Breaking Barriers: Karen Makishima's Political Battle

Karen Makishima, the only female candidate in her prefecture for Japan's ruling party, highlights the challenges women face in male-dominated politics. Despite promises to narrow gender gaps, Japan lags behind in female political representation. Women's societal perceptions and the ruling party's reluctance to enforce gender quotas are major hurdles.

In the predominantly male arena of Japanese politics, Karen Makishima stands out as the sole female candidate running for the ruling party in her prefecture. Her candidacy sheds light on the struggles women face in breaking political barriers in Japan.

Despite the ruling Liberal Democratic Party promising to address the gender gap, Japan continues to trail behind other democracies in female political representation. A mere 16% of LDP candidates are women, raising concerns about the party's commitment to gender equality.

Gender stereotypes, societal pressure, and lack of concrete measures like gender quotas hinder progress. As other parties push for more significant representation, the LDP faces challenges in maintaining its dominance without prioritizing female inclusion.

(With inputs from agencies.)