Japan's Takaichi cabinet has only two female cabinet members... ‘Male-centric’ criticism continues

Even in the cabinet reshuffle, it appears that it will remain ‘male-centered’… Prime Minister emphasizes ‘meritocracy and equality of opportunity’

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Byeong-gyu = Japan's Takaichi Cabinet, led by the first female prime minister in history, has only two female cabinet members (ministers), leading to criticism that it is too male-centered. Although a cabinet reshuffle is expected soon, many predict that the 'male-dominated' situation will remain unchanged.

According to the Asahi Shimbun on the 14th, excluding Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, there are only two women in Takaichi's cabinet, including Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and Minister of Economy and Security Kimi Onoda.

In the past, Asahi had the largest number of female cabinet members at 5, but recently the number has been around 2 to 3, and one cabinet member said, "There will not be a significant increase in the number of female cabinet members (even in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle)."

Prime Minister Takaichi says there is a need to actively hire women, but he is showing caution in selecting women, using expressions such as 'meritocracy' and 'equal opportunity.'

In the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election held in October last year, he emphasized "a cabinet and party executives with more women than those in Northern European countries," but the selection of women was not much different from when a man was prime minister.

Regarding the reason why there were so few women appointed after the launch of the government, he said, "I consider equality of opportunity to be very important."

Prime Minister Takaichi is taking a cautious stance on the 'quota system', which allocates a certain percentage of candidates or seats to women in elections.

At a lecture held in Tokyo on the 10th, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said, "There was consideration to include a certain number of female ministers in any cabinet, but (Prime Minister Takaichi) is not thinking much about that," and emphasized that he would appoint personnel based on 'meritism' rather than gender.

There are voices of concern in Japanese politics about being passive in appointing women despite being the first female prime minister.

An experienced female cabinet member pointed out to the newspaper, "Even though a female prime minister has been created for a long time, if (women) are not appointed, it may be seen as passive in 'women's activities'."

Although 'equality of opportunity' is emphasized, it is structurally difficult for women to get the opportunity to be selected as a cabinet member.

The number of female members of the Liberal Democratic Party is only 10% in the House of Representatives and 20% in the House of Councilors, and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party often nominates incumbent lawmakers as candidates in elections.