Prime Minister Fumio Kishida selected just two women for a total of 19 ministerial positions in a Cabinet reshuffle Wednesday, highlighting Japan's slow progress in reaching gender parity.
Sanae Takaichi, 61, was named minister for economic security, and Keiko Nagaoka, 68, secured her first Cabinet post as minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology.
The number fell short of the record five women selected during the tenures of Prime Ministers Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe, and was down from the three Kishida picked when he took office in the fall of last year.