Nearly 60 female lawmakers in Japan, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, have submitted a petition calling for more toilets in the parliament building to match their improved representation. The current facilities near the Diet's main plenary session hall include only one lavatory with two cubicles for the 73 women in the lower house, leading to long queues before sessions.
Opposition lawmaker Yasuko Komiyama described the situation: “Before plenary sessions start, truly so many women lawmakers have to form long queues in front of the restroom.” The cross-party petition, signed by 58 women, was submitted to Yasukazu Hamada, chair of the lower house committee on rules and administration, earlier this month.
The Diet building, completed in 1936, predates women's suffrage in Japan, which was granted in December 1945. Currently, the lower house building has 12 men's toilets with 67 stalls and nine women's facilities with a total of 22 cubicles, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.
Japan ranks 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's global gender gap report. Women hold 72 of 465 lower house seats, up from 45 in the previous parliament, and 74 of 248 upper house seats. The government aims for women to occupy at least 30% of legislative seats.
Komiyama noted that the demand for more female toilets reflects progress but also highlights ongoing inequality. “In a way, this symbolises how the number of female lawmakers has increased,” she said, expressing hope for greater equality in other areas of life.
