Archive · 31 Dec 2025
Japan's Female MPs Seek More Restrooms in Parliament
In Japan, there are many more men than women in the government.
This means there are not enough toilets for the women who work there.
Nearly 60 women in the government, including the Prime Minister, asked for more toilets to be added.
Right now, there are only two toilets for 73 women in one part of the building, but there are many more for men.
This shows that even though more women are in the government, Japan still has a long way to go to be equal for men and women.
The women hope that adding more toilets will help, but they also want more changes to make things fairer for everyone.
Nearly 60 female MPs, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, petitioned for more restrooms in the parliament building.
There are only two cubicles for 73 women in the lower house near the main plenary session hall.
The entire lower house building has 12 men's toilets with 67 stalls and nine women's facilities with 22 cubicles.
Women make up 72 of 465 lower house lawmakers and 74 of 248 upper house members, up from previous parliaments.
Japan ranks 118 out of 148 in the Global Gender Gap Report, with women under-represented in business and media.
- Who
- Nearly 60 female Japanese MPs, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
- What
- Submitted a petition for more restrooms in the parliament building
- When
- Earlier this month
- Where
- Japan, in the Diet building in central Tokyo
- Why
- To match their improved representation and address long queues
- Number of Female MPs
- 72 in lower house, 74 in upper house
- Total MPs
- 465 in lower house, 248 in upper house
- Men's Toilets
- 12 with 67 stalls
- Women's Toilets
- 9 with 22 cubicles
- Gender Gap Rank
- 118 out of 148
- Government Target
- 30% women in legislative seats
- Cabinet Women
- 3 out of 19
- Year Diet Building Completed
- 1936
