This research aims to present a comprehensive study of the nature, orientations, and components of Japanese women’s political discourse in both the modern and contemporary eras, and to determine the extent of change and development in these discourses as a result of the political, social, and economic transformations that occurred in Japanese society before and after World War II. To achieve this objective, the study analyzes the linguistic features of the political discourse delivered by some of the most prominent and influential Japanese women politicians of the period, such as political activist Toshiko Kishida (1863–1901) as a representative of the pre-war era, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Takako Doi (1928–2014) as a representative of post-war Japanese women. The researcher examines these politicians’ speeches from a linguistic perspective, analyzing their political linguistic behavior and the rhetorical and persuasive strategies they employ. A comparative analysis is then conducted to identify similarities and differences in the linguistic and rhetorical strategies used in their speeches. |
