Shinzo Abe, Japan’s prime minister, has promoted a record number of women in his first cabinet reshuffle, including a mother of two young boys who has been tipped to become the country’s first female head of government.
Yuko Obuchi, 40, who takes over the ministry of economy, trade and industry, was one of five women appointed yesterday to the 18-strong cabinet.
She has been described by one Japanese magazine as the “next prime minister-but-one” — although some economists doubt her experience and expertise in handling such issues as the future of Japan’s nuclear industry.
Since coming to power in 2012, Mr Abe has repeatedly promised to increase female participation in the labour force. He has set a goal for 30 per cent of senior business and political jobs to be held by women by 2020. This is to head off a labour shortage caused by Japan’s falling birth rates.
Mr Abe will also be hoping to win support from female voters after seeing his popularity wane because of changes to Japan’s pacifist security policy. The other appointments included Midori Matsushima, 58, who becomes minister for justice, and Haruko Arimura, 43, who takes on the newly created role of minister for promoting women.
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It was Ms Obuchi, however, who drew most attention. Like Mr Abe, she is the child and grandchild of politicians, having inherited her seat from her father, the former prime minister Keizo Obuchi, who died in 2000. After two years as a television journalist, she became a member of parliament at 26 and has been elected five times. As a mother of boys aged 7 and 4, she is rare in Japan in combining a senior government job with a young family. She also serves as secretary-general of the Society of Female MPs who Love Saké.