Japan is set to make history as Sanae Takaichi, a veteran conservative politician, emerges as the new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), positioning her to become the country’s first woman prime minister.
Takaichi, 64, clinched victory in Saturday’s runoff election against Shinjiro Koizumi, the youthful and charismatic son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Her win places her firmly on track to be confirmed by parliament, where the LDP holds a majority.
Once sworn in, she will become Japan’s fifth prime minister in five years, succeeding outgoing leader Shigeru Ishiba.
While her rise marks a symbolic milestone for women in Japanese politics, analysts caution that Takaichi’s leadership is unlikely to usher in sweeping gender reforms.
A staunch conservative and longtime ally of the late Shinzo Abe, she is better known for her hardline views on defence, national identity, and economic security than for feminist advocacy.
During her campaign, Takaichi pledged to strengthen Japan’s military posture and tighten immigration rules, reflecting growing voter anxiety over national security and economic challenges.
Her tough stance helped rally conservative factions within the LDP and win over voters disillusioned by recent corruption scandals and rising inflation.
Shifting Tone Amid Political Realities
Takaichi, who once served as Minister for Economic Security, has been a vocal critic of China’s expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific.
However, she tempered her rhetoric during this campaign, adopting a more pragmatic tone than in past contests when her pledge to visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine cost her electoral support.
A regular visitor to the shrine, which honours Japan’s war dead, including convicted war criminals, Takaichi’s stance has often strained Tokyo’s relations with China and South Korea. Her softer tone this time around signals an effort to project stability and broaden her appeal.
A former college drummer inspired by Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi has long cultivated an image of discipline and determination.
Admirers see her as a symbol of resilience in a male-dominated political landscape, while critics argue her conservative views on family and gender equality remain outdated.
She opposes revising Japan’s 19th-century civil code that forces married couples to share the same surname, a policy that overwhelmingly affects women and has shown little interest in challenging entrenched patriarchal norms.
Still, Takaichi has promised to improve gender representation in her cabinet to “Nordic” standards, acknowledging Japan’s poor ranking of 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Gender Gap Report.
Echoing her mentor Abe’s “Abenomics” blueprint, Takaichi supports expansive fiscal spending and aggressive monetary easing to stimulate Japan’s sluggish economy.She has also raised concerns about the economic influence of foreign investors and called for stricter rules to protect domestic industries.
On trade, she has expressed willingness to renegotiate certain deals with the United States if they are perceived as disadvantaging Japan , signalling a more assertive approach to foreign economic policy.
As she prepares to take office, Takaichi faces the dual challenge of reviving voter confidence in the scandal-hit LDP and steering Japan through economic headwinds, demographic decline, and regional security tensions.
Her election marks a breakthrough for Japanese politics, but whether she will transform the system or reinforce its conservative traditions remains to be seen.
