Japan is a ‘democracy without women’, says ruling party MP

Tomomi Inada makes comment after new prime minister appoints just two women on 21-strong cabinet

A prominent member of Japan’s ruling party has described the country’s politics as “democracy without women”, days after the new prime minister appointed just two female MPs to his cabinet.

Tomomi Inada, a former defence minister from the governing Liberal Democratic party (LDP), added her voice to criticism of Japan’s poor record on gender equality, directing most of her anger at her own party.

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