Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff
“Despite being Asia’s oldest continuous democracy, Japan has been far behind the region’s other countries in electing a woman leader. That changed Tuesday when Takaichi Sanae, a conservative in Japan’s long-dominant party, became the nation’s first female prime minister. Despite the ceiling-busting triumph, however, this former drummer in a heavy-metal band got off on the wrong foot with a comment that helps explain why so few Japanese women enter politics or buck a cultural norm that sees women primarily as caregivers. In a speech, Ms. Takaichi asked everyone to ‘work like a horse,’ and then added, ‘I myself will cast aside the idea of ‘work-life balance.’. I’ll work, work, work, work, and work.’ While perseverance is a highly admired trait in Japan … public reaction forced her to clarify that she was speaking only about members of the Liberal Democratic Party like herself.” (10/21/25)