ABSTRACT This paper critically examines the persistent under‐representation of women in Japanese politics. I argue that raising the number of women in legislatures through descriptive representation solely does not ensure substantive gains for gender equality. Through conducting semi‐structured interviews with eight female politicians representing municipal wards in Tokyo, this study sheds light on the recruitment strategies of political parties towards women and how it contributes in reinforcing existing gender stereotypes and limiting the effectiveness of female legislators. Situating the discussion within theories of critical mass and critical actors, the study demonstrates that structural barriers such as male‐dominated political culture and electoral systems remain entrenched. By examining the status quo of women in politics and their marginalization in the electoral system, the study prescribes recruiting women based on their potential, qualifications and their willingness to act as active gender agents creating “feminist parliamentarians” instead of passive female tokens who are unable to speak about women's interests. By focusing on the substantive actions and motivations of female legislators, rather than their mere presence, this article argues for more meaningful and sustainable pathways towards gender equity in Japanese governance.
Dawood Rosemary Soliman (Thu,) studied this question.