In a progressive shift for Japanese politics, the country sees its first female candidate gear up for the Prime Ministerial battle. This groundbreaking event is coined as a major step towards gender equality in political leadership, as Japan's political scene has traditionally been largely male-dominated. It's yet to be seen how this innovative move will impact the upcoming elections and Japan's political future.

In Japan, gender inequality is still a significant issue, with the country ranking 121th out of 153 countries in the World Economic Forum's gender-gap rankings. Moreover, the politics have been masculine-centred, with only a handful of women in significant roles. Therefore, the emergence of a woman as a Prime Ministerial candidate represents a remarkable shift and has stirred extensive dialogue about the role of women in Japanese politics.

In contrast, the US and EU have been more progressive when it comes to gender equality. The US had a female candidate, Hillary Clinton, as the major party nominee for presidency in 2016. EU has appointed multiple women in major leadership roles, including the head of European Central Bank, European Commission, and German Chancellor.