Sanae Takaichi, a prominent conservative Japanese legislator, secured a crucial leadership victory on Saturday. This outcome places her firmly on the path to becoming Japan’s very first female prime minister, marking a monumental achievement in a nation where women are significantly underrepresented in the political arena.
At 64 years old, Ms. Takaichi emerged victorious from an election held by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, triumphing after two intense rounds of voting involving both lawmakers and grassroots party members.
She is now set to take over from Shigeru Ishiba, Japan’s current prime minister, who last month announced his intention to step down. Ishiba’s resignation comes after less than a year in office, a period during which his party suffered significant setbacks, becoming a minority in both houses of Japan’s parliament, known as the Diet.
Ms. Takaichi successfully outmaneuvered four other contenders, including Shinjiro Koizumi, the 44-year-old agricultural minister, who was widely considered the frontrunner going into Saturday’s vote. She was a close ally of Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister who was tragically assassinated in 2022.
Looking ahead, Ms. Takaichi faces a formidable array of challenges, notably navigating a complex and often unpredictable relationship with the United States.
Japan recently finalized a trade agreement with the Trump administration in July. This deal resulted in a tariff on its exports, which, while still at 15 percent, was lower than originally threatened. In return, Japan committed to injecting an impressive $550 billion into the U.S. economy.
While both nations have since clarified several unclear aspects of this trade pact, one significant detail remains unresolved: the precise strategy for how Japan intends to allocate that $550 billion in investments, loans, and loan guarantees.
Notably, Ms. Takaichi was the sole candidate throughout the campaign who expressed openness to renegotiating the trade deal. She stated emphatically that should any unfair practices surface, “We must speak out firmly.”