Waka Konohana is a Tokyo-based freelance journalist covering society, culture and the movie industry.
Japan's gender gap remains a critical challenge, permeating various facets of society, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Ranked 118th out of 146 countries in the 2024 Gender Gap Index -- the lowest among G7 nations and trailing behind China and South Korea -- Japan faces significant disparities. Economically, women earned just 78.7% of what men made in 2022, one of the widest disparities in the OECD. These systemic inequalities also extend into the realm of SRHR.
