Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Justin McCurry in Tokyo

From ‘get married’ to getting elected – women a record one-third of candidates in Japan poll

Election candidate Arfiya Eri of Japan’s Liberal Democratic party (LDP).
Election candidate Arfiya Eri of Japan’s Liberal Democratic party (LDP). Photograph: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images

Less than a year ago, voters in Japan had to look very hard to find a woman’s name on ballot papers for the lower house election. But as the country prepares to go to the polls again this weekend, they are comparatively spoiled for choice.

About a third of the candidates in this Sunday’s upper house election are women – the highest proportion since Japanese women won the right to vote and stand for parliament in 1946.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.