A young politician in Japan has faced an alarming backlash after advocating for free sanitary pads in public restrooms. Ayaka Yoshida, a 27-year-old member of the Japanese Communist Party, revealed on social media that she received over 8,000 death threats following her proposal.
On March 25, Yoshida shared her personal experience of unexpectedly starting her period while at Tsu City Hall. She expressed frustration at the lack of sanitary napkins available in the bathroom, stating, "I couldn’t deal with it properly until I got home." She emphasized the need for sanitary products to be as accessible as toilet paper.
Yoshida, who serves in the prefectural assembly in Mie, noted that city officials had previously shown reluctance to provide sanitary products in city facilities. This lack of support only fueled her determination to push for change.
Just days after her proposal, the Mie prefectural assembly was inundated with thousands of threatening emails, all originating from a single address. The messages contained identical threats, including one that read, "I will kill assembly member Ayaka Yoshida, who does not bring emergency napkins with her while being old enough to know better!"
On March 31, Yoshida publicly shared the distressing news of the threats, stating, "I felt scared." She reported the incidents to the police, and an investigation is currently underway.
This incident highlights a troubling trend in Japan, where women who speak out on issues such as women’s health and rights often face severe backlash. Chisato Kitanaka, a sociology professor at Hiroshima University, noted that female politicians frequently encounter hostility when they address topics like support for working mothers, domestic violence, and women’s health issues.
Yoshida’s experience is a stark reminder of the challenges women face in politics and the importance of advocating for issues that affect their lives. Despite the threats, she remains committed to her cause, aiming to make sanitary products available to all who need them.