TOKYO -- Japan's upper house election next month poses a major gender equality test, with a record number of female candidates running in a country known for lagging behind on women's political participation.
Female hopefuls account for 181, or 33%, of the 545 contenders registered for the July 10 poll. From an advocate of equal rights for sex workers to a former United Nations official of Uyghur heritage, many of the candidates hope to not only make strides for women but to bring more diverse perspectives to Japanese politics.
