Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on Saturday asked central Japan constituents how "we women can call ourselves women without giving birth," equating the importance of childbirth to electing a new governor in a speech ahead of a gubernatorial election.

Kamikawa made the remarks during a visit to her native Shizuoka Prefecture in an attempt to garner support for a candidate backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

While known for her efforts to further gender equality, the comments are expected to garner criticism for their lack of sensitivity.

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa gives a speech in Shizuoka, central Japan, on May 18, 2024. (Kyodo)

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The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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SHIZUOKA, Japan - Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on Sunday retracted her remark the previous day that was widely interpreted as questioning the worth of women who do not give birth, saying her choice of words was liable to cause misunderstanding.

In a campaign speech Saturday in support of a Shizuoka gubernatorial election candidate, Kamikawa said she wondered "how can we women call ourselves women without birthing this person."

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Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on Sunday retracted her remark the previous day that was widely interpreted as questioning the worth of women who do not give birth, saying her choice of words was liable to cause misunderstanding.

In a campaign speech Saturday in support of a Shizuoka gubernatorial election candidate, Kamikawa said she wondered "how can we women call ourselves women without birthing this person."

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa speaks to reporters in Shizuoka, the capital city of Shizuoka Prefecture, on May 19, 2024. (Kyodo)

In her retraction, Kamikawa told reporters that she merely meant to ask female voters to exercise their power to elect the candidate she supports just as she was "born" as a House of Representatives member in the 2000 election.

"I sincerely accept the view that (my words) could cause my true intention to be misunderstood, so I retract them," she said.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters during his visit to Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, on Sunday that "misleading expressions should be avoided."

Kamikawa, who represents a Shizuoka constituency as a House of Representatives member, was making a speech in support of the candidate backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

"Diplomatic issues could arise if we are unable to make measured statements," said Kenta Izumi, chief of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

"Such statements also call into question (Kamikawa's) qualifications as foreign minister."

Kamikawa had met on Friday in Tokyo with Kirsi Madi, U.N. Women Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships, and discussed the importance of the United Nations concept that underscores women's equal and meaningful participation in peace and security, known as "Women, Peace and Security," or WPS.

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