Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Appoints Record Number of Women to Cabinet in Bid for Support Amid Approval Rating Decline

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has made a significant move by appointing five women to his cabinet, marking the highest female representation since 2014. The reshuffle comes at a time when Kishida's approval ratings are declining, and he hopes that including more women in his government will attract support from progressive and younger voters.

Among the notable additions to the cabinet is Yoko Kamikawa, who becomes Japan's first female Minister of Foreign Affairs in almost two decades. In her first press conference, Kamikawa expressed the desire to demonstrate Japan's presence and build trust with counterparts worldwide.

She also emphasized the importance of seeking responsible actions from China and maintaining conversations to improve strained ties. The appointment of more women to key government positions is seen as a step in the right direction for a country that ranks relatively low in gender equality in politics.

Currently, Japan ranks 138th out of 146 nations according to the World Economic Forum. While the inclusion of women in the cabinet is significant, some experts argue that it does not address the wider problem of the ruling party's preference for male candidates.

Economically, Kishida's government faces challenges such as inflation, the rising cost of living, and the fallout from the Fukushima wastewater release. These issues have contributed to the decline in his popularity. Critics point to Kishida's mishandling of Japan's My Number Identification system, which has faced technical problems and data privacy concerns.

Additionally, Kishida has faced criticism for his handling of the aftermath of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's assassination. Investigations into the killing exposed ties between some politicians from the ruling party and a fringe religious group, creating further controversy.

These incidents, coupled with Kishida's slow response, have negatively impacted his support among voters. In an effort to address these concerns, Kishida's government plans to focus on tackling inflation and the rising cost of living. The country's inflation rate reached a 41-year high in January, and the economy grew at a slower pace than expected in the second quarter.

Kishida's policies, expected to be announced next month, will play a crucial role in determining his future popularity. Despite his challenges, Kishida's position within the party remains relatively secure.

With no clear challengers who can garner support from both conservatives and moderates, Kishida represents a compromise within the Liberal Democratic Party.Whether the inclusion of more women in his cabinet, along with his proposed policies, can effectively boost his approval ratings is yet to be seen.