TOKYO, Japan – Japan is on the brink of a historic first after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, positioning the 64-year-old conservative heavyweight to become the country’s first female prime minister.
Takaichi, known for her right-wing views and close ties to the late former leader Shinzo Abe, secured the party leadership on Friday following weeks of internal jockeying after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation.
Ishiba’s exit came in the wake of a series of election defeats that cost the LDP and its coalition partners their majority in both houses of parliament.
If confirmed by parliament, Takaichi will face the immediate task of reviving a divided ruling party and stabilising a sluggish economy burdened by high inflation, stagnant wages, and public frustration over rising living costs.
A self-professed admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi has long sought to emulate the “Iron Lady” style of leadership.
However, her social conservatism and opposition to gender reforms have drawn criticism from women’s groups and younger voters who view her as out of touch with modern Japan.
Takaichi has consistently opposed allowing married women to retain their maiden names and remains against same-sex marriage, arguing both positions undermine traditional values.
On the economic front, she has pledged to revive Abenomics — Abe’s signature mix of fiscal stimulus, monetary easing, and structural reform — to spur growth and restore confidence in Japan’s faltering economy.
Security and foreign policy are also expected to dominate her agenda. Takaichi is a strong advocate of revising Japan’s pacifist constitution to expand the military’s role amid growing regional threats.
She is also a frequent visitor to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honours Japan’s war dead, including convicted war criminals — a practice that often provokes diplomatic tensions with China and South Korea.
Takaichi will also have to navigate delicate ties with Washington, particularly around the trade and tariff arrangements reached with the Trump administration.
While her parliamentary confirmation is likely, it will not be automatic, given the LDP’s weakened numbers.
Her ability to form alliances and project stability will determine whether she can not only make history — but hold on to power.
