Japan a notch higher in latest gender gap report, still worst among G7

GENEVA - Japan was ranked 117th among 145 economies in an annual report on gender equality around the world, the World Economic Forum said Wednesday, with the country improving one notch from last year but remaining the worst among Group of Seven nations.

The Swiss think tank noted the election last year of Sanae Takaichi, Japan's first woman prime minister, calling it a "historical development" that has contributed to the country's upward shift in political empowerment for women.