SANA-MANIA: Can Japan's First Female Prime Minister Fix Its Gender Dynamics?

In celebration of Women's Month 2026,
the Japanese Studies Program of
Ateneo de Manila University's
Dr Rosita G Leong School of Social Sciences

invites everyone to

𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐀-𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀: 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐱 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬?

A lecture by
Hiroko Nagai, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Japanese Studies Program

Elected as Japan’s first female prime minister in October 2025, Sanae Takaichi faces significant challenges, particularly in the area of gender equality. Japan continues to rank low on global gender equality indices, and public opinion is divided regarding Takaichi's leadership on gender-related issues. While some view her election as a symbolic breakthrough and a sign of progress, others regard her as an extension of the existing patriarchal political system. This talk explores Takaichi’s potential impact on Japan’s gender dynamics at a critical juncture. The country is confronting multiple structural pressures, including an aging population, a shrinking labor force, economic stagnation, and declining negotiating power with the United States and China. Within this context, it examines whether Takaichi’s leadership can translate into substantive institutional change that meaningfully shapes the lived experiences of Japanese people.

Friday, 27 March 2026
3:30 - 5:00PM
Faura AVR

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