Gender equality in Japan? Ruling party race shows female PM is still a way off

FILE PHOTO: Candidates for the presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party pose with papers with their sign and words prior to a debate session held by Japan National Press Club September 18, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. The contenders are (L to R) Taro Kono, the cabinet minister in charge of vaccinations, Fumio Kishida, former foreign minister, Sanae Takaichi, former internal affairs minister, and Seiko Noda, former internal affairs minister. Eugene Hoshiko/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

TOKYO (Reuters) - The secretaries handing out ballots as Japan's ruling party chose the next prime minister on Wednesday were all women. The power brokers and lawmakers doing the voting were overwhelmingly men.

For the first time ever, two women stood in the race to become leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, whose parliamentary dominance means the winner will become the new premier.