Sanae Takaichi has officially made history as Japan’s first female prime minister.
On Tuesday, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was elected after securing four votes more than the necessary majority. Takaichi’s political journey spans over ten years, including various cabinet roles and her time in Japan’s parliament.
The new prime minister is known for her conservative nationalist views and has expressed a deep respect for the groundbreaking work of the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Earlier this month, former President Trump referred to her as “a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength.”
Interestingly, Takaichi is a motorcycle enthusiast, a fan of rock music, and also a stepmother to three kids.
What was her path to becoming prime minister?
Before she assumed the presidency of the LDP on October 4, Takaichi held various cabinet positions, including Minister of Economic Security, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, and Minister of Gender Equality, among others.
From 1993 to 2003, she was a member of Japan’s House of Representatives.
This was her third attempt to lead the party. She had previously run in 2021 and 2024, but lost to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on both occasions.
In this most recent run, she presented herself as a “moderate conservative,” attempting to distance her image from previous visits to the contentious Yasukuni Shrine, which is known for housing the remains of individuals convicted for war crimes during World War II.
Takaichi secured her position as prime minister after winning the first round of voting on Tuesday.
Following her graduation from college, she interned for Congressman Pat Schroeder (D-Colorado) in 1987.
What is her agenda as Japan’s leader?
As prime minister, Takaichi is expected to pursue conservative policies, including efforts to amend Japan’s constitution to bolster the military, increase defense spending, and raise interest rates to address inflation.
She intends to foster stable relations with China while enhancing ties with South Korea. Takaichi is against same-sex marriage and values the tradition of male-only succession in Japan’s monarchy.
Further details on her policies are anticipated in a significant address scheduled for later this week.
While she has promised to improve women’s representation in government, her recent cabinet appointments included only two women out of 19 members. Satsuki Katayama will serve as the Minister of Finance, while Kimi Onoda has taken on the role of Minister of Economic Security.
How will she handle her relationship with Trump?
Takaichi took office shortly after Japan and the U.S. reached a trade agreement that imposes a 15% reciprocal tariff on imports from Japan, which is a reduction of 10% from previous tariffs set by the Trump administration.
In exchange, Japan committed to investing $550 billion over the next four years in American projects across various sectors like pharmaceuticals, energy, and technology.
She is expected to host President Trump during his visit to Japan later this month, coinciding with his Asian tour and preparations for the APEC summit in South Korea.
“The fact that the Trump administration is adding a stop in Tokyo is incredibly significant for Japan,” remarked Mireya Solis from the Asian Policy Research Center. “Their greatest concern is always the possibility that Japan might be overlooked.”
Solis noted that trade tensions between the two nations appear to have eased for now but expressed uncertainty about actual progress on the planned investment funds.
There seems to be a strong ideological connection between Takaichi and Trump, as she’s described as a “conservative security hawk” who is skeptical of immigration and doesn’t align with progressive ideals.
“So maybe there’s potential for some connection between the two leaders,” Solis commented.
