Japan's female election candidates aim for diversity breakthrough

Record 33% ratio of women on ballots seen as just a 'start'

The Liberal Democratic Party's Arfiya Eri, left, and the Constitutional Democratic Party's Yukiko Kaname are running in Japan's July 10 upper house election. (Source photos by Sayumi Take)

SAYUMI TAKE, Nikkei staff writer

June 27, 2022 15:08 JST

TOKYO -- Japan's upper house election next month poses a major gender equality test, with a record number of female candidates running in a country known for lagging behind on women's political participation.

Female hopefuls account for 181, or 33%, of the 545 contenders registered for the July 10 poll. From an advocate of equal rights for sex workers to a former United Nations official of Uyghur heritage, many of the candidates hope to not only make strides for women but to bring more diverse perspectives to Japanese politics.