Sanae Takaichi Becomes Japan’s First Female Prime Minister

Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, unveiled a bold conservative agenda after her parliamentary victory on Tuesday.

Her administration is also keen on enhancing defense ties with the United States.

Much of Takaichi’s agenda is rooted in her longstanding political beliefs, influenced by global conservative figures like Margaret Thatcher and the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Recently, a last-minute alliance between the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Nippon Ishin no Kai (Ishin, meaning “renewal”) has urged her to make some policy adjustments.

She was sworn in as part of the LDP’s coalition on Monday, successfully securing the necessary votes following Komeito’s withdrawal from their partnership of 26 years. Komeito stepped back due to concerns over an ongoing corruption scandal affecting the LDP and Takaichi’s strict immigration policies.

Komeito, which has strong Buddhist affiliations, contrasts with Ishin, a more assertive liberal industrialist party based in Osaka. Ishin aims to designate Tokyo as a backup capital in case of emergencies and shares several ideological tenets with the LDP while differing significantly from Komeito.

For instance, both the LDP and Ishin advocate for boosting Japan’s military strength and revising the pacifist constitution, positions that Komeito is reluctant to endorse. Their coalition agreement encourages Takaichi to pursue significant military spending increases, including the development of Japan’s own nuclear submarines.

Ishin is also pressing for improved counterintelligence capabilities, proposing to establish a “Foreign Intelligence Agency” similar to the CIA, while advocating for greater central government powers during crises—a notion that raises concerns about privacy and government transparency among some Japanese citizens.

A dissatisfied Defense Ministry official remarked, “The alliance between the LDP and New Komeito has ensured a degree of legitimacy and transparency in security policy. Nippon Ishin is more determined to pursue a hawkish agenda than the LDP, which could lead to significant policy shifts.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi mentioned Takaichi’s upcoming meeting with President Trump, highlighting discussions on strengthening the defense partnership between Japan and the U.S.

Motegi emphasized that Japan must enhance its military capabilities to address emerging challenges, including drone swarms and cyber warfare, especially after witnessing the impact of new technologies in conflicts like Ukraine.

He suggested that Japan might need to revisit its five-year strategy to meet rising defense spending goals—currently set to reach 2% of GDP by 2027—as President Trump advocates for a 5% target, which aligns with NATO standards.

Motegi claimed, “National defense should be based on independent choices. It’s not merely about funding or GDP ratios but the substance of our defense policies.”

During a Tuesday press conference, Takaichi shared other priorities, like addressing the rising cost of living through an economic stimulus package.

She also promised to swiftly eliminate Japan’s longstanding “temporary” gasoline tax, originally intended for infrastructure funding. The aim now is to boost net income and alleviate pressures on household budgets.

Takaichi expressed a desire to establish a “deep relationship of trust” with President Trump and, if feasible, to resolve trade disputes and reduce tariffs on Japanese imports to the U.S.

Her primary focus is reinforcing Japan’s economy, and she has resisted calls for an early Diet election, instead opting to strengthen collaborations with opposition leaders.