Tokyo Event Marks 50 Years since Women’s Day Off in Iceland

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World

Oct 25, 2025 11:30 (JST)

Tokyo, Oct. 24 (Jiji Press)–An event was held in Tokyo on Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of “Women’s Day Off,” a large-scale strike staged by women in Iceland for gender equality.

Iceland and Japan have achieved a lot for gender equality over the past 50 years, Icelandic Ambassador to Japan Hreinn Palsson said at the event.

But more needs to be done, he said, noting, for example, that wage gaps between men and women still remain. Palsson called for making the world more equal for the next generation.

Former Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, who also joined the event, said: “Globally, there have been moves going against gender equality. We need to do more to increase people’s awareness to make sure that our past efforts are not denied.”

Touching on the fact that Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi became the first woman to assume the post in the country this week, Kamikawa said that this was “a historic moment” and that “Japan’s politics has taken a big step forward.”

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]

Jiji Press