Japan
Japan exhibits high-range performance across three categories of the Global State of Democracy framework: Representation, Rights and Rule of Law. It performs in the mid-range with regard to Participation. It is among the world’s top 25 per cent of performers in all factors except Inclusive Suffrage, Gender Equality, Civil Society and Electoral Participation. In the last five years, there have been declines in Effective Parliament, which may be attributed to several government scandals including a recent political funding crisis that raised questions about the legislature’s ability to hold leaders to account. Japan is home to one of the world’s strongest economies, with manufacturing and services constituting its largest industries.
Post-WWII Japan has been stable and dominated by the conservative Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP). Political and electoral reforms in the 1990s, which included a new electoral system (a parallel system replaced a single non-transferable vote system) and stricter political funding rules improved the quality of democracy by increasing transparency, reducing corruption, and promoting policy-based electoral campaigns. However, reforms were also criticized for failing to address malapportionment between urban and rural voters and for facilitating factionalism, which continues to manifest. Japan has struggled with low electoral turnout, due in part to one-party dominance and youth disengagement. Finally, some experts have questioned judicial and media independence in recent years.
A major political division comes from “the pacifist clause” (Article 9) of the Constitution and the role of the Self Defense Force, which have frequently sparked public protests against the LDP’s pursuit of constitutional revision. The revision includes clarifying the role of the Self-Defense Force and claiming the right to collective self-defense. Accelerated by growing concerns about the risks of war amid the evolving geopolitics (threats from Russia and China), a policy aimed at strengthening the domestic defense industrial base was formulated at the end of 2023, following the passing of the defense fiscal resource legislation.
The demographic crisis of a rapidly aging population and declining birth rate has become a most pressing political concern. The significant possible economic consequences of a shrinking workforce are compounded by Japan’s strict immigration laws (foreign workers are only around 2 per cent of the labor force).
Compared to other high income countries, Japan ranks low on gender equality, with gaps in parliamentary representation, wage and employment. Recent developments including lowering the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16, and steps to tackle the declining birthrate show some positive signs. However, Japan does not have laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, and foreigners are often subject to discrimination, including racial profiling. As the only G7 country that denies same-sex marriage, pressure is building to recognize LGBTQIA+ rights.
Looking ahead, it is important to watch Gender and Social Group Equality, as the government attempts to counter the falling birthrate, secure public welfare for an aging society, promote gender equality, and bridge the labour shortage, while it also passed a controversial bill further restricting the asylum process. Given widespread voter apathy, Electoral Participation should also be monitored. Finally, the government’s new defense policy should be watched, particularly on how the required resources will be raised, and how potential gaps between intentions and perceptions on the policy will be managed, both domestically and regionally.
Last Updated: June 2024
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
March 2025
Government plans to prioritize victim relief following court order dissolving Unification Church
On 25 March, the Tokyo District Court ordered the legal dissolution of the Unification Church, an influential South Korea-based sect, due to harmful donation solicitation practices. The ruling revokes its tax-exempt status and requires asset liquidation while allowing it to continue religious activities. The decision followed a 2023 request from Japan’s Education Ministry, which cited the church’s manipulative fundraising and recruitment tactics that caused distress in families. Scrutiny of the Church increased after the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, when an investigation revealed long-standing links between the Church and Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic party in political lobbying and fund solicitation. The ruling is the first in Japan to dissolve a religious group for committing illegal acts under the Civil Code. The government has stated it will now shift its efforts to “giving maximum amount of support to the victims,” with plans for a court-appointed liquidator to compensate former members. The Church plans to appeal to the Tokyo High Court, claiming that the decision threatens religious freedom.
Sources: The Associated Press, Nippon News, Jurist, The New York Times, The Asahi Shimbun
October 2024
Ruling Liberal Democratic Party loses ground in snap election
On 27 October, Japan held snap elections for the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament. Prime Minister Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost 68 seats but remains the largest party in the House of Representatives with 191 out of 465 seats (41.1 per cent). The main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), increased its representation from 96 to 148 seats (31.8 per cent). Voter turnout was 53.8 per cent, slightly down from 55.9 per cent in the previous election in 2021. The number of women in parliament increased from 50 (10.8 per cent) to 73 women (15.7 per cent). Despite the LDP losing its parliamentary majority, Ishiba expressed his intention to continue the current coalition without its majority threshold. He seeks to cooperate with opposition parties on a case-by-case basis for specific bills, such as economic policies.
Sources: Japan Broadcasting Organization (NHK), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), BBC, The Sankei Shimbun, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Parliamentary election increases women’s representation
A record 73 (15.7 per cent) women were elected to the House of Representatives in Japan’s snap parliamentary election on 27 October, representing a 46.0 per cent increase. This marks an increase from 50 women (10.8 per cent) elected in the 2021 election. While a welcome development, the percentage still remains below the global average.
Sources: The Japan Times, The New York Times
June 2024
Political funds bill passed following scandal
On 19 June, Japan’s parliament (Diet) approved a bill to revise the political funds control law. The law now lowers the minimum purchase amount per fundraising event for disclosing names of ticket buyers from JPY 200,001 (USD 1,300) to JPY 50,001; (USD 350) requires transparency in party fund expenditures with set limits and independent oversight by an established independent organization and imposes stricter penalties for lawmakers who incorrectly file funding reports. The new law was passed in order to restore public trust in politics and prevent a recurrence of the fundraising scandal that engulfed the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in December 2023. While considered a step in the right direction, opposition parties opposing the bill and some members of the public have raised concerns that the bill has too many “loopholes” that might limit its impact. The law, for example, does not include a ban on political donations by companies and organizations. The law comes into effect on 1 January 2026.
Sources: International IDEA, Nikkei Asia, The Japan Times
February 2024
Japanese court approves first gender change without surgery
On 7 February, a Japanese court in Okayama approved a transgender man’s request to change his legal gender without first undergoing sterilization. The precedent-setting ruling comes after landmark decision by the Supreme Court in October 2023, which deemed the sterilization requirement unconstitutional. LGBTQIA+ rights advocates celebrated the verdict as an important advancement for transgender rights.
Sources: Japan Times, The Guardian, Kyodo News
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