Japan has ranked 117th out of 145 countries in the latest global gender equality index, released by the World Economic Forum on September 16. This score reflects the nation’s long-standing challenges in achieving gender equality, a topic that has drawn criticism from local media. According to Nippon TV, Japan holds the lowest score among the G7 nations and is the third-worst performer in the Asia-Pacific region. While the country scores relatively better in areas such as education (68th) and health (49th), it performs poorly in economic participation (119th) and political empowerment (121st), indicating significant gaps in gender equity across these sectors. The low rankings highlight ongoing issues such as the underrepresentation of women in the workforce and in political leadership. Despite improvements in some areas, Japan continues to struggle with systemic barriers that limit women’s opportunities in key sectors of society. In a notable development, Japan’s political landscape saw a historic shift in October 2025 when Sanae Takaichi became the first female Prime Minister after winning the leadership election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). This marked the first time in over 130 years of Japan’s parliamentary democracy that a woman assumed the highest office. Takaichi’s election was seen as a significant milestone for gender representation in Japanese politics. While her appointment signals progress, the broader context of Japan’s low gender equality rankings suggests that much work remains to be done to achieve parity in all areas of public life.