New leader had promised levels of female representation comparable to those in Iceland, where six of cabinet of 11 are women
Sanae Takaichi made history on Tuesday when she became Japan’s first female prime minister. But hours after she was elected by MPs, it was evident that female under representation in the country’s political establishment would continue when she appointed just two women to her cabinet.
Takaichi had promised levels of female representation in her government comparable to those in Iceland, Finland and Norway.
Satsuki Katayama, who became the first woman to hold the post of finance minister, was joined by Kimi Onoda as economic security minister in Takaichi’s 19-member cabinet.
Six of Iceland’s 11 cabinet members are women, including the prime minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir, and in Finland women occupy 11 of 19 cabinet posts.
