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Japan
Women in decision-making positions
16%
Members of local deliberative bodies are women (4,936 elected women)
No woman is Head of Government
10%
Parliamentarians are women
8%
Ministers are women

Government organization

Japan is a unitary monarchy with two spheres of government: central and local.

One tier of central government and two tiers of local government
Central government
  • Head of State: The Emperor assumes the role hereditarily.
  • Head of Government: The Prime Minister is designated from among members of the National Diet and appointed by the Emperor.
  • Legislative body: The National Diet is a bicameral legislature, with an upper house (the House of Councilors), and a lower house (the House of Representatives). Members of the National Diet are directly elected by voters.
  • Executive body: The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and ministers of state appointed by the Prime Minister
Local government
  • Organization: Local government in Japan is organized into two tiers: an upper tier of 47 prefectural-level local government units, and a lower tier of 1,741 municipalities (which includes the wards of Tokyo). Of the 47 prefectures, there are 43 rural prefectures, two urban prefectures (Osaka and Kyoto), one district (Hokkaido), and one metropolis (Tokyo). The Prefecture of Tokyo, as a metropolis, is further divided into 23 special wards (which have the same status, competencies, and government structure as the municipalities).
  • Competencies: Local government is responsible for imposing duties or restricting rights through by-laws, enforcing the by-laws, enacting regulations, fixing the budget, levying local taxes, and performing its own community affairs.
  • Ministerial oversight: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Overview of local government

Local government composition
Prefectural-level government

Deliberative body: The assembly is composed of 40-130 elected members. An assembly president is elected by and from the assembly to preside over it; the assembly president is not vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The executive department is composed of a governor, an assistant governor, and commissioners elected by and from the assembly.

Municipalities

Deliberative body: The assembly is composed of 12-96 elected members. An assembly president is elected by and from the assembly to preside over it; the assembly president is not vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The executive department is composed of a mayor, an assistant mayor, and commissioners elected by and from the assembly.

Local government elections
Electoral system

Electoral system for local deliberative bodies: majority/plurality (first-past-the-post or single non-transferable vote)

  • Voting may take place municipality-wide or through constituencies. The number of members to be elected varies by constituency. The winner or winners will be those who get the most valid votes. Voters cast a single vote.

Electoral system for governors/mayors: majority/plurality (first-past-the-post)

  • Governors/mayors are directly elected by voters using a plurality electoral system.

Source: Public Offices Election Act, 1945 (amended through 2022), articles 12, 15.8, 36, 46 and 95.

Quotas
  • Gender quotas: No        
  • Additional quotas: No
Term of elections
  • Term length: 4 years
  • Last local elections: 2019
  • Next local elections: 2023
Electoral management body

Election Commission of Japan

National legal framework on local government
National legal framework
  • Constitution of Japan, 1946;
  • Local Autonomy Law, 1947 (amended through 2020);
  • Public Offices Election Act, 1945 (amended through 2022).
Constitutional provisions on local government

There are constitutional provisions that establish local government in Japan. According to Articles 92, 93, and 94 of the Constitution of Japan of 1946, “regulations concerning organization and operations of local public entities shall be fixed by law in accordance with the principle of local autonomy. The local public entities shall establish assemblies as their deliberative organs, in accordance with law. The chief executive officers of all local public entities, the members of their assemblies, and such other local officials as may be determined by law shall be elected by direct popular vote within their several communities. Local public entities shall have the right to manage their property, affairs and administration and to enact their own regulations within law.”

Legislative provisions on local government

The National Diet is responsible for establishing the national legal framework of local government. The key piece of legislation which regulates local government is the Local Autonomy Law of 1947 (amended through 2017). According to Article 1-2 of the Local Autonomy Law, “the task of a local public body shall be to promote the welfare of its residents, for which purpose it shall carry out a wide range of tasks in the autonomous and comprehensive performance of local public administration.”

Sources:

1. UN Women: Data on share of women in local government as of 1 January 2023.

2. UN Women: Information on Head of State and Government as of 3 October 2023.

3. Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): Data on share of women in the single/lower chamber of parliament as of 1 January 2023.

4. IPU and UN Women: Data on share of women in ministerial positions as of 1 January 2023.

5. Information on local government organization as of 1 January 2023.