TOKYO — Eight years ago, Yuriko Koike became the first woman to lead Tokyo, beating her male predecessor. She won her third term as governor Sunday, and one of her closest rivals was a woman.
Multiple women competing for a top political office is still rare in Japan, which has a terrible global gender-equality ranking, but Koike's win highlights a gradual rise in powerful female officials and a society more open to gender balance in politics. That said, even if a woman eventually becomes prime minister, politics here is still overwhelmingly dominated by men, and experts see a huge effort needed for equal representation.
Attacks on Renho's aggressive image were a clear example of gender bias in a society that expects female candidates to be 'motherly or cute,' said Chiyako Sato, a Mainichi Shimbun editorial writer and a commentator on politics.Because of a small female presence in politics, powerful women tend to get excessive attention.
Gradually Rise In Japanese Politics But Face Deep Challenges
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