October 26, 2025

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

Takaichi Sanae became Japan’s first female prime minister. Some may hope that this will lead to the elimination of deep-rooted gender stereotypes, such as the outdated notion that: “leaders are men, subordinates are women.”

Although Takaichi heads the coalition government composed of the Liberal Democratic Party and the “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party, the road to gender equality will not automatically be shorter but likely will face significant setbacks. This is because, PM Takaichi is one of the strong opponents of promoting gender equality and women’s human rights.

One example is the issue of a selective dual-surname system for married couples. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has recommended four times that Japan introduce that system. Japan’s business community also calls for the implementation of such system.

Despite this, PM Takaichi has been at the forefront of preventing the legalization of the selective separate surname system. She claims that expanding the use of maiden names as aliases is enough to solve the issue, obliging married couples to use the same surname.

In 2021, a group of LDP Dietmembers opposing the selective dual-surname system sent to 40 prefectural assembly chairs a document demanding that a resolution in favor of the separate surname system not be adopted. Among those lawmakers were Takaichi and her Cabinet ministers. The document as the reason for the opposition cited that allowing married couples to use different surnames will possibly lead to the collapse of the traditional family-based social system.

Takaichi is also opposed to same-sex marriage. Behind her stance underlies the outdated patriarchal values that idealize the family system of prewar Japan.

Takaichi in her speech following her election as LDP President said that she will throw her “work-life balance” away. After the formation of her Cabinet, she instructed the Labor Minister to begin discussions on the deregulation of working time.

In Japan, the traditional gender roles - men work and women bear family responsibilities - have made it difficult for women to continue working as full-time regular workers. This is a major factor that forced women to accept low-paid, non-regular jobs. As a result, many women face poverty due to low pension benefits.

The LDP has long sought to lift the working time regulations. If working hours go unchecked, this will make women’s economic difficulties even more severe.

Takaichi, with her far-right, xenophobic political stance, advocates promoting a huge military buildup and constitutional revision, justifies Japan’s past war of aggression, calls for the removal of descriptions of Japanese military sex slavery from history textbooks, and attacks vulnerable people and minorities, such as social welfare recipients and foreigners.

The Japanese Communist Party, with the aim of creating a society where women who break through the infamous “glass ceiling” are truly celebrated, works to increase joint efforts to protect human rights, democracy, peace, and people’s livelihoods and hit back hard at the Takaichi government.