Japan’s political scene is going through a huge change. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which is in charge, chose Sanae Takaichi as its new leader on October 4, 2025. This win is historic because it means that the 64-year-old politician can become Japan’s first female Prime Minister.
A formal vote in Japan’s Parliament (the Diet) is still to be won by the LDP leader, which is expected to take place around October 15th. However, the LDP is the largest party, so Takaichi’s victory is almost certain. In a country where women have a hard time getting into politics, her win is a big step forward for women. But Takaichi’s policies are firmly on the conservative right, showing that her late mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, had a strong nationalist and economic vision that continues to this day.
Sanae Takaichi: The Loyal Leader Who Stayed Strong
Sanae Takaichi’s rise to the top of Japan’s male-dominated political scene is impressive. People recognize Takaichi as the first in her family to be elected to office. Many top politicians get their jobs from their fathers. Takaichi has a unique background: she used to play drums in a heavy metal band in college and looked up to Margaret Thatcher, a former British Prime Minister. This is how she got the nickname “Iron Lady.”
She has a close relationship with Shinzo Abe, which gives her political strength. She held important positions in his cabinets, including Minister of Economic Security. Takaichi took over as head of the LDP’s ultraconservative wing following Abe’s death. Her victory demonstrates how the party has resorted to a hard-line, recognisable voice in an attempt to regain the trust of voters who had been shifting to smaller, far-right parties after losing support as a result of recent scandals and growing living expenses.
Read More : China’s New K-Visa: Changing the Game for Tech Workers Worldwide
The Takaichi Economic Plan: Abenomics 2.0
As a “fiscal dove,” Takaichi supports significant government expenditure. People often describe her economic policy as an extension of Abenomics, and it builds on three key pillars.
- Aggressive Monetary Policy: She is in support of the Bank of Japan, the country’s central bank, maintaining very low interest rates to promote borrowing and investment..
- Flexible Fiscal Spending: Even though it will increase Japan’s massive national debt, Takaichi wants to use large public spending to support the economy. She wants to use this money for growth and crisis management.
- Strategic Investment: She calls for major government investment in high-tech areas critical for Japan’s future, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and cybersecurity.
The Japanese stock market (the Nikkei 225) jumped in response to her victory, showing investor confidence that she would carry on the Abe era’s market-friendly stimulus actions. Critics, however, are concerned that her lavish spending may raise the national debt and cause dangerous inflation, or price increases.
Sanae Takaichi’s Big Plans for Japan’s Defense and Global Role
Sanae Takaichi is a leader who supports a stong foreign policy and powerfull military. She will work for improvments in both of these areas :
- Constitutional Revision: Her main goal is to improve the Pacifist Constitution’s Article 9. This after World War II article restricts Japan from resolving international conflicts through force. Takaichi wants to strengthen defence capabilities and define the role of the military. For achieving this goal she may do some modifications in constitutions.
- China and Taiwan: She is a fervent supporter of China. Takaichi advocates for a much more aggressive style because she sees China as Japan’s principal rival. She has repeated Abe’s statement that “a Taiwan emergency is a Japan emergency,” indicating that Japan would step in the event of an attack on Taiwan.
- The US Alliance: She has stressed that the alliance with the United States is Japan’s most important diplomatic priority and has pledged to strengthen it, particularly through cooperation with regional partners like Australia, South Korea, and the Philippines.
A Conservative Leader, Not a Feminist Symbol
Although Takaichi’s win represents a first for Japanese women, most analysts believe that she is not a feminist leader.The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report ranks Japan 118th out of 148 economies in terms of political empowerment.
Takaichi’s strong conservatism is evident in her stances on important social issues:
- She opposes allowing married couples to use separate surnames, arguing it will undermine traditional family values.
- She is against same-sex marriage.
- She supports maintaining male-only imperial succession for the Emperor’s throne.
Despite this, Takaichi has promised to increase the number of women in her cabinet to “Nordic levels” and introduced family-friendly policies like tax breaks for childcare. For many, the LDP’s patriarchal norms overshadow the historical significance of her position.
Major Challenges in the Road Ahead
If she is confirmed as Prime Minister as expected, Takaichi will face immense and immediate challenges:
- Restoring Trust and Unity: The LDP’s reputation has been damaged by corruption scandals and the public’s unhappiness over rising prices. Takaichi must quickly restore public confidence and heal divisions within her own party.
- Governing with a Minority: Following recent election defeats. The LDP-led coalition no longer holds a simple majority in either house of parliament. To pass laws, opposition parties will force Takaichi to seek their cooperation. A politically tricky task for such a hard-line conservative.
- Taming Geo-Political Friction: Her regular visits to the Yasukuni Shrine (a site where convicted World War II criminals are honored). And her strong anti-immigration rhetoric will put immediate strain on ties with China and South Korea. She must also prepare for a major diplomatic test with a likely meeting with US President Donald Trump in late October, where the U.S. may pressure Japan to increase defense spending.
- The “Revolving Door” Risk: Japanese prime ministers have often had short tenures. Takaichi will be under immense pressure to deliver immediate economic results and political stability to avoid joining the list of short-lived leaders.
In summary, Japan is set to have Sanae Takaichi lead it at a critical moment. Her victory is a symbolic leap forward for gender representation. But her ultraconservative policies promise a sharp turn to the right for the nation’s future. The world is watching to see if this “Iron Lady” can successfully navigate the deep economic, social, and geopolitical currents challenging Japan today.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Sanae Takaichi and why is her election historic?
Answer: Sanae Takaichi is a 64-year-old hard-line conservative politician and the newly elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Her election is historic because she is now poised to become Japan’s first female Prime Minister in the country’s history.
2. What are Takaichi’s main policy ideas for the economy?
Answer: Her main economic plan, nicknamed “Sanaenomics,” focuses on aggressive government spending and cheap borrowing (low interest rates) to grow the stagnant economy, much like the policies of her mentor, Shinzo Abe. She also plans major investments in technology and security.
3. What is her position on military and national security?
Answer: Takaichi is a security hawk, meaning she believes in a strong military. She wants to increase defense spending, strengthen the alliance with the U.S., and change Article 9 of Japan’s pacifist Constitution to give the military a clearer role. She is also strongly anti-China.
4. Is Takaichi considered a feminist leader for breaking the glass ceiling?
Answer: No. While she is the first female PM, she is widely seen as an ultra-conservative leader who opposes key gender reforms like allowing married couples to use separate surnames and allowing women to ascend the Imperial Throne. Her focus is on traditional family values.
5. What is the biggest challenge Takaichi faces after becoming Prime Minister?
Answer: Her biggest challenge is governing with a minority in parliament. The LDP-led coalition no longer holds a strong majority. Meaning she will need cooperation from opposition parties to pass her laws, making her ambitious, conservative agenda difficult to implement.
More Updates : Visit Us
