Generational Change or Continuity in Japan’s Leadership?

Abstract

Young people are underrepresented in most political institutions, and Japan’s House of Representatives is no exception. While a few young challengers managed to capture national headlines by defeating much older incumbents, the 2021 election otherwise featured the fewest candidates and elected members of parliament under 40 years old in decades. In this chapter, I explore the causes and consequences of this decline in young people running for office. Most notably, I find that candidates under 40 were significantly more likely than older candidates to say that they would prioritize education, childcare, and employment if elected; more supportive of strengthening Japan’s defense capabilities; and more positive toward enacting bills to recognize gay marriage and promote LGBT awareness. These patterns suggest that reforms aimed at increasing the number of young legislators could have significant consequences for the policies that get debated and ultimately implemented by the parliament.