"There is hope. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), have released an agreement that pledges to "substantially expand" grants for scientific research and to "establish a system granting legal effect to the use of maiden names". Both are promising for researchers, but the future of Japanese science will depend on how these policies are implemented."
"Recent changes in party stances, which might shape the direction of Japan's science and innovation policy, give cause for concern. The LDP's former coalition partner, Komeito, has advocated for increasing stable base funding for universities and supporting women and early-career researchers. By contrast, the JIP prioritizes market-driven innovation, administrative efficiency and economic growth. Although science and technology promotion is included in its agenda, it has yet to articulate proposals for reforming research environments."
Japan faces entrenched gender inequity, ranking 118th of 148 countries in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Index. The election of Sanae Takaichi as prime minister on 21 October marks a notable milestone for female political representation. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party pledged to expand scientific research grants and establish a legal framework for the use of maiden names, measures that could benefit researchers. Shifts in coalition politics reveal contrasting priorities: Komeito advocates stable university funding and support for women and early-career researchers, while the JIP emphasizes market-driven innovation and efficiency without detailed research-environment reforms. Surname law and policy implementation remain decisive.
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