A 33-year-old former secretary of a ruling party lawmaker has become Japan's youngest-ever female mayor after winning election in Yawata, Kyoto Prefecture, according to the Japanese city mayors' association.
Japan ranks 116th out of 146 countries in the gender equality index and despite the progress made in the last 10 years, it is still very difficult for women - amid prejudice and misogyny - to make their way in politics. It is in this socio-cultural context that Shoko Kawata was elected first citizen of Yawata, the youngest to hold this office.
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