A record-breaking thirty-five women won seats in the House of Councillors during the most recent election in Tokyo. This election points to a noticeable sea change in the country’s male-dominated political sphere, with more female candidates than ever before running—32.2 percent, according to The Mainichi. 

“We can see that the political world is trying to respond to the social movement toward diversity, as the number of women increased through parties being positive about the quota system that called for a certain number of female candidates,” said Toko Tanaka, a professor at the University of Tokyo.