According to Nintendo’s annual report published earlier this week, only 4.2% of company managers in Japan are women. This is a number that has remained unchanged since 2021, when the company formed its ‘Nintendo Women and Allies’ initiative, pledging to “promote women’s careers”
it seems weird to pass over the top ranking candidate for a job (male or female) to fulfil a quota.
There are usually several people who are all similarly qualified for a position. People often get chosen for arbitrary reasons like being friends with the person doing the hiring.