Ishiba assumes as Japan's Prime Minister with a team that includes only two women

Japan's Parliament ratified former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba as the new Prime Minister on Tuesday after he won the primary elections of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) last week, ahead of the other favorite, Sanae Takaichi, in the second round.

Ishiba (67 years old), who now faces the arduous task of resolving internal party differences, has promised that the Japanese will have to go to the polls before the end of October, presumably on the 27th, and has announced that it is expected that the Lower House of Parliament will be dissolved next week.

However, his first step at the helm of the country has sparked controversy by including only two women in his cabinet compared to five in Fumio Kishida's team, his predecessor who was forced to resign due to a corruption scandal and plummeting popularity. This exercise in inequality once again highlights that the gender gap is persistent in Japan. The setback in female empowerment is evident.