Japan's political situation and the election of the president of the Liberal Democratic Party

Original title: view of the world · Japan's political situation | women in the LDP president election may not really stand out
Xinhua news agency, Beijing, September 27 - the president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, the party's first choice, is scheduled to vote on the 29th. Half of the four candidates are women. According to media analysis, the LDP's presidential candidates are women for the first time in 13 years, or even half of them are women, which seems to be a great progress, but their official career is still controlled by this male dominated conservative party.
The last female candidate in the LDP presidential election was in 2008. Bairiko Koike, former defense minister and current governor of Tokyo, lost to Taro Aso, then Secretary General of the LDP.

On September 16, 2020, Japan's interim parliament held a named election for prime minister. Kan Yiwei (middle), the new president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was successfully elected as Japan's 99th prime minister and formed a new cabinet on the same day. The picture shows Kan Yiwei standing up to thank him. (photographed by Xinhua News Agency reporter Du Xiaoyi)
One of the female candidates for this election, Gao shizaomiao, a former Minister of general affairs, is 60 years old and has the strongest right-wing color among the candidates. She advocated strengthening Japan's national defense capability and economic security, reproducing "Japan's pride", developing "attack capability against enemy bases", and claiming to visit the Yasukuni shrine as prime minister.
According to Kyodo news agency, in order to attract conservative support, Takashi tried to shape himself as the orthodox successor of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and launched "early Miao economics" based on "Abe economics". With Abe as the backer, Gaoshi has a rapid momentum in the near future, and its support rate among LDP members of Congress is directly catching up with taro Kono and Wenxiong Kishida.
Both Kono and Kishida came from a political family and ranked among the top two in public opinion support.

On September 17, in Tokyo, Japan, Takashi Zaomiao delivered a campaign speech at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party. (issued by Xinhua news agency, photographed by Yihe Jinno)
Some political observers believe that Abe supported Takashi partly because he realized that the LDP needed to change its gender discriminatory image and could disperse Kono's votes. Kono disagreed with the Conservatives in some policies and was regarded as "heresy" by some leaders in the party.
According to the latest polls, it is not ruled out that the high market will become a dark horse and enter the second round of voting in the president election. However, even if Takashi becomes Japan's first female prime minister, public opinion may regard her more as Abe's "double".
Another female candidate, Seiko Noda, 61, is now the Acting Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party. She belongs to the dove faction in defense and foreign policy, advocates the promotion of women's rights and promises to use more than half of women in the cabinet. She does not belong to any faction in the LDP, and the foundation of the party is weak. Polls show that Noda's support rate ranks last.

On September 17, in Tokyo, Japan, Seiko Noda delivered a campaign speech at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party. (issued by Xinhua news agency, photographed by Yihe Jinno)
When Noda was asked who would be elected in an online program on the 23rd, he replied, "probably someone other than me". These remarks were regarded as a "Declaration of defeat" and criticized by supporters.
Makumi Taniguchi, an expert on women's social and political roles at Osaka University of the arts, believes that women are a "very minority" in Japanese politics and have limited choices for survival and success. For the LDP's "boy club" policy, they are either "confrontation" or "attachment".
Women account for only about 10% of the members of both houses of Parliament. Analysts say that many women who want to go up choose "attachment" rather than pursuing gender equality.
Taniguchi believes that Gaoshi obviously chooses "attachment", while Noda seems to be outside the mainstream.
Gaoshi complies with the LDP's consistent women's policy, advocates that women should play the traditional role of "helping their husband and teaching their children", opposes same-sex marriage, and opposes that wives can choose not to follow their husband's surname. Noda intends to promote gender equality and diversity and support women to inherit the throne of the emperor. I'm afraid her ideas will be opposed by conservatives.

On September 16, 2020, Kan Yiwei (middle of the front row), the new president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was successfully elected prime minister in the naming election of Prime Minister of the interim parliament and formed a cabinet. The picture shows Kan Yiwei leading his cabinet down the stairs. (issued by Xinhua news agency, photographed by Kato)
Masari Miura, a professor at Shangzhi University, believes that if Takashi wins the election, "she will emphasize that she will break the glass ceiling and claim that Japan is already a country of gender equality". In fact, she is the least likely to promote the development of women's career.
In Miura's view, Takashi gives priority to relying on men rather than fighting for the development of other women. Once elected, it is not conducive to bridging the gender gap in Japan.
In the world economic forum's survey on gender equality this year, Japan ranked bottom among the group of seven western countries.
"If she wins the election, I'm afraid many women will think that the way to success in Japan is to speak and act in the name of men." (Chen Dan)