Japan’s Prime Minister backs campaign for more women’s toilets in parliament

Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has thrown her support behind an unusual but symbolically significant campaign for more women’s toilets in the National Diet building, reflecting how the country’s rapidly changing political landscape is exposing outdated infrastructure and persistent gender inequalities.

Nearly 60 female lawmakers, from across political parties, have signed a petition calling for an expansion of restroom facilities for women inside the parliament complex in Tokyo, citing long queues and logistical difficulties arising from a sharp rise in female representation. Prime Minister Takaichi — Japan’s first woman to hold the nation’s top political office — was among the signatories.

At present, the Lower House has just one women’s lavatory with two cubicles near the main plenary chamber for the 73 women elected to the 465-seat chamber, according to petitioners. By contrast, men’s facilities across the building include 12 separate toilets with 67 stalls and urinals, local media report.

At present, the Lower House has just one women’s lavatory with two cubicles near the main plenary chamber for the 73 women elected to the 465-seat chamber, according to petitioners.

“We have to form long queues before plenary sessions start,” Yasuko Komiyama, a member of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, told reporters. She and other MPs argue that inadequate facilities hinder women’s ability to carry out their parliamentary duties comfortably and equitably.

The parliament building was completed in 1936, nearly a decade before women in Japan gained the right to vote in 1945 and before the first female lawmakers were elected. Many women working in and visiting the Diet — including staff and journalists — have also voiced frustration over the shortage of toilets.

The issue has rapidly become a potent symbol of broader gender equality debates in Japan, where politics and business remain heavily male-dominated despite gradual improvements in female participation. Japan ranked 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s most recent Global Gender Gap Report, underlining persistent gaps in economic and political empowerment.

Although the number of women in the lower house rose substantially in the October 2024 general election, from 45 to 73 representatives, overall female representation remains below 16 per cent. The government has a stated target of women occupying at least 30 per cent of legislative seats.

Takaichi, 64, has previously spoken of her desire to emulate “Nordic” levels of gender balance in leadership roles, even though her own cabinet includes only two women among 19 ministers. She has also publicly addressed women’s health issues, including the menopause, amid broader discussions about gender equity in Japanese society.

Supporters of the petition argue that updating basic facilities in the Diet is a practical step towards real equality, and a recognition that as more women enter Japanese politics, older institutional designs must adapt to modern needs. Critics note, however, that long queues for women’s toilets are just one of many challenges female politicians face in a landscape where sexist remarks and cultural barriers persist.

As discussions continue, the campaign has sparked wider conversations about how Japan’s governance structures can better accommodate and support a more diverse political class — starting with something as fundamental as access to restrooms.