Japan's Gender Equality Gap Is Widening, Not Closing

A poll of around 2,000 people taken in April 2024 by Kyodo News found 90% of respondents support allowing female emperors. Yet successive governments have remained steadfast in resisting change, with some citing the so-called unbroken imperial lineage (bansei ikkei).

Ishiba is known to favor allowing a female succession. But his administration's financial retaliation against Cedaw signals otherwise. The decision is not merely a reaction to a non-binding recommendation – it reflects deeper discomfort with external scrutiny over Japan's gender policies, which the current government has deprioritised.

Cedaw's recommendation to Japan that it might reconsider its imperial succession system was not an isolated critique. The UN committee has regularly called on Japan to improve gender equality in multiple areas . These include workplace discrimination, representation in politics and legal protections against gender-based violence.

Cedaw's recommendation on inclusive succession is neither legally binding nor“within the purview of the Committee's competence”, as the committee itself acknowledges . As a result the government's response – cutting funding – is more than just a reaction to Cedaw's recommendation. It raises concerns about Japan's commitment to gender equality full stop.

The United Nations has clashed with successive Japanese governments over a range of gender-related issues. These have included the refusal of Japan to allow brides to retain their maiden names . Cedaw has recommended that Japan amend the Civil Code over the surname requirement in 2003, 2009 and 2016. The most recent occasion is marked the recommendation as having high importance.

But the most important issue is over Japan's treatment of what it called“comfort women” – the system of military sexual slavery before and during the Second World War. Cedaw and other UN bodies have repeatedly urged Japan to resolve the issue by firstly recognizing the gravity of the crimes involved and dealing with reparations for survivors and strengthen education on the issue.

Japan has frequently been accused of downplaying this issue. While official apologies have been made, they have frequently been coupled with denials or diplomatic efforts to dilute past statements. In its last report in 2016, Cedaw called on Japan to ensure its leaders and public officials“desist from making disparaging statements regarding responsibility, which have the effect of retraumatising victims.”

Japan's relationship with international organizations addressing gender issues has long been uneasy and its domestic policies frequently lag behind international expectations.

Reports from the committee have criticized Japan's inadequate legal definitions of discrimination against women, limited access to justice for women, and the persistence of deep-seated gender stereotypes and patriarchal attitudes.

Sign up for one of our free newsletters

• The Daily Report Start your day right with Asia Times' top stories
• AT Weekly Report A weekly roundup of Asia Times' most-read stories

This year holds special significance for the UN, marking two major anniversaries. It's the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women. This produced the Beijing declaration and platform for action – the most widely endorsed global agenda for women's rights.

And it's the 25th anniversary of the UN's adoption of Resolution 1325 . This established the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. WPS is now recognized as a key pillar of international peace and security , regarded by the European Parliament's committee on women's rights and gender equality as“central to contemporary global peace and security challenges.”

Amid increasing global support for women-led initiatives, Japan's decision to halt funding for Cedaw in 2025 risks damaging its status as a responsible and respected nation on the world stage. It also risks alienating allies that prioritize gender equality in diplomacy .

In distancing itself from global norms, Japan risks not just falling behind, but falling out of step with most of its G7 peers.

Ming Gao is research fellow of East Asia Studies, Lund University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

Sign up here to comment on Asia Times stories Or Sign in to an existing accoun

Thank you for registering!

An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link.

• Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
• Click to print (Opens in new window) Print