She’s Upending Japanese Politics With Two Words: ‘I’m Pregnant’

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Javier C. Hernández and Kiuko NotoyaFebruary 6, 2026 at 06:01 AM

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Hikaru Fujita, a 35-year-old candidate for Japan's parliamentary election on Sunday, is challenging the country's patriarchal system by running while pregnant. Fujita, a Liberal Democratic Party candidate in Nagano Prefecture, announced her pregnancy to show that expectant mothers can participate in national politics. Her announcement has sparked both support and criticism, highlighting the underrepresentation of women in Japanese politics, where they hold only 16% of seats in the House of Representatives. While a record number of women are running in this election, workplace discrimination against mothers remains a significant issue. Even the Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has campaigned for Fujita, hoping the Liberal Democrats can gain a majority.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Harvard 30% Azumino City ×240% House of Representatives ×260% Nagano Prefecture ×460% Sanae Takaichi ×360% Liberal Democratic Party ×270% Japan ×280% Hikaru Fujita ×990%

Keywords

hikaru fujita 100% japanese politics 90% women in politics 90% pregnancy 80% parliamentary election 80% gender issues 70% liberal democratic party 70% sanae takaichi 60% maternity harassment 60%