Sanae Takaichi Become The First Female Prime Minister Of Japan

On Tuesday(October 21,2025), Japanese lawmakers chose hard-line conservative Sanae Takaichi as their new prime minister, marking her as the first woman in modern history to lead this crucial U.S. ally.

Takaichi, 64, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), secured her position in the lower house with a vote of 237-149 against her nearest competitor, Yoshihiko Noda, the leader of the liberal opposition Constitutional Democratic Party.

She also won a second vote in the upper house with a score of 125-46 after narrowly missing a majority in the first round.

While her election is a significant achievement in a nation where women hold few positions in government, Takaichi steps into her role with a delicate coalition and a host of urgent issues to tackle, including an upcoming visit from President Donald Trump next week.

Takaichi, who admires former British conservative leader Margaret Thatcher, has included two other women in her Cabinet, maintaining the same number as the previous administration.

Among them is Satsuki Katayama, who is Japan’s first female finance minister.

“I value equal opportunity and equal chances, as well as the involvement of individuals from all backgrounds”, Takaichi stated during a press conference on Tuesday.

“I created my Cabinet with this principle in mind, uniting the strengths of all generations”.

Takaichi is against same-sex marriage and supports maintaining male-only succession in Japan’s dwindling imperial family.

She also stands against changing the laws to allow married women to retain their maiden names in Japan, where it’s mandatory for married couples to share the same surname.

In Japan, progress towards gender equality has been sluggish, with women significantly underrepresented in top positions in business and government, and they often shoulder an unequal share of child care and household responsibilities.

Japan, which is the fourth-largest economy in the world, was placed 118th out of 148 nations in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report.

The report highlighted that women constitute less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan’s lower house of parliament and only 10% of government ministers.

Takaichi, who in her younger days rode motorcycles and played drums in a heavy metal band, has advocated for enhanced support for women’s health.

She has shared her personal experiences with menopause symptoms and emphasized the need for awareness “so that men can truly understand when women are facing challenges, whether in educational settings or at work”.

However, her campaign primarily centered on economic issues and national defense.

As a seasoned politician, Takaichi has held positions as minister of economic security, internal affairs, and gender equality.

A protege of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, she supports stricter immigration policies, the amendment of Japan’s pacifist constitution, and increased defense spending.

On Tuesday, Japan’s Nikkei stock exchange reached an all-time high for the second consecutive day, fueled by optimism that Takaichi’s policies could revitalize the economy.

Earlier this month, Takaichi was chosen as the leader of the LDP, which has been in power in Japan almost continuously since World War II, after unsuccessful attempts in 2021 and 2024.

In her victory speech, she emphasized her dedication to the role.

“I will completely discard the term ‘work-life balance”, Takaichi stated.

She added,”I will work and work and work and work and work”.

To secure her position, the LDP made an agreement on Monday with the Japan Innovation Party, or Ishin, a far right group based in Osaka.

Even with this partnership, Takaichi is up against significant challenges in parliament, as she lacks a majority in both houses following the LDP’s substantial losses in recent elections due to voter frustration over corruption scandals and the increasing cost of living. Her time as prime minister could be brief – similar to her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, who served for just a year.

Next week, Takaichi will also face an early challenge with Trump’s visit, marking his first trip to Asia since taking office again.

He is anticipated to stop in Malaysia and Japan before heading to South Korea, which is hosting a significant summit of Asia-Pacific economies.

“I aim to strengthen the trust between us leaders through open discussions on not just bilateral matters but also the challenges confronting Japan and the United States, including issues in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, and Ukraine”, Takaichi mentioned during the news conference.

Sanae Takaichi Become The First Female Prime Minister Of Japan

Share this:

Like this:

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Quote Of The Week

Subscribe My Channel

Discover more from Connect2ConnectOnline