Women who are in the minority of a group are often treated as tokens. Harvard University Prof. Rosabeth Moss Kanter, who specializes in strategy, innovation and leadership for change, analyzed corporate organization culture in her seminal 1977 book, "Men and Women of the Corporation." According to Kanter, when women are treated as tokens, they are not regarded as individuals but as symbolic representatives of all women. While Japanese women politicians are increasing in number, they may still be seen as tokens, by this definition, in the national Diet. But there were positive signs of progress in the recent House of Councillors election.
In Japan's July 10 election, a record 35 women were elected to seats in the upper house, surpassing the previous high of 28 in 2019. Female candidates won 28% of the 125 races. However, the percentage of women in the House of Representatives -- Japan's lower house -- is less than 10%. Overall, women account for only 15.4% of all Diet members.
