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More women in Japan cabinet

September 3, 2014

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has revamped his cabinet and appointed women to nearly a third of the posts. It equals the highest ever number of female lawmakers in the government's executive, set in 2001.

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Japan die neue Wirtschaftsministerin Yuko Obuchi
Image: Reuters

While keeping core members on in their posts during the reshuffle, Japan's prime minister picked a record-matching five women for his cabinet on Wednesday.

Having five women in the cabinet is extremely rare for Japan, and equals a number set back in 2001. The previous cabinet, which was dissolved earlier on Wednesday, had two women ministers.

The 18-member executive includes Yuko Obuchi (pictured above), the daughter of a former prime minister, as the trade and economy minister.

Abe has repeatedly declared his aim of having 30 percent of senior business and political positions occupied by women by the year 2020. Wednesday's appointments appear to show Abe's determination in reviving Japan's flagging economy by having more women in leadership positions.

The new cabinet faces a number of challenges. The prime minister must decide whether whether to proceed with a planned hike in the sales tax to 10 percent from October 15, after an initial rise saw GDP slump in the second quarter this year.

Abe is also hoping to repair ties with China, damaged by rows over territory and Japan's wartime history.

jr/jm (Reuters, AFP)