Takaichi’s reshuffle falls short of pledge on raising female representation

Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic President Sanae Takaichi, in a recent reshuffle of her Cabinet and party executive personnel, appointed only a few women, despite her earlier pledge to increase women’s representation to levels seen in Northern European countries. Two fewer women are now serving as Cabinet ministers or in other top government posts, while the four key party executive posts all went to men. This also deviates from the government’s gender equality target.

At the Cabinet level, the number of female ministers remains unchanged from before the reshuffle, with only Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and economic security minister Kimi Onoda being part of Takaichi’s administration. Including the prime minister, women make up about 16% of the Cabinet.