A record number of women win Japan upper house election in a landmark result for gender representation. On Sunday, 42 women secured seats in the House of Councillors, setting a new record and surpassing the previous high of 35 from the 2022 vote.
This year, women won 33.6% of the 125 contested seats. That marks significant progress toward broader gender inclusion in Japanese politics. Among the winners were prominent politicians Seiko Hashimoto of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Renho of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ).
Despite the milestone, the total number of female candidates declined. There were 152 women on the ballot, down from the 181 in 2022. That means women made up 29.1% of all candidates—still below the government’s 2025 goal of 35%.
In comparison, the 2022 election saw women account for 33.2% of candidates—the highest percentage to date. Therefore, while outcomes improved, overall female participation slightly decreased.
Of the 152 female candidates, 102 ran in electoral districts and 50 through proportional representation. The LDP fielded 17 women, while coalition partner Komeito supported 5. In contrast, Sanseito—a right-leaning rising party—nominated 24 women. The CDPJ fielded 21, while the Japanese Communist Party backed 20 and the Democratic Party for the People ran 12.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 report, Japan ranked 118th out of 148 countries in gender parity. The country performed poorly in political empowerment. However, it showed better outcomes in education, economy, and health.
Still, a record number of women win Japan upper house election shows voter willingness to embrace female leadership. Analysts say this reflects growing public interest in gender equity, even if candidate ratios remain below targets.
Moving forward, parties must take more action to field female candidates. Experts note that simply increasing representation isn’t enough—parties must also ensure women hold key leadership roles.
Ultimately, a record number of women win Japan upper house election during a pivotal moment in national politics. With Japan facing economic and social challenges, diverse leadership may offer new perspectives on reform and policy.
