
Japan

Japan is a high-performing democracy, exhibiting high-range performance across the Global State of Democracy Indices (GSoDI) indicators, except for mid-range performance in Gender Equality, Judicial Independence, Electoral Participation, and Civil Society Participation. In the last five years, there have been declines in Effective Parliament, which may be attributed to several government scandals that revealed questions about the legislature’s ability to hold leaders to account. Despite being home to the world’s oldest population, Japan continues to boast the world’s third largest economy after the United States and China, with manufacturing and services constituting its largest industries. It is a member of G7 and plays a leading role in the global and regional trading system.
Post-WWII Japan has been stable and dominated by one party, 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 a tightening of political funding rules improved the quality of democracy by increasing transparency, reducing corruption, and promoting programme-based electoral campaigns. However, reforms were also criticized for failing to address malapportionment between urban and rural voters and for facilitating factionalism. Japan has struggled with low electoral turnout (below 60 per cent during the last decade), due in part to one-party dominance and youth disengagement. Finally, some experts have questioned judicial and media independence in recent years.
A major division comes from “the pacifist clause” (Article 9) of the Constitution – drafted by the US in post-WWII Japan – and the role of the Self Defense Force, which have frequently sparked public protests against the LDP’s pursuit of Constitutional revision. Yet the evolving geopolitics (threats from Russia and China) have shifted the discourse, with growing public concerns about the risks of conflict, and increased government prioritization of the need to review dependence on the US military and establish a more independent defense policy through revising the post-1945 security posture. Japanese politics have also been marked by historical disputes with neighboring countries, including over “comfort women” in South Korea.
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 2.5 per cent of the labor force).
Japan ranks low on gender equality globally and regionally, as well as among OECD and G7 countries, with poor performance on women’s parliamentary representation and gaps in wage and employment. Recent women’s economic empowerment policies expanded childcare support, but there is progress to be made. 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 by the police. As the only G7 country that denies same-sex marriage, pressure is building on Japan to recognize LGBTQIA+ rights .
In the years to come, it is important to watch Social Rights and Equality, as the government attempts to implement measures to counter the falling birthrate, secure public welfare for an aging society, promote gender equality, and bridge the labour shortage through its plan to bring 345,000 foreign “Specific Skilled Workers” by 2025. Given widespread voter apathy, Electoral Participation should also be monitored. However, this requires long term measures to build diversity in government both through enhanced representation of women and youth as well as through building a viable and vibrant opposition. The latter can also potentially strengthen parliamentary oversight. 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.
Monthly Event Reports
July 2023 | Supreme court rules toilet restrictions on transgender persons illegal
Japan’s Supreme Court on 11 July issued a landmark ruling against a government ministry saying it is unlawful to restrict transgender persons from using certain bathrooms in the workplace. The decision marks the first time a top court has made a ruling on bathroom usage by sexual minorities, with LGBTQIA+ activists hopeful that the ruling will set a positive precedent for other cases related to working conditions for transgender persons.
June 2023 | Controversial immigration bill passed by parliament
Parliament on 6 June passed a bill to amend the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, allowing the government to deport asylum seekers who apply for refugee status more than twice. The bill faced heavy criticism from opposition lawmakers, human rights experts, and civil society organizations, claiming that the new legislation enables the government to repatriate those who are at risk of persecution in their home countries. Critics note that the new bill creates unnecessary obstacles for asylum seekers in what are already considered to be stringent regulations for granting refugee status.
May 2023 | Pressure grows to end same-sex marriage ban
The Nagoya District Court ruled on 30 May that not allowing same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, marking a significant step forward for LGBTQIA+ rights in Japan. This is the first time a court has ruled that Japan's denial of same-sex marriage violates multiple articles of the constitution. However, the court rejected the plaintiffs' demand for compensation. The latest ruling follows previous verdicts by the Sapporo, Osaka, and Tokyo district courts over recent years, which delivered conflicting opinions on the constitutionality of the ban. LGBTQIA+ rights groups remain hopeful that the series of court cases will help push the debate over whether Japan will act on same-sex marriage legalization in the future.
April 2023 | Health ministry approves nation’s first abortion pill
Japan’s Health Ministry on 28 April formally approved an abortion pill for the first time, providing women with an alternative to surgery. The approval marks a major step forward for reproductive rights in the country. However, challenges remain in accessing safe abortions, with debates revolving around cost and consent requirements. Abortions are not covered by public health insurance, and many hospitals still require a partner’s consent, which rights activists argue continues to deny women the right to bodily autonomy.
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GSoD Indices Data 2013-2022
Basic Information
Human Rights Treaties
Global State of Democracy Indices
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Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time
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