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Party leaders

Japan Elects First Female Prime Minister, Breaking Historic Glass Ceiling

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Sanae Takaichi, president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, made history on Tuesday (Oct. 21, 2025) as she was elected the country's first female prime minister, 80 years after women gained suffrage. Despite progress in women's participation in Japanese society, the country ranked 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2025 Global Gender Gap Index, with women making up only 20.6% of lawmakers in the Lower House and the House of Councillors.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sanae Takaichi, a Liberal Democratic Party leader, became Japan's first female prime minister, 80 years after women gained suffrage.
  • Women in Japan gained the right to participate in politics in 1945, following the country's defeat in World War II, thanks to the efforts of female activist leader Fusae Ichikawa and others.
  • Despite progress, Japan ranked 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2025 Global Gender Gap Index.
  • Women make up only 20.6% of lawmakers in the Lower House and the House of Councillors.
  • The closest a woman has come to winning the prime minister's post before Takaichi in Japan was Takako Doi, who led the former Social Democratic Party of Japan.
  • Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike was the first woman to have bid for the LDP presidency, a position that almost guarantees the prime minister's post.
  • The United States has not had a female president, with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and then Vice President Kamala Harris suffering defeats on Democratic Party tickets in the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections, respectively.
  • As of the end of July this year, 82 of the 193 UN member states have had female presidents or prime ministers since the end of World War II, according to the US think tank Council on Foreign Relations.

Statistics:

  • Japan has ranked 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2025 Global Gender Gap Index.
  • Women make up 20.6% of lawmakers in the Lower House and the House of Councillors.
  • 82 of the 193 UN member states have had female presidents or prime ministers since the end of World War II, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
  • The Liberal Democratic Party has had only three female candidates for the presidency since 2008, including Sanae Takaichi, Seiko Noda, and Yoko Kamikawa.
  • Takako Doi led the former Social Democratic Party of Japan and was the first female leader of a national political party in Japan.

Sources:

  • Jiji Press photo
  • Council on Foreign Relations
  • World Economic Forum
  • Albawaba (Albawaba.com)
  • SyndiGate Media Inc. ( )

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