Ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi poised to become Japan’s first female prime minister
Japan is on the verge of making history as Sanae Takaichi, leader of the governing Liberal Democratic Party, moves closer to becoming the country’s first female prime minister. The 64-year-old politician has secured a replacement for the coalition partner that left the party following her election as LDP president, positioning her to replace Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in a parliamentary vote scheduled for Tuesday. If successful, Takaichi would end a three-month political deadlock triggered by the coalition’s defeat in July’s parliamentary election.
Takaichi’s path has been complicated by the moderate Komeito party’s departure from the long-standing coalition, citing concerns over her ultraconservative policies and the LDP’s handling of campaign finance scandals. To maintain a governing majority, she forged a new alliance with the Osaka-based Japan Innovation Party, a conservative force, though the stability of this partnership remains uncertain. Should she take office, Takaichi would face immediate challenges, including economic measures to address rising prices, diplomatic meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump, and regional summits while navigating fragile legislative support at home.
Despite breaking a historic gender barrier, Takaichi’s premiership has drawn criticism from many women. She opposes same-sex marriage, supports male-only imperial succession, and resists reforms allowing married couples to keep separate last names. Observers caution that her policies could undermine gender equality in Japan, even as her leadership elevates the symbolic milestone of the country’s first female prime minister.
Economically, she faces a population in decline and households struggling with inflation. Her agenda emphasizes short-term measures such as salary increases and subsidies while restricting immigration amid growing xenophobia. Security and defense are also priorities, with Japan pursuing a five-year military buildup and doubling its defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027. Analysts say she will have to balance nationalist policies with international diplomacy, particularly with China and South Korea, who have criticized her visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, a site honoring Japan’s war dead including convicted war criminals.
Takaichi’s leadership will be closely tied to the LDP’s internal power dynamics, particularly the influence of former Prime Minister Taro Aso, whom she appointed vice president of the party. Many of her Cabinet choices are expected to reflect allies of both Aso and the late Shinzo Abe. Political experts warn that a Takaichi government could be short-lived, potentially requiring an early election to secure a working majority. The coalition’s ideological tensions and Japan’s increasingly multiparty political landscape suggest that her administration may face instability, necessitating careful negotiation with smaller parties across the spectrum.
Overall, Takaichi’s premiership represents both a historic breakthrough for women in Japanese politics and a test of her ability to govern amid internal party pressures, coalition fragility, economic challenges, and complex regional diplomacy.
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