70%. But this very high rating\u00a0 is explained rather by the Japanese people\u2019s\u00a0 attraction to the hard conservative line\u00a0 displayed by the new leader.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The image of ultra-nationalist firmness and the\u00a0 blunt frankness conveyed by Takaichi Sanae\u2019s\u00a0 statements constitute a welcome novelty for an\u00a0 electorate exasperated by years of indecisive\u00a0 and cautious ambivalence from the male\u00a0 leaders the country has known until now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In other words, a popularity acquired essentially\u00a0 through the strong and virile image of the new<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prime Minister, demonstrating firmness and\u00a0 dynamism in contrast with the attitude of her\u00a0 male predecessors.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Whether in foreign or domestic policy, the frank\u00a0 and determined conservative language of the\u00a0 new head of government\u2014distinct from the\u00a0 prudent ambiguity to which the Japanese had\u00a0 grown accustomed under previous leaders\u2014has been enthusiastically received by a young\u00a0 electorate that is increasingly nationalist and\u00a0 gradually influenced by a xenophobic reflex\u00a0 following years of overtourism and the absence\u00a0 of a coherent immigration policy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The hard and combative ultra-nationalism\u00a0 defended by Takaichi Sanae throughout her\u00a0 political career has led her to position herself as\u00a0 a champion of opposition to a neighboring\u00a0 China, rising in power and perceived as\u00a0 arrogant and threatening.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The diplomatic dispute she provoked with\u00a0 Beijing over the highly sensitive issue of Taiwan\u2014 by declaring before Parliament that a Chinese\u00a0 armed offensive against the island would justify\u00a0 action by Japan\u2019s Self-Defense Forces [1]\u2014only\u00a0 further propelled her to the height of popularity\u00a0 in a country where, according to polls, more\u00a0 than 90% of the population declares itself\u00a0 Sinophobic\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In economic matters, the \u201cproactive fiscal\u00a0 policy\u201d and successive measures to reduce the\u00a0 tax burden put forward by the new Prime\u00a0 Minister have been favorably received by voters,\u00a0 even though the economic press is unanimous\u00a0 in warning against the damage that, in its view,\u00a0 this \u201cfinancial populism\u201d is likely to inflict on the\u00a0 national economy in the long term.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Moreover, the fact remains that Ms. Takaichi was\u00a0 not elected by universal suffrage. As political\u00a0 scientist Terashima Jitsuro recalls, she was first\u00a0 elected president of the ruling Liberal\u00a0 Democratic Party (LDP) by a vote limited to its\u00a0 920,000 members. And only 250,000 of them\u00a0 (0.2% of national voters) voted for her, the\u00a0 remainder of the votes being distributed among\u00a0 the four other candidates.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The president of Japan\u2019s leading party was\u00a0 automatically designated on 21 October 2025 by\u00a0 Parliament to form the government, after\u00a0 obtaining a majority of votes in the lower house\u00a0 (237 votes out of 465, four more than the\u00a0 required majority) thanks to the support of a\u00a0 coalition with the Japan Innovation Party\u00a0 (Nippon Ishin no Kai).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Several television commentators agree that the\u00a0 choice of Ms. Takaichi by LDP members was\u00a0 motivated by a sense of crisis within the\u00a0 archipelago\u2019s main political formation: the ruling\u00a0 party was losing members from its right wing to\u00a0 Sanseito (\u201cthe Party of Political Participation\u201d),\u00a0 the brand-new far-right party openly\u00a0 xenophobic and known for its slogan \u201cJapanese\u00a0 First!\u201d (Nihonjin f\u0101suto).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was therefore urgency in stopping this\u00a0 hemorrhage by placing at the head of the LDP a\u00a0 leader no less right-wing than Sanseito. Among\u00a0 the five candidates for party president, there\u00a0 was no one other than Takaichi Sanae who fit\u00a0 this profile, even though in normal times the\u00a0 combative ultra-nationalism deemed\u00a0 dangerous that she professes had always kept\u00a0 her at the margins of the party\u2019s mainstream.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It should also be recalled that a woman at the\u00a0 helm of a state or government is no longer a\u00a0 novelty in this part of the world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Almost all of Japan\u2019s neighbors, with varying\u00a0 degrees of success, have had a woman leader\u00a0 in recent decades: South Korea (Park Geun hye), Taiwan (Tsai Ing-wen), the Philippines\u00a0 (Corazon Aquino, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo),\u00a0 Thailand (Yingluck Shinawatra), Indonesia\u00a0 (Megawati Sukarnoputri), Sri Lanka (Sirimavo\u00a0 Bandaranaike, Chandrika Kumaratunga, Harini\u00a0 Amarasuriya), India (Indira Gandhi, Pratibha\u00a0 Patil, Droupadi Murmu), Pakistan (Benazir\u00a0 Bhutto), Singapore (Halimah Yacob),\u00a0 Bangladesh (Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda Zia), Nepal\u00a0 (Bidya Devi Bhandari)\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And most of these countries were no less\u00a0 traditionalist and conservative than the Land of\u00a0 the Rising Sun (Hi Izuru Kuni \u65e5\u51fa\u308b\u56fd). Moreover,\u00a0 as Ms. Ueno recalls, whether in the case of\u00a0 Margaret Thatcher\u2014an avowed model of\u00a0 Takaichi Sanae\u2014or that of Park Geun-hye of\u00a0 South Korea, feminists in those two countries\u00a0 harbored no illusions upon the advent of a\u00a0 woman at the head of their state or\u00a0 government.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Japan as well, a woman occupying a high\u00a0 leadership position (minister, civil service, local\u00a0 government, etc.), though still too few in\u00a0 number, is no longer a source of surprise. As Ms.\u00a0 Ueno notes: \u201cWe are no longer at the stage of\u00a0 being astonished to see a woman occupy this\u00a0 or that position.\u201d For example, since 2016, Tokyo\u2014the capital and the world\u2019s largest metropolis\u2014 has had as governor the very popular Ms. Koike\u00a0 Yuriko, former Minister of Defense. In addition,\u00a0 recent scandals separately involving female mayors of several local authorities have in a\u00a0 way accustomed public opinion to seeing a\u00a0 woman in a high political position.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Be that as it may, the exceptionally high\u00a0 personal popularity of Ms. Takaichi (and not\u00a0 necessarily that of her party, whose approval\u00a0 rating had been at its lowest following a\u00a0 succession of politico-financial scandals) led\u00a0 her to tempt fate by calling, on 8 February,\u00a0 barely three months after taking office, an early\u00a0 general election.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A more than successful gamble, since she\u00a0 emerged overwhelmingly victorious, securing\u00a0 for her party, the ruling LDP, more than two thirds of the lower house of the Diet\u2014316 seats\u00a0 out of a total of 465. An unprecedented record\u00a0 that makes Ms. Takaichi the most powerful head\u00a0 of government in postwar Japanese history.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

None of the numerous serious post-election\u00a0 commentaries and analyses mention the\u00a0 femininity of the person responsible for this\u00a0 historic political landslide. As Nikkei Asia\u00a0 observed, this historic ballot is merely the\u00a0 \u201ctranslation of a typically Japanese populism\u00a0 relying on Ms. Takaichi\u2019s fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Powerful Woman but an Enemy of the Feminist\u00a0 Cause\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In short, the exceptionally high approval rating\u00a0 of the Takaichi government is due to the very\u00a0 charismatic and conservative political style \u2014\u201cmore masculine than men\u201d\u2014of its leader and\u00a0 has very little to do with Takaichi Sanae\u2019s\u00a0 gender. This political popularity contrasts with\u00a0 the societal lukewarmness that greets the\u00a0 breaking of the institutional glass ceiling by a\u00a0 woman in Japan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This general lack of interest is explained by the\u00a0 fact that, as a fierce defender of traditional\u00a0 patriarchal values, the new Prime Minister does\u00a0 not identify as a feminist and has never shown\u00a0 any affinity for the women\u2019s cause. Even before\u00a0 Takaichi Sanae was officially appointed to form\u00a0 the government, the New York Times\u00a0 correspondent in Tokyo wondered on 19\u00a0 October: \u201cA woman is going to lead Japan, but\u00a0 will that be good for women?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rather than improving the status of women,\u00a0 Takaichi Sanae\u2019s political career has been\u00a0 devoted to defending what she considers the\u00a0 fundamental traditional values of Japanese\u00a0 society.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Coming from an ultra-conservative middle class family, she has always defended these\u00a0 values rooted in the patriarchal system. Her rise\u00a0 through the political hierarchy, however\u00a0 exceptional, owes nothing to her femininity nor\u00a0 to the defense of women\u2019s rights. Her ascent\u00a0 followed the classic path of a Japanese\u00a0 politician.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hence her many nicknames: \u201ca politician in a\u00a0 skirt\u201d (suk\u0101to o haita seijika), \u201chonorary man\u201d\u00a0 (meiyo dansei), \u201cIron Lady\u201d (Tetsu no Onna,\u00a0 modeled on Margaret Thatcher), \u201cTaliban\u00a0 Takaichi,\u201d etc.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As the New York Times correspondent in Tokyo\u00a0 noted: \u201cSanae Takaichi will break the political\u00a0 glass ceiling, but she seems set to maintain the\u00a0 measures that have so far hindered progress for\u00a0 women.\u201d Interviewed on the street by a\u00a0 television channel, an anonymous citizen\u00a0 expressed what many felt: \u201cIt doesn\u2019t feel like we\u00a0 elected a woman!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

According to sociologist Ueno Chizuko, Takaichi\u00a0 Sanae\u2019s ascent represents a typical case of\u00a0 \u201cover-identification\u201d by women who seek\u00a0 distinction within the male political hierarchy by\u00a0 attempting to position themselves more\u00a0 resolutely to the right than their male\u00a0 colleagues, and therefore more hostile than\u00a0 men to measures promoting gender equality at\u00a0 the expense of men\u2019s acquired rights.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In an interview with Asahi Shimbun, Ms. Sato\u00a0 Fumika, another Japanese sociologist\u00a0 specializing in gender studies, was critical of Ms.\u00a0 Takaichi Sanae and her \u201cfrivolous\u201d attitude\u2014\u201cunusual for a traditional Japanese leader\u201d\u2014 alongside President Trump when the two\u00a0 leaders visited together on 28 October 2025 the\u00a0 hundreds of American servicemen aboard the\u00a0 aircraft carrier USS George Washington docked\u00a0 in Yokosuka harbor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In a scene that raised eyebrows among many\u00a0 Japanese\u2014men and women alike\u2014she even\u00a0 allowed herself to be embraced by the\u00a0 American president! The sociologist said she\u00a0 was \u201cdisgusted\u201d by this spectacle deemed\u00a0 humiliating, which in her view demonstrated the\u00a0 typical case of a woman striving to flatter\u00a0 \u201cmales\u201d within a system dominated by all\u00a0powerful men.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ms. Sato even sees in it a miniature reflection of\u00a0 the relationship of subordination that Japan has\u00a0 always maintained vis-\u00e0-vis the United States.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In fact, Ms. Takaichi\u2019s concrete political positions\u00a0 place her firmly on the conservative right rather\u00a0 than within a feminist perspective.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She opposes, for example, same-sex marriage;\u00a0 she rejects the movement seeking to allow a\u00a0 woman (in this case Princess Aiko, the only\u00a0 daughter of the current Emperor) to accede to\u00a0 the imperial throne, at a time when the imperial\u00a0 family is experiencing a serious shortage of\u00a0 male heirs; fearing harm to Japan\u2019s traditional\u00a0 family values, she rejects the growing societal\u00a0 demand that married women be allowed to\u00a0 retain their maiden name.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her lack of interest in professional equality\u00a0 between men and women is well known.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Instead of seeking to improve women\u2019s working\u00a0 conditions, she extols the virtue of long working\u00a0 hours, regardless of gender. Contrary to\u00a0 expectations, the Takaichi government includes\u00a0 only two women out of 19 ministers, as the new\u00a0 Prime Minister says she wishes to prioritize\u00a0 competence over parity.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With such hostility toward anything that\u00a0 threatens to call into question traditional social\u00a0 values founded on male supremacy, is it\u00a0 surprising that Takaichi Sanae, Prime Minister or\u00a0 not, is considered a \u201ctraitor\u201d (according to the\u00a0 progressive monthly Sekai) by those who fight\u00a0 for the advancement of gender equality in the\u00a0 country?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is therefore understandable that even though\u00a0 Ms. Takaichi is acclaimed by a large majority of\u00a0 the population in general, this predominantly\u00a0 political adoration is in no way linked to the fact\u00a0 that the new head of government is a woman.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As for the weakness of sociological reactions to\u00a0 the achievement of a woman becoming Prime\u00a0 Minister, one should also note the reserved\u00a0 attitude of the media as a whole.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Having been criticized in the past for reporting\u00a0 deemed insensitive and offensive toward\u00a0 women, Japanese media outlets now appear\u00a0 cautious about overemphasizing the female\u00a0 dimension of Ms. Takaichi\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Conclusion\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Given the gap between, on the one hand, the\u00a0 high approval rating Ms. Takaichi has enjoyed\u00a0 since coming to power among Japanese voters\u00a0 and, on the other hand, society\u2019s near\u00a0indifference to the achievement of a woman\u00a0 reaching the summit of power, one may wonder whether, in Japan as elsewhere in today\u2019s world,\u00a0 breaking a \u201cglass ceiling\u201d necessarily amounts\u00a0 to a victory for women\u2019s status or for gender\u00a0 equality.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1] Ms. Takaichi\u2019s exact statement, translated from Japanese:\u00a0 \u201cIf a situation\u2014for example an attempt to place Taiwan\u00a0 completely under the control of the Beijing government,\u00a0 whether simply through a blockade of sea routes or through\u00a0 the use of military means such as warships\u2014in fact involves\u00a0 military means, then, whatever one may say, I believe that\u00a0 this could become a situation of the \u2018threat to survival\u2019 type\u00a0 [for Japan].\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Born in Taiwan in 1947, CHEN Yo-Jung grew up in Vietnam and Hong Kong. He completed his higher education in\u00a0 Japan and then served for 23 years at the French Embassy in Tokyo as press attach\u00e9 and translator interpreter. Naturalized as a French citizen in 1981, Chen Yo-Jung became a permanent civil servant at the Quai d’Orsay in 1994. He served as deputy consul\/press advisor in several French diplomatic and consular posts,\u00a0 including Tokyo, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Singapore, and Beijing, before retiring to Japan in 2012.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

This publication reflects the views and opinions of the individual authors. As a platform dedicated to the sharing of information and ideas, our objective is to highlight a diversity of perspectives. Accordingly, the opinions expressed herein should not be interpreted as those of the Fondation France-Asie or its affiliates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By CHEN Yo-Jung   On 21 October 2025, the Japanese parliament\u00a0 designated Takaichi Sanae, 64, as the 104th\u00a0 Prime Minister, making her the very first woman\u00a0 to hold such office since 1890, the year when\u00a0 Japan, until then feudal, converted to a\u00a0 constitutional parliamentary monarchy.   The arrival of a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6959,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[118],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7181"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7181"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7181\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7224,"href":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7181\/revisions\/7224"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6959"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fondationfranceasie.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}