Tokyo:Japan’s prime minister picked five women for his Cabinet Wednesday, matching the past record and sending the strongest message yet about his determination to revive the economy by getting women on board as workers and leaders. The new 18-member lineup has more female members than any Japanese cabinet since 2001.
It includes more than the outgoing cabinet, which had just two female ministers. Prime Minister Abe has said he wants women to make up 30 percent of Japan’s political and business leaders by 2020, to help address Japan’s worsening shortage of workers.
Before the move was announced Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said empowering women will be one of the “big pillars” of Abe’s governments. Abe retained several key ministers, including Finance Minister Taro Aso, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
It is the first cabinet reshuffle for Abe, who has seen his popularity fall to around 50 percent, down from about 60 percent, since he took office in late 2012.
Bureau Report
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