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Japan
Women in decision-making positions
18%
Members of local deliberative bodies are women (5,606 elected women)
Head of Government is a woman
Prime Minister: Sanae Takaichi
16%
Parliamentarians are women
10%
Ministers are women

Government organization

Spheres of government

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

One tier of central government and two tiers of local 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

  • 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

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.

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 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.

  • Gender quotas: No       
  • Additional quotas: No

  • Term length: 4 years
  • Last local elections: 2019
  • Next local elections: 2023

Election Commission of Japan

National legal framework on local government

  • Constitution of Japan, 1946;
  • Local Autonomy Law, 1947 (amended through 2020);
  • Public Offices Election Act, 1945 (amended through 2022).

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.”

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 2025.

2. UN Women: Information on Head of State and Government as of 1 December 2025.

3. Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): Data on share of women in the single/lower chamber of parliament as of 1 January 2025.

4. UN Women: Data on share of women Cabinet ministers as of 1 January 2025.

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