Happy Reiwa

So the new Reiwa era began today. The kanji is multi layered and can mean fortune, auspicious, peace and harmony. The Japanese government are stressing it represents ‘beautiful harmony’.

Sadly this ‘beautiful harmony’ didn’t extend to the ceremony itself at which no female members of the imperial family were permitted to attend. The Japanese government controversially decided to honour precedents set by previous accession rites. What could have been the perfect opportunity to make a powerful message to the nation and the world about equality and gender harmony was instead avoided.

Or maybe honesty is the best policy. Ranked worst of the G7 in gender gap and 114th in gender equality rankings by the World Economic Forum for 2017, Japan has a very long way to go on its gender equality journey.