Photo/Illutration Shigeru Sonoyama, secretary-general of the Shimane prefectural chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, addresses supporters at a campaign rally in Matsue on Oct. 21 for the upcoming Lower House election. (Masahiro Kakihana)

MATSUE—A local senior official of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party here has stirred controversy by expressing his dissatisfaction with the dominance of female candidates in Shimane Prefecture for the upcoming Lower House election.

"I feel a bit disappointed that five out of the six candidates running in Shimane are women," said Shigeru Sonoyama, secretary-general of the prefectural chapter of the LDP. "This may suggest that not only my own household but society as a whole has been seeking more women."

Sonoyama, 67, a prefectural assembly member, made the remarks on Oct. 21 at a campaign rally for a female LDP candidate running from the No. 1 district of the prefecture.

The event, which featured a speech by Yoshiko Ishiba, wife of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, attracted significant attention, filling approximately 120 seats and forcing some attendees to stand.

The female candidate herself was not present at the rally.

The true intention behind Sonoyama’s comments remains unclear.

Efforts by The Asahi Shimbun to seek clarification went unanswered, as he was unreachable by phone and missed a subsequent scheduled meeting.

The remarks could undermine the LDP's position in the crucial general election on Oct. 27 as the Diet–particularly the ruling party–falls short in achieving gender equality in politics.

The Lower House has only 10 percent female representation, ranking 164th out of 186 countries surveyed in a 2023 report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

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