Three months into her tenure as Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi is connecting with younger voters in a way her predecessors failed.

In Japan, women have long been severely underrepresented at the highest levels of business, government and society, the product of a culture that expects them to bear a disproportionate share of child care and housework.

The role of women in politics is vital for any nation’s progress. A country cannot move forward if half its population is excluded from decision-making. In Pakistan, however, women face serious obstacles in entering politics.