In a historic move, the Japanese parliament elected Sanae Takaichi as the nation’s first female prime minister on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
A self-described admirer of Margaret Thatcher and a protege of the late Shinzo Abe, the 64-year-old conservative replaces Shigeru Ishiba, whose administration collapsed after only one year following the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) heavy losses in the July 2024 elections.
Takaichi secured her victory after the LDP struck a last-minute coalition deal with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party (JIP). This new alliance follows the collapse of the LDP’s 26-year partnership with the centrist Komeito party, shifting the government’s stance significantly further to the right.
However, Takaichi enters office facing immediate challenges. Regionally, her “hawkish” reputation has already drawn sharp criticism from China and South Korea, particularly regarding her past visits to the Yasukuni Shrine. While she has recently adopted more cautious rhetoric – sending religious offerings instead of visiting in person – tensions remain high after she suggested an attack on Taiwan could be viewed as an “existential threat” to Japan.
Domestically, Takaichi’s coalition remains fragile. The LDP-JIP bloc lacks a majority in the House of Councillors, meaning she must negotiate with fragmented opposition groups to pass any major legislation. Her first priority is a massive ¥21.3 trillion ($140 billion) stimulus package designed to combat rising living costs and win back public trust before a potential snap election in early 2026.
