Sanae Takaichi has been elected Japan’s prime minister by parliament, making her the first woman to hold the office. The 64-year-old secured a decisive victory, garnering 237 votes in the powerful Lower House and an additional 125 in the Upper House, following her win as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
A staunch conservative and an admirer of the late former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi assumes leadership at a critical economic juncture for Japan. The nation is currently contending with increasing living costs and significant national debt. This transition marks the fourth prime ministerial change in just five years, with predecessors’ terms often cut short due to declining approval ratings and scandals.
Takaichi’s ascent to the top job faced a hurdle when her party’s long-standing coalition partner, the Komeito party, withdrew its support. However, a last-minute agreement with the right-leaning Japan Innovation Party (JIP) on Monday evening ultimately paved the way for her premiership. Takaichi and the LDP are now preparing for the next general election, scheduled for 2028.
Beyond domestic concerns, Takaichi must also navigate complex international relationships. South Korea, which had been working towards improving historically strained ties with Japan, views her conservative and nationalist political stance with caution. Similarly, her hawkish approach to China, echoing that of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, presents a delicate diplomatic challenge.
A crucial relationship for Japan is with the United States, and Takaichi is set to meet with US President Donald Trump next week. While a tariff agreement has been reached, Trump’s past questioning of the security treaty’s value and his demands for Japan to increase its defense contributions present a significant test for Takaichi as she manages an unpredictable US administration.
Takaichi, 64, is not new to Japanese politics, having previously served in several ministerial roles and even run for the prime minister position before. A known ally of former PM Shinzo Abe, her election as LDP leader followed Abe’s resignation after substantial losses in midterm elections.
Known as the “Iron Lady” for her admiration of Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi holds conservative views, including opposition to same-sex marriage and support for married women retaining their maiden surnames. These traditional stances have led some younger women to question the broader impact of her appointment on gender equality.
“Everyone’s like, ‘Wow, she’s the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that’s a great opportunity for women’s empowerment’,” commented Ayda Ogura, a 21-year-old student. “[But] if you look into her political beliefs and what she stands for, you realise that some of the things are very traditional. Instead of creating structural change, she rather perpetuates the patriarchal system.”
During her campaign, Takaichi advocated for expanded hospital services focused on women’s health and greater recognition for household support workers.
Her premiership faces the significant task of restoring public trust in the LDP, which has governed Japan for most of the past seven decades. The party experienced a historic loss of its lower house majority for the first time in 15 years under the previous leadership and subsequently lost its upper house majority in July amidst public backlash over a fundraising scandal.
The LDP’s choice of Takaichi was partly aimed at regaining support from conservative voters who had been shifting towards the far-right Sanseito party due to dissatisfaction with mainstream political options.
Takaichi’s immediate focus will be addressing public discontent over rising prices, particularly the ongoing rice shortage that has led to record-high prices for this staple food.
There are reports that Satsuki Katayama, another protegé of Abe, might be appointed as finance minister, marking another significant first for women in Japanese government. While investors have expressed concern over Japan’s growing debt and sluggish economic growth, Takaichi’s victory has brought a degree of optimism to the markets.