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Japan

September 20, 2016
The opposition Democratic Party in Japan Elects First Female Leader

Renho Murata became the first woman

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5115: Japan, 02/08/2026, Japanese House of Representatives

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Quota Information Parliament Information
Are there legislated quotas? No Structure of parliament Unicameral
For the Single/Lower House? NoCurrent members 464
  Percentage of women 9.91%
Source: Gender Quotas Database Source: New Parline
Note: this page was last updated on October 3, 2022.
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Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi affixes celebratory rosettes to the names of winning candidates in the Lower House election on Feb. 8 at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo’s Nagatacho district. (Hikaru Uchida)
February 11, 2026
Over 90% of LDP candidates win; record number of women run

The Liberal Democratic Party’s lopsided victory was not the only record set in the Feb. 8 Lower House election.

A total of 313 women ran as candidates, accounting for 24.4 percent of the 1,284 contenders and surpassing the previous high of 23.4 percent.

A supporter holds a sign reading “Go Sana-chan!” at a street rally for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Fukuoka, Japan on Jan. 30. © Kyodo
A supporter holds a flyer for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who is also president of the Liberal Democratic Party, alongside an English vocabulary book at an LDP election rally in the city of Saitama on Tuesday. | BLOOMBERG
February 5, 2026
How Sanae Takaichi won over disillusioned young voters

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.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/world/asia/japan-women-prime-minister.html
October 20, 2025
A Woman Is Poised to Lead Japan. Will That Help Japanese Women?

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.

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4693: Japan, 07/20/2025, Japanese House of Councillors

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Quota Information Parliament Information
Are there legislated quotas? No Structure of parliament Unicameral
For the Single/Lower House? NoCurrent members 464
  Percentage of women 9.91%
Source: Gender Quotas Database Source: New Parline
Note: this page was last updated on October 3, 2022.
Election for:

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4534: Japan, 27/10/2024, Japanese House of Representatives

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Quota Information Parliament Information
Are there legislated quotas? No Structure of parliament Unicameral
For the Single/Lower House? NoCurrent members 464
  Percentage of women 9.91%
Source: Gender Quotas Database Source: New Parline
Note: this page was last updated on October 3, 2022.
Election for:
December 15, 2014
What can we do to improve female representation in politics?

It’s no secret that women are vastly underrepresented at