The most comprehensive compilation of information on the status of
women in the world.

Latest items for Japan

Dec. 12, 2024, 6:06 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: DMW-PRACTICE-1

"Unwritten social pressure means 'it is considered not very positive for a woman to want to stand out,' said Harumi Yoshida, acting chief of gender equality promotion for the Constitutional Democratic Party" (para 17).
Dec. 12, 2024, 6:06 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: GP-DATA-1

"Yuriko Koike, the first woman to be elected governor in Tokyo, won a third term in July. An increasing number of women have captured seats in local assemblies" (para 15).
Dec. 12, 2024, 6:06 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: LBHO-DATA-1

"Last summer, Hanako Okada, a Tokyo lawyer and mother of two young children, started to plan a campaign for Parliament from the northern rural district where she spent her childhood. Nearly everyone she consulted gave the same odds on her chances of winning: close to zero. As a candidate for a party in opposition, she was facing an incumbent from the party that has ruled Japan for all but four years since 1955. His grandfather, father and brother had all held seats in the prefecture before him. Ms. Okada, 44, was a political novice and a virtual stranger to locals in Hirosaki, the city in Aomori Prefecture on the northern...more
Dec. 12, 2024, 6:06 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: LBHO-PRACTICE-3

"Ms. Okada’s upset win gives her the chance to try to alter the culture of parliamentary life, which, like so much of the working world in Japan, is unfriendly to women, particularly mothers" (para 7). "[F]ew women run for office in Japan because of persistently high hurdles. Many politicians inherit their seats, with fathers generally passing them on to sons. Women bear the disproportionate burden of child care and housework, making it difficult to juggle long parliamentary sessions or constituent meetings. Unwritten social pressure means 'it is considered not very positive for a woman to want to stand out,' said Harumi Yoshida, acting chief of gender equality promotion for the...more
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:52 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: EWCMS-DATA-2

"A panel of experts formed in response to a high-profile case in 2022 said it was aware of 1,325 cases of harassment targeting women and men, adding that more than 60% of victims had not reported them" (para 2). "About 80% of the reported cases involved abuse of power, with sexual harassment accounting for about 12%. The panel also found cases of maternity harassment targeting women who took time off before and after giving birth, according to Japanese media" (para 4). "Gonoi, who has since filed a damages suit against her five alleged assailants and the government, said she had been harassed on a daily basis after joining the SDF...more
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:52 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: EWCMS-DATA-3

"A panel of experts formed in response to a high-profile case in 2022 said it was aware of 1,325 cases of harassment targeting women and men, adding that more than 60% of victims had not reported them" (para 2). "In findings that are expected to intensify criticism of the way in which the SDF and the ministry handle harassment complaints, the panel said most of the 400 people who had sought advice said they had not received proper help, with some claiming they had been pressured into dropping their complaints" (para 5). "The investigation was triggered by allegations from a former SDF member that she had been repeatedly assaulted by...more
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:52 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: EWCMS-PRACTICE-3

"Its report said most victims did not trust the way the SDF and defence ministry handled complaints, or feared retribution if they spoke out" (para 3). "In findings that are expected to intensify criticism of the way in which the SDF and the ministry handle harassment complaints, the panel said most of the 400 people who had sought advice said they had not received proper help, with some claiming they had been pressured into dropping their complaints. Some of those who had decided not to complain said they were not confident that reaching out to counsellors would resolve their problem. Others said they did not know who to talk to,...more
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:09 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: LRW-LAW-1

"In February, the Japanese government approved a bill to raise the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16, as part of reforms to the country's sexual violence penal code" (para 37). "'I know [the age of consent] is about to change to 16 but... the fact it stayed at 13 for this long is a big problem'" (para 40).
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:09 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: LRW-LAW-2

"Under the current law, a victim bears the onus of proving not only that there was no consent, but also that there was 'assault or intimidation' or other factors that made it impossible for them to put up resistance" (para 38).
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:09 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"When she decided to go public with her story, Ms Gonoi's family and those around her were against it. In Japan's male-dominated society most sexual violence victims are shamed into silence. And those who speak out face a fierce backlash. A recent survey showed that more than 70% of sexual assaults in Japan go unreported. When Ms Gonoi decided to speak out, she knew it wasn't going to be easy. She was taking on a Japanese military institution. She shared what happened to her on YouTube. Her story was a rare case that captured the nation's and the media's attention. Ms Gonoi says that other women and men shared their...more
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:09 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: SEGI-PRACTICE-1

"It was also the same year that the Flower Demo movement started. On the 11th day of every month since April 2019, groups of sexual violence victims and their supporters have gathered throughout Japan in public spaces to protest unjust acquittals of sexual crimes, and call for changes to the country's sexual violence law" (para 31). "'I started the Flower Demo because I was angry,' Minori Kitahara told the BBC after one of the gatherings in Tokyo. 'I also felt many other women's anger. But there's no place to speak out'" (para 33).
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:09 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: LRW-DATA-1

"The last case that garnered this much attention was in 2019, when Japanese journalist Shiori Ito filed and won her civil lawsuit seeking damages from a prominent reporter who she said had raped her" (para 30).
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:09 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: LRCM-PRACTICE-2

"Problems with the existing law were highlighted by not guilty verdicts in four cases in 2019. In one of the trials, a father accused of raping his 19-year-old daughter was acquitted even though the court acknowledged that he had had sex with her against her will. The prosecution's case, that the man took advantage of the daughter's inability to resist the sexual attack, was rejected" (para 30).
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:09 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: LRCM-DATA-2

"Problems with the existing law were highlighted by not guilty verdicts in four cases in 2019. In one of the trials, a father accused of raping his 19-year-old daughter was acquitted even though the court acknowledged that he had had sex with her against her will. The prosecution's case, that the man took advantage of the daughter's inability to resist the sexual attack, was rejected" (para 32). "A woman held a microphone and, through her scarf and mask, you could still see how emotional she was as she told the crowd how her father had sexually abused her as a teenager" (para 36).
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:09 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: EWCMS-LAW-1

"Female soldiers were part of the aid effort. 'They gave us food and ran a soup kitchen,' Ms Gonoi says. 'They were back and forth bringing hot water for us so we could have a bath. I looked at them and thought 'What a wonderful job.' I thought I would like to work for society - for the people.' Both her dreams were within reach when she joined Japan's army, the Ground Self-Defence Force (GSDF)" (para 4-6).
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:09 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: EWCMS-DATA-3

"Both were shattered by sexual harassment which she experienced 'on a daily basis' when she joined her unit after training. 'My breasts were rubbed. I was kissed on the cheek, groped, or grabbed from behind in the hallway - colleagues or superiors would rub themselves against me with people watching,' she said. 'Often, I was told things like, 'Give me a blow job'.' Colleagues made remarks about her body, she says: about her breasts being big or small or that her body was large. August 2021 was a dark turning point. During a training exercise in the mountains, three of Ms Gonio's male colleagues called her into a tent, where...more
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:09 a.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: EWCMS-DATA-2

"Both were shattered by sexual harassment which she experienced 'on a daily basis' when she joined her unit after training. 'My breasts were rubbed. I was kissed on the cheek, groped, or grabbed from behind in the hallway - colleagues or superiors would rub themselves against me with people watching,' she said. 'Often, I was told things like, 'Give me a blow job'.' Colleagues made remarks about her body, she says: about her breasts being big or small or that her body was large. August 2021 was a dark turning point. During a training exercise in the mountains, three of Ms Gonio's male colleagues called her into a tent, where...more
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:21 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: SEGI-PRACTICE-1

“The Japanese government has begun to consult young people about their interest in marriage – or lack thereof – as Japan continues to struggle with a demographic crisis that is expected to result in a sharp population decline over the next decades” (para 1). “The government recognised that ideas about marriage among young people are different from what was once considered standard, an agency official said. The government has been seeking experts’ views and now wants those of single people. ‘The main premise is that marriage and child-rearing should be based on the respect for diverse values ​​and ways of thinking of individuals,’ Ayuko Kato, the minister of state for...more
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:21 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: MARR-PRACTICE-2

“The Japanese government has begun to consult young people about their interest in marriage – or lack thereof – as Japan continues to struggle with a demographic crisis that is expected to result in a sharp population decline over the next decades” (para 1). “The government recognised that ideas about marriage among young people are different from what was once considered standard, an agency official said. The government has been seeking experts’ views and now wants those of single people” (para 3). “The agency cited the results of a survey of single people, aged 25 to 34, showing 43.3% of men and 48.1% of women said they had no opportunity...more
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:21 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: SEGI-PRACTICE-2, GIC-LAW-3

“Local governments have responded with measures ranging from daycare to matchmaking. In June, the Tokyo metropolitan government said it would launch a dating app as early as this summer” (para 8).
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:21 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: GIC-LAW-1

“The Children and Families Agency, launched in April 2023, held its first working group meeting on Friday to support young people in their efforts to find partners through dating, matchmaking and other means. Attenders included those considering marriage in the future and experts versed in the challenges facing younger people” (para 2). “Local governments have responded with measures ranging from daycare to matchmaking. In June, the Tokyo metropolitan government said it would launch a dating app as early as this summer. The economist Takashi Kadokura said on a Yahoo Japan news blog that local government efforts to promote marriage were not working and marriages were not increasing because of the...more
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:21 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: BR-PRACTICE-1

“The Japanese government has begun to consult young people about their interest in marriage – or lack thereof – as Japan continues to struggle with a demographic crisis that is expected to result in a sharp population decline over the next decades” (para 1).
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:21 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: BR-DATA-1

“Because comparatively few children are born to unmarried people in Japan, the decline of marriage has been cited as a significant reason for its low birthrate and dwindling, ageing population. In 2023, the number of marriages dropped below 500,000 for the first time since the 1930s. Meanwhile, births dropped 5.1% to 758,631, a new record low and almost reaching 755,000, a figure the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research had predicted for 2035” (para 6).
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:21 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: ATFPA-PRACTICE-1

“Because comparatively few children are born to unmarried people in Japan, the decline of marriage has been cited as a significant reason for its low birthrate and dwindling, ageing population. In 2023, the number of marriages dropped below 500,000 for the first time since the 1930s. Meanwhile, births dropped 5.1% to 758,631, a new record low and almost reaching 755,000, a figure the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research had predicted for 2035” (para 6). “Surveys have shown that many young Japanese are reluctant to marry or have families because of concerns about the high cost of living in big cities, a lack of good jobs, and a...more
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:17 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: TRAFF-PRACTICE-2

“An industry that runs on exploitation, coercive behaviour and false promises of runway dreams to young impressionable girls - Japan's disturbing porn industry has long been a legal grey-zone. In a country where walking the streets can result in being targeted by 'modelling agency' actors before victims are lured to discrete offices to sign their freedom away, the multi-billion-pound porn industry continues to be a poisonous trap from which unknowing women find themselves battling to escape. With an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new actresses debuting each year, and the annual number of released videos hitting over a concerning 35,000, these numbers become even more terrifying as many women and girls...more
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:17 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: PRN-LAW-1

“In June 2022, victims of these porn recruitment traps joined forces with lawyers and pushed through an industry-changing bill to prevent the exploitation of adult video (AV) performers. The law was tailored specifically to victims who had been lured into the industry through deceit and lies - over those who had willingly entered into the world of pornography through safer and more consensual channels. The AV Law gives these workers the right to a one-month period between the signing of a contract and the filming of a video, as well as four months between the filming of the video and its release. Producers are also required to give a copy...more
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:17 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: IIP-PRACTICE-2

“An industry that runs on exploitation, coercive behaviour and false promises of runway dreams to young impressionable girls - Japan's disturbing porn industry has long been a legal grey-zone. In a country where walking the streets can result in being targeted by 'modelling agency' actors before victims are lured to discrete offices to sign their freedom away, the multi-billion-pound porn industry continues to be a poisonous trap from which unknowing women find themselves battling to escape” (para 1-2). “A 2020 government survey revealed shocking figures suggesting around a quarter of Japanese women in their teens, 20s and 30s have been solicited for supposed modelling jobs on their local streets and...more
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:17 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: LRW-DATA-1

“With an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new actresses debuting each year, and the annual number of released videos hitting over a concerning 35,000, these numbers become even more terrifying as many women and girls are subjected to rape, blackmail, and sexual assault as part of their introduction into the industry - by up to 15 men at times” (para 3). “A 2020 government survey revealed shocking figures suggesting around a quarter of Japanese women in their teens, 20s and 30s have been solicited for supposed modelling jobs on their local streets and of those who agreed, 14 per cent were then pressured to perform sex acts” (para 4). “[T]here are...more
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:17 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: LRW-LAW-1

“But the glaring dangers of this spiralling industry became increasingly urgent in 2022 when Japan lowered its age of adulthood from 20 to 18 - meaning that teenagers could more simply get swept up into the sick porn world” (para 5). “Additionally, the law makes it, in principle, illegal to force people to take part in sex acts in front of the camera. Members of PAPS, who had sought to have the legislation put in place, called the law 'groundbreaking' at the time and Ito said: 'Compared to the hellish situation before where there was no recourse for victims, this is really a valuable step forward. 'It's a law giving...more
Nov. 29, 2024, 3:17 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: LRW-LAW-2

“Despite these deeply troubling and consuming emotions, the victim bravely approached the police after being tricked into appearing in porn. But in a horror turn of events, and one she had never expected, she alleges authorities turned her away, stating she had signed a contract. She was informed that under the deal she had signed, she had to make at least two more films before she break her contract. Goto said: 'When she went to talk to the police they said 'Why not just do it? Only two more times, right?' which is so unbelievable'” (para 41-44).