In a country where just two women are in cabinet, mayor Satoko Kishimoto is trying to change the culture.
Last year the 48-year-old became the first female mayor in the history of Suginami, in Tokyo, Japan.
Since then she has vowed to challenge the country’s male-dominated politics.
Japan is the world’s third largest economy, but in 2022 it ranked 116th out of 146 countries for its gender gap index.
"We have to recognise as a national crisis this under-representation of women in politics," Ms Kishimoto said.
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