Sanae Takaichi Becomes Japan’s First Female PM

Japan has just made history by electing its first female prime minister, 64-year-old Sanae Takaichi. But while the moment marks a breakthrough in gender milestones, it’s also ushering in a sharp turn to the right in the country’s politics — and not everyone’s cheering.
Takaichi, a long-time ally of the late Shinzo Abe, was voted in by parliament on Tuesday with 237 votes in the lower house and 125 in the upper house. Her victory comes after a last-minute coalition deal between her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the right-wing Japan Innovation Party (JIP), known as Ishin. Still, her coalition is two seats short of a majority, leaving questions about how stable her leadership will be.
Taking over from Shigeru Ishiba after months of political turmoil and public dissatisfaction, Takaichi now leads a country facing rising prices, economic uncertainty, and growing political division. “Political stability is essential right now,” she said during the coalition signing ceremony. “Without stability, we cannot push measures for a strong economy or diplomacy.”
A self-described admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi has held several ministerial positions and has run for the top job before. Nicknamed Japan’s "Iron Lady," her conservative views are no secret — she supports male-only succession in the imperial family, opposes same-sex marriage, and is against married couples having separate surnames.
Her critics, especially among younger generations, aren’t convinced that her win signals progress. “Everyone's like, 'Wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that's a great opportunity for women's empowerment',” said 21-year-old student Ayda Ogura. “[But] if you look into her political beliefs and what she stands for, you realise that some of the things are very traditional.”
Despite the optics, Takaichi hasn’t exactly been a champion for women’s rights. She’s previously resisted policy changes to support gender equality. Though she recently proposed better hospital services for women and more recognition for household support workers, many say it’s not enough to drive real change.
Economically, she’s expected to follow the path of her mentor Abe by pushing government spending to boost growth. Markets have responded with optimism — the Nikkei hit record highs on Tuesday — but investors are also wary. Japan already has one of the highest debt burdens in the world, and the weakening yen could worsen inflation, especially in essentials like food. A rice shortage, for example, has already sent prices soaring.
Her new finance minister, Satsuki Katayama, another Abe protégé, is reportedly looking into a temporary cut to the sales tax on food. If implemented, it would be a bold move — and another first, as Katayama is Japan’s first woman to take on the finance portfolio.
Internationally, Takaichi is preparing for high-stakes diplomacy, starting with a meeting next week with US President Donald Trump. The relationship with the U.S. is vital, but Trump’s past remarks questioning the value of the U.S.-Japan security alliance could put her in a tight spot. Relations with neighbours won’t be easy either. South Korea is reportedly uneasy about her rise due to her nationalist stance, and China looms large as a regional concern.
At home, Takaichi also has to rebuild trust in the LDP. The party suffered heavy losses under Ishiba, and scandals have chipped away at its public image. By partnering with Ishin, the LDP is hoping to win back conservative voters who had drifted toward more extreme far-right parties. Ishin co-leader Fumitake Fujita called the new coalition “a new dawn for Japanese policymaking” and said, “It’s imperative to unite conservative forces sharing a national vision.”
For now, Takaichi’s win is both a first and a flashpoint — a moment that challenges traditional power dynamics in Japan, but also reinforces them. Whether she can hold the coalition together, calm an angry public, and push Japan forward remains to be seen.